INTRADA Announces:
JACK THE GIANT KILLER
Composed and Conducted by PAUL SAWTELL and BERT SHEFTER
INTRADA Special Collection Volume 128
Fantasy films often call for expressive, classically-based musical scores to ground their fanciful settings, outlandish characters and special effects. The 1962 film Jack the Giant Killer is no exception. The film features over 80 minutes of underscore, nearly “wall-to-wall” music. Jack the Giant Killer required a rousing score bursting with heroism, danger, mysticism and playfulness. Composers Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter were hired to create a fairy tale feeling from the rousing opening credits march, the gallant fanfares for the kingdom of Cornwall, and the deceptive music box chimes for Cormoran before the creature transforms from apparent plaything to menacing giant. Shrill, clustered brass effects characterize the movie’s marauding, animated monsters; eerie, trembling strings and brass stings and a malevolent theme underscores Pendragon and his magic spells; a traditional Irish jig provides wit to the film’s rhyming leprechaun and spine-chilling, wailing voices underscore the film’s terrifying witches as well as the Princess Elaine’s transformation into an evil enchantress herself. Sawtell’s Prince Valiant-style title march
makes a particularly effective and warm theme for Jack, especially as it’s interwoven with an expressive violin d’amore theme for the romance between Jack and the Princess.
The story of Jack the Giant Killer begins in the kingdom of Cornwall, where the banished wizard Pendragon (Torin Thatcher) returns in disguise to bestow gifts on the Princess Elaine (Judi Meredith). One of Pendragon’s gifts is a music box containing a doll that dances on command for Elaine. That night the satyr-like figure grows into the giant Cormoran and snatches the princess. Heading to rendezvous with Pendragon’s henchman Garna (Walter Burke), the giant invades the farm where handsome and heroic Jack (Kerwin Mathews) resides. After a violent battle with Cormoran, Jack slays the the giant and his reputation is made. But that is only the start of the adventure...
The complete score to Jack the Giant Killer is featured on this 2-CD set, mastered from the original 1/4" mono elements in pristine condition and is limited to 1000 copies.
INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 128
Retail Price: $19.99
AVAILABLE 4/13/2010
For track listing and sound samples, please visit
http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.6567/.f
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