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The first few seconds of "The Adventures of Tintin" (OST) always make me think of a person standing in a dark alley. They peek around a corner, check if it's safe, and then keep moving. 

From Tintin, "The Adventures of Tintin" I suppose?
 
 
Dennis Steals the Embryo:
 
 
Munich, maybe, if you're a plotting detective...
 
 
Schindler's Workforce
 
 
And finally, if you're a detective who's being chased in the woods:
 
 

So this popped into my head randomly, what are great examples of sleuthing, detective work music from JW?
 
For me, my mind goes immediately to Tintin and Catch Me If You Can. But what cues/tracks specifically? 
This one is a good example of what JW can do in this area.
 

This trailer music alone proves JW's genius. He was able to define the music of Harry Potter so early on and he got it exactly right. I remember the first time I watched the trailer, that music instantly sounded perfect.

That first War Horse teaser was such a breath of fresh air. First new Williams theme in three years. 

I just love "1M1 High Life In Hong Kong", aka the first 40 seconds of "Anything Goes"
 
 
 
The way in 40 seconds, Williams creates a sense of mystery and foreboding that gracefully gives way to the old-school musical sound as soon as Kate Capshaw steps out in her dress and lifts her arm up, a second choir part when she puts both hands up for Harrison Ford's name, then the little fanfare for the film's title, and then perfectly segues into the Cole Porter song... it's great!
 
Such a brilliant way to introduce the score and film!
 

Yes someone has. There's a video on youtube of someone singing lyrics over a cover of the Schindler's List theme. I can't find it right now but it's there, just search.

I love this topic! Though it is probably one of the most subjective things we could ever talk about, but I agree that it's one of my favorite qualities about Williams, or generally any artist I love.
 
I find Snowy's Theme to be one of his funniest actually. It has all these weird little idiosyncrasies to it. Favorite grin-inducing moments include that rapidly oscillating piano texture around 0:42-3, the bonkers solo at 1:20, the flutes/clarinets jumping in at 1:29, the basses around 1:37-39, the piano farting at 2:03-4ish. This piece doesn't get enough love around here, really, I think it's brilliant whimsy.
 
 
Here's another lulzy musical pause:
 
 
His marches in general often have little flourishes, transitions and things that are musically "funny" to me somehow. Or the way he exploits structure, like his infamous false endings. The contrast in the transition at 2:16 between the big brassy cadence and the piccolos kicking off the trio in Midway March comes to mind as something that has a certain effortless wit/charm to me. 
 
 
Or this section of 1941, which I think is sort of funny in the way Buster Keaton is funny. Just that kind of comic-balletic grace that the movie lacked. 2:02 really makes me smile.
 
 
 
 
For sure, we could go on forever. My favorites are "Nocturnal Activities" and "Bug Tunnel/Death Trap," I think. Last time I watched TOD I really noticed and loved how both of those cues are able to convey the idea of time passing as a "countdown" in really funny ways. Love this little bit in particular, great example of Williams making something extra funny:
 
 

Cool, nice examples, this old movie is something I've only heard about now, I'll definitely check it out for the music if nothing else.
The Indy films in general are loaded with musical comedy, they are really asking for it, this is my personal favourite, this scene was also one of my biggest laughs as a child.
 
 

Looks like Williams is still plagiarizing Doris Day! Listen to the opening notes of Finn's Theme:
 
Once again, this has been shamelessly stolen from Doris Day's Calamity Jane. Listen to the two notes Doris Day's hammer makes as she bangs a nail into a chair:
 
Decide for yourself.

From the Montage: Great Film Composers and the Piano - CD & Film Facebook page:
 
 Here's a great clip of Gloria performing the world premiere of "Conversations" by John Williams during the Piano Spheres concert series. Here she can be seen playing Movement III: "Chet and Miles", with a special appearance by the composer.
 
 

I love it. He added more layers of mystery to it. As others have said, it is reminiscent of the original music for the binary sunset scene.

To be honest, I prefer the sound of TFA to the prequels in terms of the drier sound mix, the over-mic'ed brass, and the overall sound of the LA musicians. I want JW to stick with them.

To be honest, I prefer the sound of TFA to the prequels in terms of the drier sound mix, the over-mic'ed brass, and the overall sound of the LA musicians. I want JW to stick with them.

I love it. He added more layers of mystery to it. As others have said, it is reminiscent of the original music for the binary sunset scene.

There's been discussion of this piece scattered in various threads, and I figured it was prime time it got its own thread to increase visibility of this piece
 
Here are two performances of it on Youtube, anyone know of any others?
 
 
 

Battle in the Snow.
 
 
I love how the piano is both melodic and rhythmic. Love that first cymbal crash at :18. Love the percussion throughout. Very inventive and sounds unlike anything else JW did in the series. 
 
Pound for pound Empire might be the best score he ever wrote.

Interesting thread, love the examples!
 
 
General Grievous from RotS is what came to my mind the first time I read the title. I just love the raw power and rhythmic nature of this cue, it's nothing he's ever done for Star Wars before and since.
(Zam would have been my number 2 choice, it's a shame both are heavily edited or differently arranged in the movies themselves)
 

The Rooftops of the Hanamachi from Memoirs.
 
 
Remembering that the percussion section also includes pitched percussion (marimbas, temple bowls, tuned gongs etc.), I think this is a pretty impressive display of a more textural approach. Almost chamber-like at moments.
 

Has anyone shared these? This youtuber does piano arrangements of a bunch of music including a few tracks from TFA. Those pieces are quite nice. Better arrangements than many other fan covers I've watched on youtube.
 
 

Little snippet of "Jedi Steps and Finale" from the La Verdi Orchestra. I like hearing Finn's motif closer to the Follow Me/Falcon tempo. The OST version is okay but it's just great with that extra kick, especially when the full Poe's theme statement comes in.
 

I like to think that Williams has a closet filled with nothing but almost identical looking turtlenecks all tagged different things like "for scoring," "formal," or "casual," and which one he wears is dependent on which situation he feels he will be confronted with that day.