INTRADA Announces:
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (Leith Stevens)
WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (Leith Stevens)
THE NAKED JUNGLE (Danielle Amitheatrof)
CONQUEST OF SPACE (Van Cleave)
INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 202
Before Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Peter Jackson, one man captivated film audiences with colorful, big-budget science fiction and fantasy spectaculars: George Pal. Pal would produce four highly imaginative films during the period 1951-1955: When Worlds Collide (1951), The War Of The Worlds (1953), The Naked Jungle (1954) and Conquest of Space (1955). These pictures would employ top actors, large casts and the elite of the Paramount special effects and art departments, and each would provide film composers with the opportunity to underscore spectacle, astonishing visual effects, terror and intense human drama.
With its world-spanning plot and chaotic scenes of humanity preparing for the threat of approaching planets, When Worlds Collide features by far the busiest and most energetic score of the three sci-fi films represented on this set. Leith Stevens' eerie, foreboding melody for the approaching planets dominates the score, reinforcing both the menace of the looming planets and the boiling cauldron of human emotions that threaten to derail humanity's last hopes.
The War Of The Worlds showcased scenes of destruction and mass panic that outdid even When Worlds Collide. Leith Stevens managed to find a fresh way to pay homage to Gustav Holsts's "Mars, The Bringer Of War" from The Planets. Instead of mimicking Holst's famous rhythms, Stevens overlays driving percussion onto his main title music, which launches from a spiky, startling fanfare through a gloomy yet propulsive dirge for humanity finally brightening into brilliant, spine-chilling major chords.
With its lurid title, well-established actors and unique "invaders," The Naked Jungle might be George Pal's strangest film but also one of his strongest human dramas. Composer Daniele Amfitheatrof had ample experience scoring dramatic films, and he possessed the technical background to create the sort of orchestral fireworks necessary to reinforce the idea of an army of killer ants advancing through a jungle.
Pal returned to "hardware" science fiction in 1955's Conquest of Space, an ambitious epic about a flight to Mars. The score primarily called for bright, semi-militaristic music for the space mission, an ethereal portrait of outer space itself and some psychological shading for the mission commander. Van Cleave created a noble march that recurs throughout much of the score, embodying the driven character of Commander Merritt but ultimately standing for the heroic nature of the mission.
For this 2-CD set, spearheaded by Lukas Kendall, Intrada had access to all existing materials. The War Of The Worlds, The Naked Jungle and Conquest Of Space are mastered from 35mm protection copies of the music tracks at Paramount Pictures, in varying degrees of completeness. The Naked Jungle is the only title to survive in three-track stereo, one of the earliest scores so recorded at Paramount. When Worlds Collide is presented in complete form, largely from acetates. All combined, this set presents a rare, but thrilling listen into the sci-fi/adventure sound of George Pal's '50s Paramount epics.
INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 202
Retail Price: $29.99
Available Now
For track listing and sound samples, please visit
http://store.intrada...it.A/id.7685/.f
WAR OF THE WORLDS / WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE
Label: Intrada Special Collection Volume 204
Date: 1953/1951/1954/1955
Tracks: 65
Time = 141:24
World premiere 2-CD release of original soundtracks to four sci-fi/fantasy movies from legendary producer George Pal. Leith Stevens music from WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) anchors, offering imposing main title, several evocatice sequences. All surviving cues presented in crisp mono from original elements stored in Paramount vaults. Also getting attention is complete 41-minute Leith Stevens score for WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (1951), presented from Paramount mono masters with choral overlays intact. Colorful sci-fi expedition music abounds! Taking center stage next is exciting, frightening 40-minute Daniele Amfitheatrof soundtrack for THE NAKED JUNGLE (1954), mastered from dynamic three-channel stereo scoring session elements, amongst first ever made at Paramount! Score offers both richly expressive love theme, exciting action material with advanced harmonic vernacular. Getting spotlight is ferocious presto motif for massive army of ants marching inexorably towards Charlton Heston's South America plantation. Terrific descending idea for brass, woodwinds is chilling, even by today's standards! Rounding out impressive collection is 35-minute Nathan Van Cleave score for CONQUEST OF SPACE (1955). Music here is both exciting, stirring, presented in mono from from original Paramount master elements. Four scores represent some of the most evocative sci-fi & fantasy works of the fifties! Full color artwork and stills plus authoritative notes from Jeff Bond round out generous set. Intrada Special Collection release available while quantities and interest remains!
Disc One:
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS | WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE
WAR OF THE WORLDS
01 Main Title 1:11
02 The Thing/It’s Moving 3:12
03 Heat Ray Dispenser/Get the Military 1:45
04 Attempted Communication 3:09
05 The Scanning Eye 2:41
06 Evacuation 3:00
07 End Title 1:03
Total Score Time: 16:02
WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE
08 Main Title/Foreword 2:35
09 The Black Box 1:11
10 Uncertainty 1:33
11 Bellus, Zyra and the D.A. 1:59
12 U.N. Headquarters/Nasty Headlines 1:11
13 Project Recruiting/Project Indoctrination 4:28
14 Martial Law/Evacuation Montage 1:34
15 Securing the Rocket 0:51
16 A Savage Outburst/Save the Ship 2:54
17 A Revengeful Night/Bellus Approaches/Doomsday Drawing 2:32
18 Calendar Montage 2:52
19 Tony’s Generosity 2:56
20 Ecstasy and Despair 0:58
21 Zero Hour 1:35
22 The Take Off 1:52
23 The Flight 2:23
24 The New World 3:49
Total Score Time: 37:12
The Extras (WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE)
25 10AA Unknown 0:22
26 High on the List 1:58
27 Café Fox Trot 1:14
28 Main Title 1:16
Total Extras Time: 4:46
The Extras (WAR OF THE WORLDS)
29 Main Title 1:13
30 Prologue and Main Title 1:45
31 Heat Ray Dispenser Sound Effect 2:58
Total Extras Time: 5:54
Disc Two:
THE NAKED JUNGLE | CONQUEST OF SPACE
THE NAKED JUNGLE
01 Prelude/Main Title 1:27
02 Opening Sequence/A Lonely Arrival 5:02
03 Leiningen’s Arrival/First Meeting 2:28
04 Bitter Words 2:24
05 Survey of the Plantation 2:42
06 Silhouetted Temptation 1:27
07 Drunken Developments/The Hanging 3:51
08 Marabunta 1:51
09 Almost Enticed 2:20
10 Army on the March/Escape Destroyed/Magnified Enemy 2:34
11 Drums #2 1:49
12 Explosion Montage 2:35
13 The Fight Begins 2:05
14 Retreat 2:00
15 I Love You 2:07
16 Flooded and End Title 3:07
Total Score Time 39:55
CONQUEST OF SPACE
17 Main Title/The Firmament 2:30
18 Stricken 1:23
19 Meteors/Transport Rocket 2:40
20 Orders to Mars 2:47
21 Off to Mars 1:31
22 Stowaway 1:20
23 Asteroid 1:22
24 Last Rites 1:24
25 Approach 2:22
26 Mars and Madness 3:42
27 Life and Death 1:53
28 Snow 3:31
29 The Elements/Earthquake 3:46
30 Victory/Finale/Cast 1:37
Total Score Time 31:48
The Extras (CONQUEST OF SPACE)
31 Space Muzak 2:37
32 Main Title 1:08
Total Extras Time 3:39
The Extras (THE NAKED JUNGLE)
33 Prelude in E Minor (Chopin) 1:01
34 Ant Noise 1:07
Total Extras Time 2:08
Leith Stevens, Daniele Amfitheatrof, Nathan Van Cleave
Price: $29.99
