After tackling Jerry Goldsmith's third feature score, Face of a Fugitive (1959), and his first comedy feature, Take Her, She's Mine (1963), I decided to jump ahead a bit to the 70s, for this brief gem of a score for a TV movie based on a novel about the first black president of the United States (long before such a scenario became reality). Someone kindly posted it on YouTube so I was able to enjoy this telefilm starring the great James Earl Jones, and so can you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeINMIJaaXAThe film is quite sparsely spotted, and most of Goldsmith's cues are brief, but they are effective and affecting. The two primary elements are a patriotic-sounding main theme which owes a debt to Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man (particularly evident in its Main Title treatment) and a more personal, weary-sounding jazz-tinged theme for the main character of Douglass Dilman. Here is my complete breakdown of the score, with detailed track-by-track liner notes. Unlike the first two unreleased Goldsmith scores I tackled, I have decided to add a new feature -- start and end times for each cue so that those interested in the music but lacking the time to view the film may skip forward to the relevant time points in the YouTube video:
6:55 - 8:31 1. Main Title / News Report 1:36
Goldsmith’s opening music strongly brings to mind Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, which was probably a temp track. Still, the brass writing in the main theme is very much Goldsmith, with punctuations which brought to mind similar effects in his Star Trek main title from seven years later. After the title sequence, the music continues with only percussion (snare drums and melodic tympani subtly continuing the main theme) under a radio report of the President’s death and announcement of the succession of Douglass Dilman, President Pro Tempore of the Senate (James Earl Jones) -- “the first Negro ever to hold the office” due to the fact that the Vice President is very ill and refuses the job.
14:21 - 14.58 2. They Drown with You :37
Some delicate woodwinds underscore a vulnerable moment between the new president and his daughter (his only close family as he is a widower).
15:41 - 17:09 3. Broken Glass 1:28
Strings and quiet brass join the woodwinds of the previous cue for a continuation of the sad mood.
20:05 - 21:15 4. Lincoln Monument 1:10
The Main Title theme returns in more subdued and ambiguous fashion as Dilman visits the Lincoln Memorial, with a powerful climax as he views the statue of Lincoln itself.
23:18 - 25:17 5. The Oval Office 1:59
Powerful brass perform the main theme while Dilman looks around his new office, with portraits of past presidents looking over him. As the scene transitions to a meeting of the cabinet, a new element enters into the score: a weary theme with jazz elements.
28:52 - 29:25 6. Honesty :33
The weary jazz theme returns after the meeting concludes and Dilman realizes the racism he will have to contend with, followed by a brief statement of the patriotic main theme.
31:17 - 32:25 7. Needed 1:08
The main theme returns on solo trumpet, but with a hint of jazz. Low strings and muted brass continue underscoring a scene between Dilman and the deceased president’s assistant of 25 years, as Dilman tells her that she should stay in her position because she is needed: “What a glorious feeling that must be.”
49:12 - 49:53 8. Presidential Montage :41
A strident cue for brass and percussion (with a very Goldsmithian off-kilter rhythm) accompanies a montage of Dilman fulfilling his presidential duties with a new vigor after a very successful press conference. Though brief, this cue is a highlight of the score.
1:01:53 - 1:02:24 9. Plot :31
This brief dissonant cue (mixed low in the film) underscores a moment when Dilman’s enemies discuss a plot to discredit him.
1:04:53 - 1:05:47 10. The Lake :54
The cue begins with more unsettling dissonant material for a continuance of the plot, but soon transitions into upbeat material underscoring a scene change to a scenic lake setting where Dilman’s daughter joins him.
1:05:52 - 1:06:24 11. Father and Daughter :32
This short cue seems to fade out as Dilman and his daughter have a conversation about the social dinner they held the previous evening. (If written music survives for this cue I strongly suspect it will reflect more music than appeared in this scene.)
1:12:18 - 1:12:56 12. Through the Plumbing :38
The plot is revealed to Dilman, but it is too late and the political damage has been done. The main theme plays briefly with a sad jazz touch.
1:21:25 - 1:21:50 13. Pick an Exit :25
After a confrontation with him in the Oval Office, Dilman’s daughter asks how to “get out of the first family.” The weary jazz theme plays briefly, then transitions to violent dissonant material for protest marchers outside.
1:24:14 - 1:24:40 For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow (source) :26
1:27:30 - 1:28:19 Hail to the Chief (source) :49
1:28:18 - 1:29:32 14. End Credits 1:14
Overlapping with the end of the previous source cue, Goldsmith’s end credits piece begins in French horns as Douglass Dilman stands at his convention podium, soon joined by other powerful brass playing a new harmonic development of the main title theme.
TOTAL SCORE TIME: 13:26 (TOTAL SOURCE MUSIC TIME: 1:15)
Since the original recording of this is apparently lost, I think this would make a fantastic "filler score" for some longer Goldsmith work. The orchestra is usually not large (though there are some big brass moments) and that combined with its brief length means it would not be too expensive to record.
I hope everyone enjoys my work. What would people like me to tackle next out of the following: Black Patch (1957), Pursuit (1972), or Shamus (1973)?
Yavar
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Other threads in this series:
FACE OF A FUGITIVE (1959) Advance Liner Notes:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6958TAKE HER, SHE'S MINE (1963) Complete Score Breakdown:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6966THE MAN (1972) Advance Liner Notes:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6967CRAWLSPACE (1972) Advance Liner Notes:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7213DO NOT FOLD, SPINDLE, OR MUTILATE (1971) Complete Score Breakdown:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7216The Waltons: THE CEREMONY (1972) Complete Score Breakdown:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7219DAMNATION ALLEY (1977) Advance Liner Notes:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7223PURSUIT (1972) Advance Liner Notes:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7236
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