Intrada Soundtrack Forum

Was it just a coincidence that both Star Trek- The Motion Picture and The Black Hole had overtures? If I'm not mistaken 1979 was the last year that an overture was played before the film.

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I-love-Goldsmith, yes-I-do...
I-love-Ber-nard-Herr-mann-too! EVERYBODY SING!!!

That may be so. I couldn't say for sure if this was the last year of the OVERTURE. It seems that in the past 27 years the demise of the MAIN TITLE sequence is soon to follow!

Greystoke was played with an overture in 1984... The last ? Not sure... HAMLET maybe ?

I don't seen to recall HAMLET having an Overture at the start. Neither did FAR AND AWAY for that matter. Although I'm too young (35) to have enjoyed that aspect of moviegoing, I remember enjoying the 1989 released of David Lean's LAWRENCE OF ARABIA in its full 70 m/m glory, complete with Overture, Intermission and Exit Music. Same with the restored SPARTACUS in 1991. Although in this instance the Overture was just some patch-up job by some music editor.

Too bad great blockbusters like theHARRY POTTER movies, LOTR or epics like THE LAST SAMURAI all lack that special brand of showmanship. An HARRY POTTER Overture by John Williams: that would be something!

NP: WINGS by Michel Colombier

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Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Of all things, VICTORY (Bill Conti) played in theaters with an "Overture" in 1981. Who would've imagined that one?
--Doug

The demise of road show presentations made the Overture pointless. The idea of the Overture was to emphasise that the film was a "big event" for a prestigous film and the music was a cue for everyone to settle down in their seats as the film was about to begin.