Intrada Soundtrack Forum

This is the classic and definitive haunted house tale, directed with impeccable taste by Robert Wise, and written by Nelson Gidding adapting Shirley Jackson's novel. The weird, intense, and unsettling atonal score is in a class by itself. To my knowledge only one track, "The History of Hill House" lasting 4 minutes and 33 seconds, has been released. There is a lot more to the score than 4 1/2 minutes.

Is there any chance Intrada could investigate if original tapes survive, and perhaps release a full-length soundtrack CD? The film has a lot of prestige and I'm sure the score would, too, if people could hear it on a CD.

Searle composed only one other score that I'm familiar with, Hammer's The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas (1957). That's a different kind of score, but recognizably Searle, and the same high-quality. One or two brief tracks have been released on Hammer compilation CD's. I'm sure there must be more to that score as well. I've seen another of his films, Action of the Tiger (also 1957), but I can't recall the score.

Richard

This is one of Roger's holy grails, and Intrada's already looked into this title. The tapes are lost.

Thanks for your replies. I thought the British MGM organization produced and released the film originally. Wouldn't it be more likely to find elements across the pond where it was made and scored.

What about Elstree Studio?
Don't they have an on-site archive?

Did Humphrey Searle leave an estate?
A solicitor who administered it?
Relatives?

Richard

I've often wondered about master tapes in the U.K. Has anyone actively tried to track them down? I'm thinking also of scores such as THE MAN IN THE WILDERNESS, ALFRED THE GREAT, THE BELSTONE FOX, AMERICAN FRIENDS, PARIS BY NIGHT, etc. I understand many of the U.K. recording studios no longer exist so my hopes aren't high...

Perhaps Douglas or Roger could address shureman's question about master tapes in England?


Richard

I assume that no response means zero interest as in no chance.


Richard

Alan, I never hinted, implied, inferred, insinuated, suggested nor stated any such thing. I simply asked if anyone had looked in the U.K. for the tapes. You are mistaken to take offense.

Richard

It occurs to me that the estate of Robert Wise is another place to look. I wish now I had asked him when I had the chance, but I wasn't thinking about soundtracks then.


Richard

Humphrey Searle. Wow. That's a name I never would have expected to see on a film music forum.

Those silly Brits.