Jump to content

QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER (2025 Intrada) Basil Poledouris


EdG

Recommended Posts

It's a fun score. The 41-minute OST is enough, though. But wasn't this already expanded a few years ago? Or maybe I'm confusing it with something else.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Thor said:

But wasn't this already expanded a few years ago? Or maybe I'm confusing it with something else.


It looks like Prometheus did an expanded release nearly 20 years ago, obviously long out of print and costly now.  https://www.discogs.com/release/3662679-Basil-Poledouris-Quigley-Down-Under-The-Complete-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't heard this, but I love Western scores.  The sample Intrada video starts out a little tuba heavy, but then settles into an appealing Elmer Bernstein mode, which is my sweet spot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, mstrox said:


It looks like Prometheus did an expanded release nearly 20 years ago, obviously long out of print and costly now.  https://www.discogs.com/release/3662679-Basil-Poledouris-Quigley-Down-Under-The-Complete-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack

 

That's the one! For something I care so little about, I'm impressed I do occasionally remember those kinds of releases. Occasionally.

 

"The Attack" is rollicking good fun, with a banjo trying to keep up with "Goldsmith-ian" action meters. Always been a favourite Poledouris cue.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Thor said:

But wasn't this already expanded a few years ago?

That's why it says in the teaser "the DEFINITIVE release of the complete score".

 

 

28 minutes ago, Cindylover1969 said:

I have a cassette by Intrada of this.

Then you don't need to upgrade. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Thor said:

Cassettes rule!

It's the only thing I've seen of theirs in that format. (As opposed to a title being licensed to another label like Extreme Prejudice (and other Intrada titles) to Silva Screen in the UK.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

GREAT main and action theme on this score.

Absolutely STELLAR! 

 

But was anything worthwhile actually still missing from the previous release? 

I figured it'd be pretty much comprehensive as it was...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Yavar Moradi said:

That’s a good sweet spot. @Thor mentioned my sweet spot, with this score — the action theme:

 

If that doesn’t sell it to all who are unfamiliar, I don’t know what will…

 

It's ROBOCOP on a HORSE! :heart:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 minutes ago, Tallguy said:

It's ROBOCOP on a HORSE! :heart:

 

With AWESOME ACTION BANJOS!

 

1 hour ago, Jay said:

Just because an expansion came out in the past is no reason to not do a new version now.  It's not only about releasing music now that wasn't on that one, but also about it just being back in print for fans to be able to buy in the first place again, plus, perhaps, a improvement in sound quality plus, perhaps, additional music.

 

Exactly... this is a very similar situation to LLL's recent new edition of Rain Man. Except the previous expanded Quigley Down Under (one of the best scores Poledouris ever wrote) came out a whopping 19 years ago instead of 7 years ago, and it's been selling for a lot of money on the secondary market (even the shorter original Intrada album has been).

 

I'm really glad this score is finally being revisited so a lot of other folks can discover it.

 

Yavar

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, Jay said:

I've never seen this film or heard this score at all, so I'm looking forward very much to discovering it now thanks to this release!

Definitely recommended. 

I recall the film being entertaining as well. 

The legendary Alan Rickman is the villain, so no complaints there!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

See the film if you can before listening to the new score release, @Jay! It's maybe not *quite* as great as the score itself, but it's still IMO one of the best films Poledouris ever scored. Just really good fun in general but also with some moments of real darkness and pathos...powerful stuff at times.

 

Alan Rickman is SO great as the villain. And Laura San Giacomo is great too, as the initially kooky love interest revealed to have a tragic past. Nice music for her too:

 

 

So yeah, this one's a classic in my book. Score and film (to only a slightly lesser extent).

 

Yavar

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Yavar Moradi said:

it's still IMO one of the best films Poledouris ever scored

 

A bold statement considering he scored Starship Troopers and Robocop!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Jay said:

 

A bold statement considering he scored Starship Troopers and Robocop!

Conan x2 too, eh?

Though I recently rewatched that movie and was a bit miffed at the repetition of music from earlier in the movie.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, Jay said:

 

A bold statement considering he scored Starship Troopers and Robocop!

 

By CROM, you forgot

 

conan-arnold.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, Jay said:

A bold statement considering he scored Starship Troopers and Robocop!


I like both of those films (initially disliked Starship Troopers but eventually came around to it because of his humorous antifascist jabs). I definitely would prefer to watch Quigley Down Under almost any day, and I say that as a huge sci-fi fan.

 

I also find a lot to like/admire/enjoy in Conan the Barbarian, but I wouldn’t say I’m a big fan of the film overall.

 

The only Poledouris-scored films I like better than Quigley Down Under are The Hunt for Red October and Les Miserables (the latter of which is also my #1 favorite Poledouris score, so another case of not loving the film *quite* as much as what he wrote for it even though both are excellent…) I still need to see some of Basil’s smaller scale films with great scores, like It’s My Party and A Whale for the Killing, but I kinda doubt I’ll find a film of his that I like more than those two.


Yavar

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Andy said:

I... don't really love Robocop all that much.  It's iconic, and the film is great, but never a really great listen for me.

 

Same here. Sold off my CD years ago. Great theme, the rest meanders, IMO. A bit like the Fiedel TERMINATORs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 minutes ago, Pieter Boelen said:

Conan x2 too, eh?

 

Those are not good movies

 

3 minutes ago, Thor said:

 

Same here. Sold off my CD years ago. Great theme, the rest meanders, IMO. A bit like the Fiedel TERMINATORs.

 

This current conversation is talking about the films, not the scores:

 

35 minutes ago, Yavar Moradi said:

it's still IMO one of the best films Poledouris ever scored

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I first heard of this score a few months ago when my dad had the film on TV in the other room

 

I was instantly captivated by the music - I had to go and ask him what it was called

 

One of those rare scores that's instantly memorable after just one or two listens

Link to comment
Share on other sites

41 minutes ago, Jay said:

Those are not good movies

I thought the first was supposed to be considered a classic? 

The second not so much. 

 

My rewatch didn't impress me that much though. 

I like the concept and the music is great, but other than that, it's SOOO corny! 

Normally I don't mind that at all, but Conan is pretty much next level. 

Especially that green soup with the hand just randomly floating around in it, what the HELL??

It's entertaining though...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The movie has a few great moments, but it's mostly pretty average. It's very much carried by Poledouris and Alan Rickman.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

44 minutes ago, A. A. Ron said:

The movie has a few great moments, but it's mostly pretty average. It's very much carried by Poledouris and Alan Rickman.

 

Agreed. Although Selleck and Giacomo were pretty good. But this should be the early 90's villain that everybody remembered Rickman for instead of Robin Hood.

 

Looking at IMDB. Wait, WHAT?!?

 

image.png

 

(He's YOUNGER than I am?!?)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Andy said:

I... don't really love Robocop all that much.  It's iconic, and the film is great, but never a really great listen for me.

 

Same.

 

8 hours ago, mstrox said:

It looks like Prometheus did an expanded release nearly 20 years ago, obviously long out of print and costly now.

 

How the hell is this almost 20 years old?

 

I have the Prometheus, I remember the score as fun, but not particularly outstanding. Maybe the new release is an opportunity to give it another try.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

 

 

How the hell is this almost 20 years old?

 

 

Actually, the movie came out in 1990, so it's more than 20 years old.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I look forward to picking this one up the next time I place an order at Intrada, and hope to see the movie (I've never seen it) before then as well!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, Jay said:

I look forward to picking this one up the next time I place an order at Intrada, and hope to see the movie (I've never seen it) before then as well!

According to JustWatch, you can watch it for free at Tu or Pluto. You might have to watch it sooner than latter tho, as it leaves this March

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hate watching movies with ads; I'll wait until its on a service we subscribe to, or rent it for $3-4.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

28 minutes ago, Jay said:

I hate watching movies with ads; I'll wait until its on a service we subscribe to, or rent it for $3-4.

I've found that "Adblock Plus" chrome extension (which is free btw) works well on Tu. I used it when watching movies with Jerry Goldsmith's scores. Can't confirm for Pluto tho as I just recently discovered it's existence.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

31 minutes ago, Slitherjump said:

I've found that "Adblock Plus" chrome extension (which is free btw) works well on Tu. I used it when watching movies with Jerry Goldsmith's scores. Can't confirm for Pluto tho as I just recently discovered it's existence.

I assume he also prefers to watch on a TV. (Though to be fair, you can usually hook up a TV to a computer via HDMI)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 minutes ago, Meredith McKay said:

I assume he also prefers to watch on a TV. (Though to be fair, you can usually hook up a TV to a computer via HDMI)

That also works, for me I use the Google Chromecast device via the long range wireless benefit 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Alan Rickman plays another baddie in that weird period between Die Hard and Robin Hood. He does the Rickman, but is clearly a jobbing actor unaware of how significant Hans Gruber will be. It's fascinating to look at an actor who is on the verge of becoming an icon. Simon Wincer is such a loss - giving Basil moments like these to score (not difficult to hear what he would have done with DWW): 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Guidelines.