NIGHTWING... What's up?

Sarge · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:41 pm

Hearing a few similarities to NIGHTWING in THE MONEYCHANGERS samples inspired me to revisit the missing music from NIGHTWING.

Here's a YouTube clip that has the entire finale of the film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S820vgpX ... re=related

None of the music from the beginning of that clip up until 7:35 is on the Varese CD. And it's a terrific cue!

BMikeJ and I have speculated that Mancini was called back to rescore the ending, perhaps to amp up the excitement level (it is a little out of character with the rest of the score) and that there's another tape floating around out there with this cue that Varese was unaware of.

The cue that IS on the Varese CD - "Battle In The Bat Cave" - is only 5:18 and considerably more subdued. It roughly fits the sequence up until Nick Mancuso's character 'closes the circle.' Perhaps the filmmakers intended the sound effects to take over where this cue ends.

So seven minutes of the score is missing, and the sound on the Varese CD wasn't that terrific to begin with.

Is there a possibility Intrada might rectify this problem someday... ?

Douglass Fake · **Joined:** Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:48 pm **Posts:** 2773

Hi Sarge--

I'd love to re-visit this one... and do it justice. I was pretty ticked off that the notes made absolutely no mention of this incredible cue, neither of its prominent use in that fiery finale nor why it was missing from the CD. For the record, I once spoke to Mancini about the score (and that cue) since it was such a powerhouse, and he said the flaming bat music was intended to reflect a culmination of the pent-up anguish Mancuso was feeling as he went from our world into Abner's world... or something like that. Mancini didn't say anything about a "pick-up" session or a re-shoot of the finale, however.
--Doug

Sarge · **Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2011 5:18 pm

Thanks for the reply, Doug. The audio quality on the Varese CD leads me to think they were working with a copy, not the actual masters (tape hiss is evident in several tracks). So perhaps that cue was missing or damaged on their copy, and the complete score is lurking in a vault somewhere... ?

Wishful thinking, I know... :mrgreen:

redokt64 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2011 7:32 pm

Would love to see this get the "Intrada" treatment. The movie, as silly as it can be (but with and excellent cast and score) has been showing up on cable lately as a "free" pic to watch.

The finale is incredible. A "new" Mancini is always a priority. Bring it on Intrada...

Sarge · **Posted:** Fri Jul 29, 2011 1:28 pm

This is old news, but for those who missed it - the film can be purchased from the Warner Archive as a DVD-R.

http://www.wbshop.com/Nightwing-1979/10 ... html?cgid=

I have it, and the picture quality is terrific. It's 16x9 and there's nary a speck of dirt on it. I'd like to think the scoring masters are sitting in their vault in equally pristine condition...

Yavar Moradi · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2016 8:40 am

Any update you feel at liberty to give us on this, Doug? Since a new edition hasn't come out from Intrada in the five years since the last post, is it safe to assume you checked and the important finale music is indeed lost?

Yavar

JackDVD78@aol.com · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2016 7:58 pm

If a re-issue is able to be released I'd buy it especially if that missing music is included.

krankyboy · **Joined:** Wed Mar 21, 2012 3:56 am **Posts:** 148

If Doug manages to revisit Nightwing and locate the missing music from the climax, let's hope this poster art is used on the CD.

vinylscrubber · **Posted:** Fri Jan 06, 2017 9:27 am

God, that's pretty lurid. I guess I still tend towards the original, perhaps too tasteful approach.

Douglass Fake · **Joined:** Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:48 pm **Posts:** 2773

I'm guessing that campaign was intended for an international market since the MPAA rating is missing. I prefer the "perhaps too tasteful" approach that vinylscrubber speaks of.
--Doug

Yavar Moradi · **Posted:** Fri May 25, 2018 1:15 pm

Any hope, Doug?

Yavar

Douglass Fake · **Joined:** Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:48 pm **Posts:** 2773

Traveling Matt · **Joined:** Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:55 am **Posts:** 71

Great story, Doug. As a fan and consumer I never give up either. There's too many possibilities and thankfully nowadays the studios and labels work so closely and continuously together it's not suprising these things can happen.

The more eyeballs looking the better.

Sarge · **Posted:** Tue Apr 05, 2022 2:15 pm

Just curious if all these years later, any new elements ever surfaced for this score... particularly that missing finale!

Fugues · **Joined:** Tue Oct 15, 2019 9:23 pm **Posts:** 603

One of those albums that came from the sausage factory, in that it's probably best not to know the behind-the-scenes process. And it features mastering by the name that triggers me to this day: Erick Labson. *shivers*

Oh, and RIP to Mr. Eastman who posted in this thread.

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