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Herrmann and Williams Questions


Dole
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I have a couple of questions about John Williams and Bernard Herrmann I was hoping maybe someone could answer. Herrmann died near Christmas of 1975, the day after finishing his recording of the score to Taxi Driver. Williams composed the score for Hitchcock's final film Family Plot, released in April of the following year. My questions are:

1. Had Williams signed on to do Family Plot before Herrmann's death? If so, do we know what Herrmann thought of his protege working with the director who had fired him a decade before? If not, what do you think Herrmann might have thought of the Williams/Hitchcock collaboration?

2. Did Herrmann ever comment on Williams's score for Jaws?

Thanks for any help or insights.

Dole- who wishes Herrmann could have lived a couple years longer to hear Williams score Star Wars and Close Encounters.

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1. Yes, he signed before. Williams, after he knew Hitchcock wanted him to write the music, called Herrmann, 'cause he knew they (Hitchcock and Benny) worked together. Herrmann told him there was no problem, Hitchcock and he had agree not to work together again.

2. No idea.

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Thanks scissorhands. Actually, it was seeing your avatar and banner that reminded me that I had been thinking about those questions for a long time. I had hoped you might know something seeing as you're a fan of Family Plot. Is it a good score? I've only ever heard the End Title.

Dole

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A really good score (so good, that it is in my Top 10).

The main theme is the same as the one from the End Credits, but it's played all over the score very darkly. And with much harpsichord! Amazing!

I hope it's released on CD someday.

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  • 3 weeks later...

And I think even the end credits are not from the OST, but just a re-recording (Royal Scottish and City of Prague, if i'm not wrong).

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There are re-recordings by the Utha SO on Varese and the Prague PO on Silva, but the end credits music, from the ost, were released back in 1999 by Hip-O records (http://johnwilliams.jw-music.net/cine_disc.../hipd-64661.htm)

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Awesome. ;)

Moreover, i think it's longer than the film version, because it was edited (you notice it clearly in the end credits).

I must get that CD.

Thanks Miguel.

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