Greatest Film Soundtracks of All Time
Greatest Film Soundtracks of All Time
Depending on who chooses the soundtracks, the list varies greatly. For example, even though "of All Time" could commence a century ago, Rolling Stone starts its list of 25 no earlier than 1964 with A Hard Day's Night, includes 3 Beatles movies, Easy Rider, Rock and Roll High School, American Grafitti, Purple Rain, etc.
However, AMC Filmsite, that usually focuses on classic films, publishes the top 25 as chosen out of the last century chosen in 2005 by the American Film Institute, goes back as far as the original 1933 King Kong, and includes films such as The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Gone With the Wind (1939), High Noon (1952), To Kill a Mockingbird and Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and more recent films such as The Godfather, Jaws, Out of Africa and Star Wars.
Personally, I focus on how well the soundtrack (musical filmscore) enhances the total effect of the movie, and I know that my choices are personal, limited by what movies I have seen, and will probably be different than the choices made by anyone else. In no particular order, here are my 10 choices.
Third Man Theme - the haunting sound of the zither adds to the mystery, locale, and tension of the film.
Easy Rider - a great collection of Rock and Roll that fits the scenes in the movie.
Schindler's List - mournful, heart-rending, a single violin played by the master violinist Itzhak Perlman.
High Noon - I can't even THINK about that movie without the song running through my head.
The Magnificent Seven - matching sound to action.
The Godfather - I like Italian food as well.
Jaws - the soundtrack alone can scare the shit out of you.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Some of the best songs of the era.
O Brother Where Art Thou - I love old timey music
The Sting - Ragtime, lilting, the music of the time, and fun.
What would be your choices, and if you can indicate why, please do.
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A little taste of old-timey (Man of Constant Sorrow from O Brother Where Art Thou):
http://video.tudou.com/v/XMTI2NDE4MDAyOA==.html?spm=a2h0k.8191414.0.0&from=s1.8-1-1.2" > .
Or Easy Rider (Born to be Wild):
There's very little bluegrass I can stand, but I loved the soundtrack to "O Brother Where Art Thou". Maybe the movie itself made it palatable?
It was my grandmother who suggested this movie to me. Never would have thought it was her thing, really.
LOL. That music is a lot closer to your grandmother's time than yours.
Yeah, but she was never really a bluegrass fan, either.
A George Clooney fan, maybe
The Soggy Bottom Boys did the best version of "In The Jailhouse Now".
Yes, they did.
Agreed
Gotta have this one Brother.....
Dueling Banjo's from Deliverance....
Didn't like that movie much, but I can see why "Dueling Banjos" might be fitting if they were being descriptive of the ignorant trash who did the sodomy.
Yeah, it was one of those where the book was much better than the movie......
Jon Voight was great but Burt was a little over the top if you ask me.......
I uploaded a movie, but it won't play for me...... So no, it's the same as it was before....
The site doesn't stream video very well at all.
TiG seems to be making a lot of improvements to the site. Why don't you contact him with the problem and see if he can do something about it? I would, but I don't know the technical details to even discuss the problem.
There are about 5 Chinese TV stations I get that play foreign movies, and there's always at least one English language one playing at any time, and mostly more. There have been old classics and newer ones as well, and unfortunately a lot of "B" movies, but today I watched Sense and Sensibility, directed by Ang Lee and starring Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Emma Thomson and Hugh Grant. I watched the Tom Hanks movie yesterday in which he was a Fedex employee stranded alone on a desert island for 4 years. At the same time there was a Charlie Chaplin movie playing, and I also watched the Star Trek movie where ViGE (Voyager) was seeking the "Creator" yesterday. They've played all the Indiana Jones movies and all the James Bond movies.
This is the same problem we had the last time, when asked and they checked it out, I was told that the problem is on my end...
It plays fine for them. (of course they are playing it directly off the server which is why it plays fine for them)
And that's as far as they will go.
The site does not stream large files.... small files it handles fine....
Doesn't matter to me. Looking into a different way of doing it that doesn't involve the site at all.
What did you think of that one? It wasn't my favorite adaptation, despite the cast.
It's the only adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility that I've seen. It's been a very long time since I read the novel so I'm not as good a judge of how well it's been adapted as I am for P&P, with which I'm more familiar. I've watched six adaptations of P&P (and have DVDs of two of them) and I don't think any of her novels match P&P. I enjoy watching Alan Rickman in ANYTHING he does, and Ang Lee is a skillful Academy Award winning director. What do you think doesn't work well in that film adaptation of S&S?
I felt like maybe it played too much to the cheap laugh - it seemed a bit "Hollywood-ized" to me. I enjoyed it well enough, because I love Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, and Kate Winslet. But I thought the BBC's 2008 version was much better.
I thought that some of the characterizations were somewhat exaggerated. Is that what led you to use the expression "cheap laugh"? How long was the BBC version? Was it a series like the Ehle/Firth BBC series of P&P? Shortened movie adaptations leave too much out of Austen's novels.
On my previous Classic Cinema group I wrote a review article about the many movie/TV series adaptations of P&P, but unfortunately a glitch deleted it from NT's archives. I may try to recreate it. I have a bit of a history with Jane Austen's works. It's because of P&P that I majored in English Literature for my B.A. On the existing Books group still active here on NT I did a couple of articles on Jane Austen.
The exaggerated characterizations are probably what's bugging me, and the addition of physical humor (Margaret "stabbing" Edward in the crotch, for example).
The BBC production was a miniseries - I think 4 parts? I can't remember for sure. I agree that her novels lend themselves better to a series than a feature-length film. The acting was much more subtle. It's definitely worth a watch, if you can access it.
Unfortunately I can't access it.
Oh. Darn.
LOL. Blame China - no YouTube.
Didn't like that movie much, but I can see why "Dueling Banjos" might be fitting if they were being descriptive of the ignorant trash who did the sodomy.
I think its just that you don't like Bluegrass music (its an acquired taste, LOL)
Wrong. I like folk music generally, was deeply involved with it, even was editor of a folk music magazine. I just have to be in the right mood for bluegrass, but I don't dislike it.
The story I've heard about the "Jaws" soundtrack is that, when John Williams pitched the idea to Steven Spielberg, Spielberg was like "really, just the same two notes over and over?" John Williams said "Trust me", and we have a classic soundtrack that keeps people out of the water.
James Cameron didn't want a song added to Titanic either - directors aren't perfect I guess. Ever since watching Jaws I won't go over my waist in the ocean and as I said above, the soundtrack itself is enough to scare anyone.
True Grit
Magnificent 7
Sharky's Machine - the most "unknown" great soundtrack ever.
Saturday Night Fever
A Hard Day's Night
Magnificent 7
True Grit
This is a tough one Buzz. I keep thinking of musicals.
Same here. I'm thinking "Grease" and "Mama Mia".
Fiddler on the Roof !
Yes, I think I should have added it to my list.
Grease was fantastic! Here's "You're the One That I Want".
I listed only one musical, because I really meant the article to be about movies that were not musicals. Musicals should be in another, more specialized, category. Soundtrack critics don't include musicals in their articles.
I noted on some critics' lists that they will not name musicals, as being different from other movies. Although there are quite a few good musicals, I posted only one as an exception to my list - Sgt Pepper. Maybe I should have added Fiddler on the Roof. However, my criterion for choosing was that the soundtrack would be symbiotic with and benefit the movie's plot, rather than the other way around.
Fifth Element. Between the Diva's song and the incredibly interesting music during the chase into a fog bank was awesome.
Did the diva have such a great voice because of what she had inside her body? Just kidding.
The story is that the singer who was to be the Diva backed out so the director talked his gf into playing the part, who had a trained operatic voice. She supposedly hated the entire experience.
Thanks Paula, I love those "insider" stories.
I love finding interesting bits about movies from behind the scenes. My fav so far is from Citizen Kane and what Rosebud really meant and it was not a sled although Hearst did ride it, a lot.
Would you do an article of those little unknown stories from behind the scenes to post on the Movie group?
I am not a great writer. People might laugh at any attempt I try.
Okay, you're excused. LOL
I would have to add Dirty Dancing. Love the old songs.
Always liked that movie - I've been to Grossingers in the Catskills - a resort that was most likely a model for the movie, so I lived the life of a guest in such a place.
I had heard about the Catskills scene for years but had never been there. Then a friend suggested we go to Grossingers for a "Singles Weekend". I resisted at first-- I thought the whole thing would be very tacky.
But we went. The place was big and there were tons of Guests. But they were all single people in their 30s! Everyone was "cruising"-- looking for "Mr Right" or "Miss Right". (Or baring that, looking for "Mr or Miss Right Now "
But I was pleasantly surprised by the place..wonder grounds, all kinds of sports and other activities, nice building, great food (YUGE portions). I deicded I would return sometime, but never did.
I think that those place may no longer be in business, or perhaps just a lot quieter?
I've seen an article that Grossinger's is abandoned and the buildings are half-wrecked because nobody in the family wanted to take it over. I was there when I was a teenager with my parents - who were prize-winning dancers. They spent a lot of time with Tony and Lucille (the resort's dance instructor team) and I spent my time with their son. My parents had been to Grossinger's a few times, and I have a photo of them sitting at a dining table there having dinner with Jenny Grossinger, the owner.
It was Mountain Lake Resort in Pembroke, Virginia. They filmed during the fall, and had to spray paint the leaves green. It gives me a whole new respect for Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey when I think about them practicing the lift in the lake, which must have been downright frigid at the time.
You're right, Sandy. This from the article on the film from Wikipedia:
The budget for the film was only $5 million, and as of 2009 , it has earned over $214 million worldwide.
So, both places, then.
Some friends of mine are headed to the Mountain Lake Resort this weekend. Looks like they'll be inside trying to stay dry the whole time.
I always especially liked the Final Scene:
Always been a Huge "Spaghetti Western" fan. Clint Eastwood Rules.
Yule Brenner and John Wayne westerns fan too.
great rendition but the guy hanging by the noose is a bit overboard, lol
Eli Wallach might take issue with that statement.
Since you have not identified for me the YouTube that I cannot open, I am unable to moderate it, which is my responsibility, and so I have to flag it for moderator consideration - most likely there's nothing wrong with what you posted, but that will not now be my decision.
It's the theme song from the movie "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly", as done by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.
Okay, will withdraw the flag.
I understand why you needed to do that. if I could find a site dealing with music you can open, I'd love to know which site that is.
Two sites I can open:
Tudou Music
Bilibili
Many have already told me they can open one or both of these sites, not everyone can, so don't stop posting with YouTube because everyone but me can open that. Just identifying the song and the performer in text is sufficient for me.
Please put in text what you posted on Youtube.
My favorite movie theme song is Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees, done for the movie Saturday Night Fever with John Travolta. For me, it is a song that will live forever. One of my all time favorites.
The other is the theme song from Gone With The Wind. My second favorite movie.
If I were to take into consideration how a specific song, rather than the whole soundtrack, supports and plays an important role in the movie, I would say that "As Time Goes By" does that for "Casablanca".
I never card much for "Casablanca". It just never appealed to me. My Mother didn't care for it either. She played the piano like a pro, and played many of the great songs from the movies in the 30', 40' and 50's. We used to sing duets to many of them and they had a special meaning for us. South Pacific, The King and I, Gone with the Wind, many others were part of our regulars.
Incredible scene. (But I'm biased-- its my all time favourite movie! Its truly superb on so many levels.)
BTW I had read that the piano player ("Sam") couldn't actually play the piano! He was a drummer in real life and his piano playing in that scene was faked . . .
Also, the "French" people who rose to sing The Marseillese were crying. But that wasn't faked-- many of them were indeed deeply moved because many of them in real life were real refugees from Nazi rule in Europe.
And I love the use of a soft-focus lens on shots of Bergman's face....
My all-time favourite movie as well.
That was one of my all time favourite movies as well. (In addition to "Stayin' Alive" I really liked most of the other songs in the movie as well. And the dancing!).
For a period in my like I was very into the Disco scene.... I still love Disco music!
Forrest Gump.
Why? I love the music that plays throughout. The songs played at different scenes are perfect. Such as "Fortunate Son" by CCR when Forrest and Bubba land in Vietnam. And the Doobie Brothers' "It Keeps You Running" when Forrest goes off on his running jag.
And can you ever forget Elvis and "Hound Dog" playing on the TV in the storefront window?
Sorry, A.Mac, but I thought you already knew I cannot open YouTube - it's banned here. Because you did not identify in text what you posted in those two comments I have no idea what they are.
Deleting the posts was NOT AT ALL NECESSARY! I'm probably the only person who could not see them but I must know what is posted on my articles/seeds because of my responsibility to moderate them. All you had to do was identify what you posted so I could seek them out on websites that I am able to access. I really don't understand why you overreacted.
At first I mistook "here" to mean, "here in this group," as opposed to in China. I will re-post the Youtube videos with text I.D. . Sorry for the misunderstanding.
First YouTube video … My all time favorite film … Jeremiah Johnson (Robert Redford)
A Home At The End Of The World.
I never saw that movie.
I like your list. Especially Oh Brother.
Dead Man. Jim Jarmusch director. Soundtrack by Neil Young. Johnny Depp plays guitar as well, Nice reverby goodness. Iggy Pop is in this one too!
Velvet Goldmine. Todd Haynes director. Glam Rock fun!
Hedwig and the Angry Inch. John Cameron Mitchell director.
Chrystal. Ray McKinnon director. Wonderful little film that didn't get much ink. Great cast. Billy Bob Thornton, Ray McKinnon, Harry Dean Stanton, Lisa Blount, Walter Goggins and so on. Got some Drive by Truckers running in the soundtrack. Harry Dean picks guitar. Lisa Blount sangs real purty.
Oh, and,
Songcatcher. Maggie Greenwald director. Turn of the century musicologist tracks Scot/Irish ballads in the mountains of western NC. Filmed in my old stomping grounds.
The theme from Blade Runner by Vangelis.