On the Beach

[Pieter Boelen 633]

Every few days I will post a thread on a random score from my collection that we can discuss and rate. I made a playlist on my computer with one track of each score I've got, so by using the random play option, I'll be able to post a truly random score each time. Hopefully this will allow us to discuss some scores that would otherwise never be discussed. Also we can record the rating so that we can create a full list of the ratings given to scores by JWFan.com.

On my holiday I listened to a fair few scores that I never really listened to before, so just for fun I'll be posting those next.

Today's score is On the Beach by Christopher Gordon. Are you familiar with it? What do you like about it? What don't you like about it? How do do you think it works in the film? What are your favourite tracks?

So far JWFan has rated:

See Soundtrack Ratings by JWFan.com.

This web page contains the ratings from all my previous polls as well as those of Blumenkohl's.

Final ratings are converted to a 1-10 rating for both rating systems so that they can be compared.

[Ollie 859]

I'm not familiar with this score.

However the cover of the Varese album makes On The Beach look like comedy film when it is something much more serious.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

4 stars. Although perhaps I'm a bit biased due to its great reputation; I always thought it meandered a bit and therefore haven't listened to it in a long time. It has some excellent highlights at least, though it's not as good as Moby Dick.

[JoeinAR 1,759]

why would anyone want a score from an obscure and not that good remake of an obscure late 50's film?

[Richard Penna 2,082]

Never even heard of this one.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

why would anyone want a score from an obscure and not that good remake of an obscure late 50's film?

Because of the Goldsmith factor (which doesn't just apply to the bad movies he scored).

[Pieter Boelen 633]

I only listened to it once and can't yet form an opinion of it, but it's definitly very good with some very impressive highlights, most notably "The World at War", "Moira and Towers Meet", "Prepare to Dive", "Voyage North" and "Flight through the Apostles & Elegy".

[Ollie 859]

why would anyone want a score from an obscure and not that good remake of an obscure late 50's film?

It's all about the music not the movie.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

It's all about the information!

[Quintus 5,391]

These polls were pretty obscure to start with, now their subjects are just unknown to me, most of the time. I would also suggest that your polls are posted far too frequently.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

Not too frequently. The more the merrier!

[JoeinAR 1,759]

why would anyone want a score from an obscure and not that good remake of an obscure late 50's film?

It's all about the music not the movie.

without the movie there would be no music.

I only vaguly recall the original On the Beach, it had Norman Bates in it I think.

[Jeshopk 8]

why would anyone want a score from an obscure and not that good remake of an obscure late 50's film?

Because it's a masterpiece. Listening to this score in solitude, you will be taken on a journey unlike any other. 5/5

[Pieter Boelen 633]

These polls were pretty obscure to start with, now their subjects are just unknown to me, most of the time. I would also suggest that your polls are posted far too frequently.

Since people know them already, I'm a bit reluctant to post too many well-known scores. I thought posting obscure ones might help people in discovering some hidden gems. I could post some more well-known ones if you like though.

Indeed I am posting them fairly frequently right now, but the reason for that is because I'm leaving for a six months in 2,5 weeks and I'd like to get as many polls done before that time. But I can tone down my poll-posting if people think I'm overdoing it. Just give the word. <_<

[JoeinAR 1,759]

yeah but you should put something out there that more than one person has heard

btw the polls are fine, just less obscurity please

[Erik Woods 384]

IMHO, it's one of the decades best. Top 15 for sure. It's also one of the most under appreciated scores of the decade. Christopher Gordon is an incredible talent and that talent is definitely showcased in this score. From rousing fanfares, to heartbreaking elegy's, gorgeous choral cues and sweeping thematic material. It's got everything a film score fan loves. It's a 5 out of 5 score for me.

I also highly recommend his score to Moby Dick and Salem's Lot - which is one of the finest horror scores you will ever hear. Lots of dark, gothic, choral music backed by a big orchestra. And if you can find it there is an album with his 2006 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony's music. It's right up there with John Williams' Olympic music.

-Erik-

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

Indeed I am posting them fairly frequently right now, but the reason for that is because I'm leaving for a six months in 2,5 weeks and I'd like to get as many polls done before that time.

I might post a few of these during that time then, if I'm not too lazy.

But I can tone down my poll-posting if people think I'm overdoing it. Just give the word.

Stick to it. And I think the "obscurity" is fine. Gives us a chance to read opinions about scores me may not have heard yet.

[Jeshopk 8]

On the Beach need not be obscure. Any film score fan would love it.

[Pieter Boelen 633]

I'll give it a four-star rating after my first listen. There are parts that didn't interest me that much, but the stand-out moments really are good. It's actually the last choral pieces that I don't find very interesting, because they don't really seem to connect with the rest of the score and there's not really a theme to them that I discovered.

I might post a few of these during that time then, if I'm not too lazy.

You'd be welcome to. Along with anybody else who would like to. I can give you the Excel file I use for rating the scores so that you can keep track of all the ratings. I like to be able to compare the end results.

Stick to it. And I think the "obscurity" is fine. Gives us a chance to read opinions about scores me may not have heard yet.

I'll try to make it a healthy mix then.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

I relistened to it again earlier. Very good indeed. Reminded me a lot of 70s Williams in several places.

I might post a few of these during that time then, if I'm not too lazy.

You'd be welcome to. Along with anybody else who would like to. I can give you the Excel file I use for rating the scores so that you can keep track of all the ratings. I like to be able to compare the end results.

You obviously fail to understand how serious "if I'm not too lazy" is.

[Pieter Boelen 633]

Well, posting the actual polls isn't that hard. If you don't want to do the whole Excel thing, just keep a list of links to all threads you posted and I'll update the Excel file and internet page myself as soon as I can.

[Red 73]

Never even heard of this one.

Me neither.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

Well, posting the actual polls isn't that hard. If you don't want to do the whole Excel thing, just keep a list of links to all threads you posted and I'll update the Excel file and internet page myself as soon as I can.

That I'll manage.

[Pieter Boelen 633]

Cool. Thanks very much.

[Pieter Boelen 633]

Having listened to this one a lot more over the past many months, this score easily deserves 4,5 stars, if not 5. There's a whole bunch of themes, including the doomed military theme, the ominous theme for the fall-out cloud and the absolute highlight of the score: the love theme. The themes are used very frequently and put to good use throughout the various tracks. I like how, after all is said and done, the music does not end on a depressing note at all. This one deserves to be more well-known.