Jay 37,319 Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 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. 202Before 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. 202Retail Price: $29.99Available NowFor track listing and sound samples, please visithttp://store.intrada...it.A/id.7685/.fWAR OF THE WORLDS / WHEN WORLDS COLLIDELabel: Intrada Special Collection Volume 204Date: 1953/1951/1954/1955Tracks: 65Time = 141:24World 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 COLLIDEWAR OF THE WORLDS01 Main Title 1:1102 The Thing/It’s Moving 3:1203 Heat Ray Dispenser/Get the Military 1:4504 Attempted Communication 3:0905 The Scanning Eye 2:4106 Evacuation 3:0007 End Title 1:03Total Score Time: 16:02WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE08 Main Title/Foreword 2:3509 The Black Box 1:1110 Uncertainty 1:3311 Bellus, Zyra and the D.A. 1:5912 U.N. Headquarters/Nasty Headlines 1:1113 Project Recruiting/Project Indoctrination 4:2814 Martial Law/Evacuation Montage 1:3415 Securing the Rocket 0:5116 A Savage Outburst/Save the Ship 2:5417 A Revengeful Night/Bellus Approaches/Doomsday Drawing 2:3218 Calendar Montage 2:5219 Tony’s Generosity 2:5620 Ecstasy and Despair 0:5821 Zero Hour 1:3522 The Take Off 1:5223 The Flight 2:2324 The New World 3:49Total Score Time: 37:12The Extras (WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE)25 10AA Unknown 0:2226 High on the List 1:5827 Café Fox Trot 1:1428 Main Title 1:16Total Extras Time: 4:46The Extras (WAR OF THE WORLDS)29 Main Title 1:1330 Prologue and Main Title 1:4531 Heat Ray Dispenser Sound Effect 2:58Total Extras Time: 5:54Disc Two:THE NAKED JUNGLE | CONQUEST OF SPACETHE NAKED JUNGLE01 Prelude/Main Title 1:2702 Opening Sequence/A Lonely Arrival 5:0203 Leiningen’s Arrival/First Meeting 2:2804 Bitter Words 2:2405 Survey of the Plantation 2:4206 Silhouetted Temptation 1:2707 Drunken Developments/The Hanging 3:5108 Marabunta 1:5109 Almost Enticed 2:2010 Army on the March/Escape Destroyed/Magnified Enemy 2:3411 Drums #2 1:4912 Explosion Montage 2:3513 The Fight Begins 2:0514 Retreat 2:0015 I Love You 2:0716 Flooded and End Title 3:07Total Score Time 39:55CONQUEST OF SPACE17 Main Title/The Firmament 2:3018 Stricken 1:2319 Meteors/Transport Rocket 2:4020 Orders to Mars 2:4721 Off to Mars 1:3122 Stowaway 1:2023 Asteroid 1:2224 Last Rites 1:2425 Approach 2:2226 Mars and Madness 3:4227 Life and Death 1:5328 Snow 3:3129 The Elements/Earthquake 3:4630 Victory/Finale/Cast 1:37Total Score Time 31:48The Extras (CONQUEST OF SPACE)31 Space Muzak 2:3732 Main Title 1:08Total Extras Time 3:39The Extras (THE NAKED JUNGLE)33 Prelude in E Minor (Chopin) 1:0134 Ant Noise 1:07Total Extras Time 2:08Leith Stevens, Daniele Amfitheatrof, Nathan Van CleavePrice: $29.99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 Very Interesting.I love both War of the Worlds and When Worlds Collide, both the films and their scores.I think When Worlds Collide could be remade into a terrific disaster film. They could even use the same story with ease.I often thought JW would be the perfect composer for this potential remake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,319 Posted July 10, 2012 Author Share Posted July 10, 2012 7/10/12Funny story. Well, I'm trying to smile anyway, as I work to fix a problem.I arrive to work this morning and Steve comes out of the mailing room with a query. No big deal, right? So he asks - and here's where the smile comes in - "Does the score for War Of The Worlds begin with jungle drums?" I am not making this up. Who would... unless Steve was in his practical joke mode. So I continue smiling while putting on a shiny new CD that's supposed to begin with a burst of brass and percussion announcing the Martians are coming! The Martians are coming! My smile fades fast when I instead find I'm naked in the jungle. Yep. Really naked. Our pressing plant delivered at the last minute our new 2-CD set for four George Pal film scores... but not in the order we intended. CD 1 is CD 2 and vice versa. Sure, the CDs sound fine but the labels are reversed. Did I hit the roof? Yes. Is the plant fixing the issue asap? Yes. Will we be shipping proper CDs out early next week? Yes, I say... with a smile.Source: http://www.intrada.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4942 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ST-321 4 Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 I guess that means a delay in getting them. Still, I am very much looking forward to having this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean1700 4 Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 These looks like an awesome release. Both movies on disc 1 are true classics from the 50's so I think I might have to get this set. I've not seen the movies on disc 2 though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ST-321 4 Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 I got my shipping notice for this today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ST-321 4 Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 There doesn't seem to be much interest in this here, but my copy arrived today & I am importing it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omen II 1,235 Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 There doesn't seem to be much interest in this here, but my copy arrived today & I am importing it now. I intend to get this marvellous release in the fullness of time, ST-321, planetary natural disasters notwithstanding. I am familiar with three of these movies and have long wanted to hear more from Leith Stevens. He died relatively young after suffering a heart attack when informed that his wife had been killed in a road accident - a very sad end for a much unheralded composer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ST-321 4 Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 That is a sad end indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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