We're inundated daily with music to films, TV shows, commercials, video games, etc. It is very pervasive. Kids do pick up on it. Mine are always humming themes to "Pirates of the Caribbean", "Harry Potter" ,"Star Wars" and others. I even play "name-that-tune" games with them (I'm doing my part for the next generation). Of course, I'm always humming '50's and '60's TV western themes (you know, Maverick, Rifleman, Gunsmoke,etc.). My kids can do without that.
How about films in which no score was composed (or not used) or films with minimal scoring? Are they effective? They certainly can be. Case in point. Correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to remember no score in a 1966 film with Cornel Wilde (who also directed), "The Naked Prey". Man tracked by African natives who have given him a headstart. Resorts to savagery to survive. Great film. No score, other than tribal drums which I believe played as source "music". Film absorbs you in the silence. The occaisional wild animal roar, maybe insects, movement through the brush. But for the most part, this deadly silence as this man is being tracked. Found it very effective. Don't know whether a score would have heightened the tension. Best left alone.
But, if you had to pick someone to compose a score for this film, who would it be? Goldsmith comes to mind. Came up with some very innovative scores (Planet of the Apes), and he was no stranger to African themes (Congo, Heart of Darkness)' although these came well after. Maybe even Bernstein (Zulu Dawn), Barry (Zulu, Born Free). What could they have done early in their careers. Any thoughts?
Another great film, this time with a minimal score. "Seven Days in May". Of course, Goldsmith. The tension was there, even withoug a lot of music. Do any of you find no or minimal scoring to be just as effective as full scores??? I can watch Seven Days in May over and over again, if that tells you anything.
|