North by Northwest [Soundtrack]

Track Listings

1. Main Titles

2. Abduction of George Kaplan

3. Elevator

4. Murder at the United Nations

5. Conversation Piece

6. Crash of the Cropduster

7. Auction and the Airport

8. Cafeteria Shooting

9. Duo

10. Stalking Vandamm's House

11. Matchbox

12. Aeroplane/Mount Rushmore/Finale

Tracks:

Gone With The Wind: Overture
Citizen Kane: Overture
Casablanca: As Time Goes By
It's A Wonderful Life: It's A Wonderful Life
The Third Man: The Harry Lime Theme
The Searchers: Suite
The Bridge On The River Kwai: Colonel Bogey March
Vertigo: Prelude
Touch Of Evil: Main Title
Ben-Hur: Parade Of The Charioteers
North By Northwest: Prelude
Psycho: Suite
The Magnificent Seven: The Magnificent Seven
Lawrence Of Arabia: Overture

Tracks:

To Kill A Mockingbird: Suite
The Great Escape: Main Title
Doctor Zhivago: Main Title & Lara's Theme
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Once Upon A Time In The West: Jill's Theme
2001: A Space Odyssey: Also Sprach Zarathustra
Midnight Cowboy: Midnight Cowboy
Get Carter: Main Title
A Clockwork Orange: Ode To Joy
The Godfather: Waltz & Love Theme
Jaws: Jaws
Rocky: Gonna Fly Now
Taxi Driver: Suite
Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope

Tracks:

Superman: Main Theme
Alien: End Title
Raging Bull: Intermezzo From Cavalleria Rusticana
Raiders Of The Lost Ark: Raiders March
Blade Runner: End Titles
E.T.: The Extraterrestrial: Adventures On Earth
Once Upon A Time In America: Deborah's Theme
Back To The Future: Main Theme
Witness: Building The Barn
Aliens: Main Title
Cinema Paradiso: Cinema Paradiso
Glory: Charging Frot Wagner
Dances With Wolves: The John Dunbar Theme
Unforgiven: Claudia's Theme

Tracks:

The Piano: The Heart Asks Pleasure First
Schindler's List: Main Theme
Braveheart: End Credits
Titanic: My Heart Will Go On
Saving Private Ryan: Hymn To The Fallen
American Beauty: Any Other Name
Gladiator: Now We Are Free
Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring: The Fellowship
The Girl With The Pearl Earring: Griet's Theme
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl: Suite
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban: Suite
Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Letter That Never Came
Finding Neverland: Impossible Opening
The Incredibles: Overture

Customer Reviews:

Six Decades of Film Music.......2007-05-13

This is film music for the classical music lover. The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra presents excellent arrangements of a number of classic film themes (although several pieces of the 56 film classics selected for this 4 CD set are not orchestral arrangements, but rather specialty arrangements). Besides great film composers such as John Williams, Elmer Bernstein, Ennio Morricone, and James Horner, classical composers such as Richard Strauss and Pietro Mascagni make an appearance. On several of the numbers the Crouch End Festival Chorus adds the human voice to the power of the full symphonic orchestra to create true movie magic. If you like the sound of a full symphony orchestra playing some of the most recognized themes ever written, you'll love these CDs.

Excellent collection with fine performances.......2007-03-28

Silva Screen Records, based in England, has been issuing some fine collections of film scores, more in one box than we have the right to expect. This four-CD box contains scores by many of the best writers, including Max Steiner, Bernard Herrmann, Dimitri Tomkin, Kenneth J. Alford (The Bridge on the River Kwai), Elmer Bernstein, Maurice Jarre, Ennio Marricone, John Barry, Nino Rota, John Williams, James Horner, and more. We can all think of additional film scores we wished were included, but then there's no way this collection could be all-inclusive. The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, supplemented by Crouch End Festival Chorus on some numbers, does a very competent job...The liner notes give the basic information without any commentary, and as far as I can see, contain only one error. Am I wrong or are tracks 9 and 10 on the fourth CD mislabeled? Track 9, which runs 7:33, seems to have the excitement of "Pirates of the Caribbean" (which I did not see) and track 10, which runs 4:22, the more sedate "The Girl with the Pearl Earring (which I also did not see). Listings seem to have them reversed.

"essential film scores from 1939 to 2004 ~ Incredible Music".......2005-05-16

When I think of the "Golden Age" of Hollywood, many composers come to mind...you gave the usher your ticket in the theater and sat down, knowingly you were going to get your moneys worth...when the curtain opened and you heard those first few notes...you sat back, watched and listened as the film score and orchestra worked their magic...now we have the ultimate from Silva Screen Classics "The Incredible Film Music Box", featuring a four disc set of the essential film scores of the past 60 years...covering several decades from 1939 through and up to the present 2004

There are compilations and then there are "Compilations" beginning with a classic that even the youngsters today recognize "GONE WITH THE WIND" (1939) (Max Steiner), sweeping score that captures the tragic history of the South during the Civil War, one great cue after another, it doesn't get any better than this, nominated by the Academy for Best Original Score...and closing on Disc 4 with "THE INCREDIBLES" (2004) (Michael Giacchino), the big hit in computer animation from Walt Disney & Pixar that once again pit Super-Heroes against the forces of evil...our family of five Supers prove crime doesn't pay, but box-office receipts do...gotta love it!

Silva Screen Classics as usual, has put quality into this 4-CD-Set featuring The City Of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus conducted by Kenneth Alwyn, Bill Ashton, Paul Bateman, James Fitzpatrick, Mario Klemens, Derek Wadsworth, and Nic Raine. Recorded in "Dolby Surround" with the new technology of "HDCD", this is a "film-score-buffs" dream, one to treasure now and years to come.

Some selections are missing, but when you think of what Silva has included, it is impossible to please everyone...was happy to see "TOUCH OF EVIL" (1958) from composer Henry Mancini, as I feel this composer deserves all the recognition that has been overlooked recently in the music world...This collection is aimed directly at the "Serious Film Score" music fans and collectors...Silva is as always, perfect in every way...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 4-CD-Set ~ Silva America 1181 ~ (5/10/2005)

Bernard Herrmann Film Scores: From Citizen Kane To Taxi Driver

Average customer rating:

"Elmer Bernstein conducts film scores of Bernard Herrmann"

Bernard Herrmann Film Scores: From Citizen Kane To Taxi Driver

Manufacturer: Milan Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bernard Herrmann: The Film Scores
Bernard Herrmann: The Film Scores
North By Northwest: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Vertigo: Original Motion Picture Score (1995 Re-recording)
Taxi Driver: Original Soundtrack Recording

ASIN: B000641MAW
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Tracks:

Citizen Kane: Suite/Prelude/The Inquirer (Polka) /Fenale/End Cast
Devil and Daniel Webster: The Devil's Concerto [#]
Man Who Knew Too Much: Cantata/The Storm Clouds [#]
Psycho Suite: Prelude/The Murder/Finale
Wrong Man: Prelude [#]
Vertigo: Sc d'Amour
North by Northwest: Prelude
Bride Wore Black: A Musical Scenario/Prelude/Femme Fatale/The Accid [#]
Fahrenheit 451: Finale (The Book People)
Taxi Driver: A Night Piece for Orchestra/Prelude/Blues/Night Prowl
Bernard Herrmann on Film Music - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

"Elmer Bernstein conducts film scores of Bernard Herrmann".......2004-10-28

Milan Records presents Elmer Bernstein conducting The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with this digitally remastered "Bernard Herrmann Film Scores ", from "CITIZEN KANE" [1942], "THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER" [1942], "THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH" [1956], "PSYCHO" [1959], "THE WRONG MAN" [1957], "VERTIGO" [1958], "NORTH BY NORTHWEST" [1959], "THE BRIDE WORE BLACK" [1967], "FAHRENHEIT 451" [1966], "TAXI DRIVER" [1973]...and the final track is "BERNARD HERRMANN ON FILM MUSIC" [recorded early 1970s]...which clearly states why music is an additional character to any film, without it the film would be incomplete...during the silent film era, the piano player kept the audience tuned into what was happening, whether it was a love scene or danger lurking around every corner.

Herrmann completely mesmerizes us with his themes, blending variations with eloquent and subtle cues...depicting each character in the film, and fine tuned to the story-line ~ he was a genius and knew his craft well...relies heavily on strings, usually with lyrical solos for the winds...absolute in capturing the essence of each scene, musically letting the audience in through his score ~ the result is colors come shining through with wonderful arrangements...many of the classic film scores have become cult favorites among "film-score-buffs" like me and collectors alike.

Each film score is superb and very strong...the balance of the instruments and experimental touches of Bernard Herrmann are all just brilliant ~ working with directors like Welles, Dieterle, Hitchcock, Truffaut and Scorsese all were very conscious of classic film music and and Herrmann's cues really came through...each outing was nothing less than a bravo performance...those who ignored Herrmann during his career, really missed out...cause all the diehard collectors of film music knew he was a WINNER! ~ Bernard Herrmann [1911-1975].

Total Time: 69:35 on 11 Tracks ~ Milan Records 36095 ~ (10/26/2004)

Music from the Great Hitchcock Movie Thrillers

Average customer rating:

Wonderful music, but not the best choice
The essential Bernard Herrmann CD

Music from the Great Hitchcock Movie Thrillers

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Great Film Music
Bernard Herrmann: Music From Great Film Classics
Vertigo: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1958 Film)
Bernard Herrmann Film Scores: From Citizen Kane To Taxi Driver
Bernard Herrmann: The Film Scores

ASIN: B000004261
Release Date: 1996-05-14

Tracks:

Psycho (A narrative for orch)
Marine
North by Northwest
Vertigo: Prelude/The nightmare/Scene d'amour
A portrait of 'Hitch' (from The Trouble with Harry)

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful music, but not the best choice.......2007-02-15

A CD with a similar title (Psycho: Great Hitchcock Movie Thrillers) includes the exact same five tracks on this CD plus 2 more:

SPELLBOUND Theme (Miklos Rozsa) (4:46) - Stanley Black & the London Festival Orchestra and Chorus (arr.: M. David), 1963

ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS TV Theme (Gonoud: Funeral March Of A Marionette) (4:39) - Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Conducted by Alexander Gibson, 1965

The essential Bernard Herrmann CD.......2004-08-25

Having this CD available again (used or otherwise) is salvation for Americans, who did without this for many years after the original Phase 4 disks departed. These 1969 recordings by the London Philharmonic, with the composer at the helm, are the definitive versions of the famous scores from "Psycho", "North By Northwest" and "Vertigo".

Everything about this CD is top notch. The sound was recorded in Decca's Phase 4 process, meaning as many as 20 microphones were used to mike every section of the orchestra. This sometimes led to music where all the instruments seemed to be as loud as all the others all the time. It also led to musical realization that cannot be matched through natural means.

If you read the trailer to this CD it might seem like there's not much here to like. True, the timing is not great at about 46 minutes. The "Psycho" section itself is more than 14 minutes in duration and includes music from all the famous scenes including the opening, the first viewing of the Bates Motel, the shower scene, the staircase stabbing and Norman Bates' demise.

The second best batch is the music from "Vertigo", which includes music from the prelude, nightmare section and love scene. The "North By Northwest" theme is the same music you heard in the theater when you saw the movie. Ditto "Marnie".

This is a keepsake for Herrmann fans that has worn its years well and never been equaled in later DDD recordings containing much more music. During intervening years, the version by Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic cames closest to capturing the creepy aura of Herrmann's Hitchocock scores. But they ultimatley failed to make the persuasive case modeled on the composers own work, now available for you on this disk.

The notes to this issue continue to be pretty skimpy, giving only a page to Herrmann's Hitchcock scores while dedicating that much to the Phase 4 recording process that is no longer in use.

Kudos in this recording to the Phase 4 technicians and to the strings of the London Philharmonic, one of the world's most esteemed musical bodies. Buy this one if it's available, for one day it will not be.

North By Northwest: Original Motion Picture Score (1979 Performance)

Average customer rating:

Early Digital Recording remains one of the Best
"Herrmann was the master craftsman of film music"
definite goosebump material
Superior sounding but lacks some of the tracks of other CD

North By Northwest: Original Motion Picture Score (1979 Performance)
Bernard Herrmann
Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Vertigo: Original Motion Picture Score (1995 Re-recording)
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North By Northwest: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad (1998 Re-recording)
The Three Worlds of Gulliver

ASIN: B00000153I
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

Main Title
Abducting George Kaplan
The Elevator
Murder at the U.N.
Romance on the Train
Crash of the Cropduster
The Auction & The Airport
Duo (Love Theme Reprise)
Cafeteria Shooting
Stalking Vandamm's House
The Match Book
Mt. Rushmore/Finale

Amazon.com

Given the long partnership between the composer and director, it would be so hard to choose a favorite Bernard Herrmann/ Alfred Hitchcock score--just as hard as choosing a favorite Hitchcock/Herrmann movie--especially when it comes down to Vertigo, Psycho, and North By Northwest. They're all so different. But none is more thrilling, none makes you feel more like bouncing around the room (or scampering over the faces on Mt. Rushmore) than this one--strings churning away, with that falling horn figure and the timpani pounding way down below. One thing it shares with the other two films is the circularity of its main theme--Herrmann's music can make you dizzy in more ways than one. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

Early Digital Recording remains one of the Best.......2005-10-24

This early digital recording of Bernard Herrmann's NORTH BY NORTHWEST remains one of the best. Conductor Laurie Johnson delivered a very remarkable and heartfelt recording of this groundbreaking classic score. MURDER AT THE U.N. and THE AUCTION & THE AIRPORT deliver quintessential musical cues from this film. These are so memorable for anyone who has ever seen this film and loved it that you will savor these cuts. The real tour de force is MT. RUSHMORE/FINALE. The music and performance on this cut is extremely powerful and dynamic. It is truly exhilarating and moving and is Herrmann at his best in this genre or any genre for that matter. This is a very good recording and is absolutely essential if you like Bernard Herrmann's music as I do.

"Herrmann was the master craftsman of film music".......2000-11-13

Cary Grant and Eva Maria Saint dangle from the faces of Mount Rushmore and a plane chases Grant through farm fields, plenty of plot twists are mixed with tongue-in-cheek humor...what do you have? Plus one of the greatest directors ever to sit behind the camera with one thing in mind, to keep you guessing as the suspense builds, there's only one Alfred Hitchcock for "North By Northwest" (1959)...and there's only one composer who could pull it off, Bernard Herrmann.

Herrmann composes the "MAIN TITLE" as a "kaleidoscopic orchestral fandango (spanish dance of South America) designed to get the audience ready for what is in store as the plot thickens. Musically unrelated with other themes of the score is the "ROMANCE ON THE TRAIN", beautifully haunting as we first hear in dialogue between oboe and clarient, then taken up by the strings, wonderful harmonic passages prevail.

Miklos Rozsa spoke once of Herrmann's "unblending principles", and nowhere were these more in evidence than in his wholehearted devotion to the cinema. From 1955 to 1964 the Herrmann/Hitchcock teaming yielded one masterpiece after another, during the elaborately-choreographed pursuit and fight to the death on Mount Rushmore - a musical cue Herrmann wittily dubbed "On The Rock"!

Total Time: 36:52 on 12 Tracks...Varese Sarabande VSD-47205...(1980)

definite goosebump material.......2000-05-03

This is an AWESOME CD. True, it doesn't have as many tracks as the more recent version, but it still gets the job done nicely. The opening track is not to be missed, and the love theme will leave you breathless.

Superior sounding but lacks some of the tracks of other CD.......1999-11-27

Herrmann friend Laurie Johnson ( a well respected composer of film and televison music himself, Johnson wrote the score for The Avengers) does an outstanding job with Herrmann's original film score. THe recording is superior (one of the earliest digital recordings for a soundtrack) to the original cues for the film (also available), but lacks some of the idiosyncratic and intense conducting touches of Herrmann himself.

Tracks:

Main Titles
Abduction of George Kaplan
Elevator
Murder at the United Nations
Conversation Piece
Crash of the Cropduster
Auction and the Airport
Cafeteria Shooting
Duo
Stalking Vandamm's House
Matchbox
Aeroplane/Mount Rushmore/Finale

Customer Reviews:

Early Digital Recording remains Unsurpassed.......2005-11-03

This CD of Bernard Herrmann's NORTH BY NORTHWEST remains one of the best digital presentations of this score. Conductor Laurie Johnson delivered a very remarkable and heartfelt early digital recording of this groundbreaking classic score. MURDER AT THE U.N. and THE AUCTION & THE AIRPORT deliver quintessential musical cues from this film. These are so memorable for anyone who has ever seen this film and loved it that you will savor these cuts. The real tour de force is MT. RUSHMORE/FINALE. The music and performance on this cut is extremely powerful and dynamic. It is truly exhilarating and moving and is Herrmann at his best in this genre or any genre for that matter. If you close your eyes you can relive NORTH BY NORTHWEST listening to this recording. The acoustics deliver a tonal quality that gives this recording that effect. It is quite amazing. I have never heard a recording of this score that has had that same effect. This is a very good recording and is absolutely essential if you like Bernard Herrmann's music as I do.

Average customer rating:

Suites from Pyscho & North by Northwest
Bernard Herrmann
Manufacturer: Unicorn (U.K.)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001PC8
Release Date: 1996-12-17

Tracks:

Suite From Psycho: Prelude - National PO/Bernard Herrmann
Suite From Psycho: The City, Marion, Marion And Sam - National PO/Bernard Herrmann
Suite From Psycho: Temptation - National PO/Bernard Herrmann
Suite From Psycho: Flight, The Patrol Car, The Car Lot, The Package, The Rainstorm - National PO/Bernard Herrmann
Suite From Psycho: Hotel Room, The Window, The Parlour - National PO/Bernard Herrmann
Suite From Psycho: The Madhouse - National PO/Bernard Herrmann
Suite From Psycho: The Peephole - National PO/Bernard Herrmann
Suite From Psycho: Finale - National PO/Bernard Herrmann
Suite From North By Northwest: Main Titles - London Studio SO/Laurie Johnson
Suite From North By Northwest: Abduction Of George Kaplan - London Studio SO/Laurie Johnson
Suite From North By Northwest: The Elevator - London Studio SO/Laurie Johnson
Suite From North By Northwest: Murder At The United Nations - London Studio SO/Laurie Johnson
Suite From North By Northwest: Mount Rushmore/Finale - London Studio SO/Laurie Johnson

North By Northwest: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Average customer rating:

What a movie! What a soundtrack!
One of Herrmann's best scores for Hitchcock
Good Effort Limited by Bad Elements
Best available, but still has major flaws
Wonderful CD

North By Northwest: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Bernard Herrmann
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B0000033L8
Release Date: 1995-06-20

Tracks:

Overture
The Streets (Outtake)
It's A Most Unusual Day
Kidnapped
The Door
Cheers
The Wild Ride
Car Crash
The Return
Two Dollars
Rosalie
In The Still Of The Night
The Elevator
The U.N.
Information Desk
The Knife
Fashion Show
Interlude
Detectives
Conversation Piece
Duo
The Station
The Phone Booth
Farewell
The Crash
Hotel Lobby
The Reunion
Goodbye
The Question
The Pad & Pencil
The Auction
The Police
The Airport
The Cafeteria
The Shooting
The Forest
Flight
The Ledge
The House
The Balcony
The Match Box
The Message
The T.V.
The Airplane
The Gates
The Stone Faces
The Ridge
On The Rocks
The Cliff
Finale

Customer Reviews:

What a movie! What a soundtrack!.......2006-07-20

I first saw this movie when I was about a sophomore in high school. It was hard to follow, to say the least, but I enjoyed the film nevertheless. The music, composed by Herrmann, is fantastic. It goes with the movie quite well, and while listening to the soundtrack, you can picture the different scenes in the film quite vividly. I highly recommend purchasing this soundtrack if you are a lover of this untimely, Hitchcock classic of suspense, romance, and espionage. Enjoy!

One of Herrmann's best scores for Hitchcock.......2004-09-19

Along with "The Wrong Man", "North by Northwest" is among Bernard Herrmann's best scores for a Hitchcock film (I'm not listing "Psycho" because, while it's a brilliant score, it's probably not something most folks would listen to for pleasure). Hitch and Herrmann began their collaboration with "The Man Who Knew To Much" and continued on through 8 movies (ending with "Torn Curtain" which, while composed for the film, was never issued with it until the DVD). Herrmann was Hitch's perfect musical counterpoint; he thought cinematically like Hitchcock did and used music much like Hitchcock used all the elements of film to convey impact.

The opening for "North by Northwest" immediately captures your attention with its swirling theme and unusual use of the horn section of the orchestra makes the film both immediately distinctive (providing a perfect counter balance to what you see) but, more importantly, it stands up to listening without the film there and still conveys much of the tension of the film.

The remastering on this marvelous CD sounds quite good although it's clear that many of the mastertapes were somehow damaged (the liner notes make reference to this as well). While this isn't pristine, it's the only full orchetral version involving Herrmann that's available on CD. Rhino has done its usual thorough job in researching and restoring as much of this music as possible. Herrmann's scores need to have as much dynamic range as possible on CD as the quieter interludes are just as important as the busier, bustling fandango that opens the film and the CD. Highly recommended.

Good Effort Limited by Bad Elements.......2004-04-02

First off, Bernard Herrmann's contribution to Hitchcock's classic is one of the key reasons it IS a classic. This score represents Herrmann at his lightest and most flamboyant, leaping between ominous underscore and electrified action music, with a little romance sprinkled in. The climactic chase across Mount Rushmore is one of those relatively rare movie moments when you sense everything firing on all cylinders and that every artist involved is at the top of their game. Herrmann here is no exception; his climatic cues represent one of the all-time highs of film scoring, and are equally thrilling with or without the film. Unfortunately, that is where this album is a bit of a let-down...the source elements they had to work with here were just too deteriorated to get the point across, I'm afraid. If these tracks were the only surviving elements, then I would commend Rhino for at least making an effort, but as others have pointed out, the score on the DVD was obviously pulled from a better source and sounds splendid. However, Rhino deserves all credit for doing their best with what they had at the time, along with putting together their usual excellent package. And don't get me wrong, the majority of underscore on here sounds very nice indeed. But, if Mount Rushmore doesn't work, you don't get the payoff to all of that underscore and the whole seems bland, when it is in fact one of the best ever written. (I, for one, am hoping for a Joel McNeely re-recording somewhere down the line.)

Best available, but still has major flaws.......2003-11-26

The flaws on this disc are explained very clearly in the enclosed booklet. Out of 50 tracks, a mere five were on a reel that was nearly destroyed when they found it. The tragedy is that they include all the appearances of the main "North By Northwest" fandango theme in "Overture," "The Wild Ride," "On The Rocks" and "Finale." The other damaged track is a minor one, "Goodbye."

As a collector, it's true, this is the CD to buy, it's the original, complete score, including outtakes and source music, that is, the music being played by sources like radios within the world of the movie. And the majority of it sounds great.

That said, if you're buying it, then chances are you're mainly interested in the fandango theme, one of the most unforgettable in cinema. A few people have said they don't notice the audio flaws. If that's the case, then I'm happy for them, but they probably don't know the music that well, because if you're at all familiar with it, you'll notice whole instruments faded almost to nothing. These tracks sound like they're on a radio halfway between stations.

Don't despair, however, because there is a solution. The DVD of the film includes an isolated score of the film. I don't know what source they used for the DVD, which was made in 2000, but it was clearly unavailable to the makers of this CD in 1995. The tracks which are flawed on the CD sound pristine on the DVD, as if recorded yesterday. If you want to hear the fandango theme in all its sonic glory, pick up the DVD, it's actually cheaper than the album anyway.

I guess they haven't reissued the album with these tracks corrected because there's just too little demand for such an obscure catalog title, which is a pity, but if the fandango theme is one of your seminal memories of film music, as it is for me, the DVD is the way to go, with this album just good if you want to be able to listen to the music on the go, or if you want the four minor source cues.

Wonderful CD.......2003-01-19

I love "North by Northwest" and am very happy to own the soundtrack - I think the music is wonderful.

I was a bit unsure about buying this one because some of the other reviews seemed to hint that this recording was flawed, imperfect, or otherwise bad. It's not at all. DON'T get the re-recording - there is nothing wrong with this one, so why not have the original, better version?

Tracks:

Ghost: 'Unchained Melody' - Maurice Jarre
The Deer Hunter: 'The Deer Hunter/Cavatina' - John Williams
La Dolce Vita: 'La Dolce Vita' - Katyna Ranieri
Bed Of Roses: 'Boom' - Artie Kane
Benny & Joon: 'Benny & Joon' - J.A.C. Redford
Gone With The Wind: 'Gone With The Wind' - RIAS Jugendorchester/Mark Fitz-Gerald
Casablanca: 'As Time Goes By' - Claude Bolling Big Band
West Side Story: 'Main Theme' - Claude Bolling Big Band
Dr. Zhivago: 'Dr. Zhivago' - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Maurice Jarre
Love Story: 'Main Theme' - Erick Berchot/Sophie Christofari
The Truman Show: 'Father Kobe's Preaching' - Orchestre Philharmonique National De Pologne/Kazimierz Kord
Kikujiro: 'Going Out' - Films Of The Century
Titanic: 'Titanic Suite' - City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra/David Michael Frank
Shakespeare In Love: 'Shakespeare In Love' - City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra/David Michael Frank
A Fish Called Wanda: 'End Titles' - Films Of The Century
The Pink Panther: 'The Pink Panther Theme' - Bobby McFerrin

Tracks:

James Bond 007: 'James Bond Theme' - RIAS Jugendorchester/Mark Fitz-Gerald
Psycho: 'Finale' - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Elmer Bernstein
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence: 'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence' - Ryuichi Sakamoto
North By Northwest: 'Prelude' - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Elmer Bernstein
The Last Emperor: 'The Last Emperor' - Ryuichi Sakamoto
Backdraft: 'Fighting 17' - Films Of The Century
Speed: 'Main Title' - Don Harper
The Elephant Man: 'The Elephant Man Theme' - John Morris
The Usual Suspects: 'Main Theme' - Larry Groupe
Taxi Driver: 'Prelude' - The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Elmer Bernstein
Book Of Shadows: Blair Witch 2: 'Barely' - Carter Burwell/gman/SPLaTTeRCeLL
Once Upon A Time In The West: 'Main Title' - RIAS Jugendorchester/Mark Fitz-Gerald
Lawrence Of Arabia: 'Suite' - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Maurice Jarre
Gettysburg: 'Main Title' - Films Of The Century
Body Double: 'Body Double' - The Orchestra Sinfonica Di Milano/Natale Massara

Customer Reviews:

not the best.......2002-06-12

This has some good selections but really doesn't have the best because it is so subjective. i certainly got bored with many of the pieces they selected in the group, while others had my foot stomping. i recommend getting the original stuff anyways.

"must have compilation for film buffs".......2000-11-24

Milan Records celebrates the history of popular cinema with a 2-CD anthology of the music that drove the most affectionately remembered films of the modern cinematic era. These indelible musical impressions come courtesy of the most renowned film score composers of our time - Maurice Jarre, Max Steiner, Hans Zimmer, James Horner, Ennio Morricone, Bernard Herrmann, Randy Edelman and Henry Mancini.

Released into two general categories, the album presents moments from films of "Love, Passion & Comedy", on disc one - gives us the most powerful classic love themes from "WEST SIDE STORY", "DR. ZHIVAGO" and "LOVE STORY", and features newer classics from "TITANIC", "THE TRUMAN SHOW", "UNCHAINED MELODY" and on the lighter side "A FISH CALLED WANDA", "BENNY & JOON" and one of the most familiar themes ever written "THE PINK PANTHER" from legendary icon Henry Mancini.

On disc two "ACTION, ADVENTURE & SUSPENSE", includes themes from Alfred Hitchcock's landmark films "NORTH BY NORTHWEST" and the absolutely unforgettable "PSYCHO" finale...then the greatest action hero of all time leads off with Monty Norman's "JAMES BOND THEME", and action cues from "BACKDRAFT" and "SPEED"...next up the Academy Award winning theme from "THE LAST EMPEROR" and "GETTYSBURG" main title, one of the best-selling score CD's of all time.

A must have for "movie-music" collectors and film buffs, including music lovers and anyone who really enjoys a little nostalgia now and then...thank you Milan for this trip down memory lane and the amazing legacy of 20th Century Cinema!

Total Time: Disc One 54:30 on 16 Tracks & Disc Two 52:30 on 15 Tracks...Milan Records 35925...(2000)

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

Recommended Music:

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Beethoven Symphonies 6 & 8: 150 Jahre Wiener Philharmoniker

Bolero / Mother Goose Suite

Music: Ext. Night

The Shadows Cast

Asmud Fraegdegjevar [Import]

Because It's Christmas

Boccherini: Quintets No2; Quintet in A

Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza

Bebop and Bird, Vol. 2

Carved in Sand [Import]

Ba Tay

Best of Super Eurobeat 2003 [Import]

Christian Odumudu - The Way You Radiate God's Love

These Foolish Things

1. Main Titles
2. Abduction of George Kaplan
3. Elevator
4. Murder at the United Nations
5. Conversation Piece
6. Crash of the Cropduster
7. Auction and the Airport
8. Cafeteria Shooting
9. Duo
10. Stalking Vandamm's House
11. Matchbox
12. Aeroplane/Mount Rushmore/Finale