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An overview of Rawhide score-1951, Newman/KaplanArchive of old forum. No more postings.
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Topic: An overview of Rawhide score-1951, Newman/Kaplan
John C Winfrey
Romulan
This film I have seen a few times over the years. A 20th CF western with Tyrone Power, Susan Hayward and Hugh Marlowe, reuses much Newman music from earlier scores. Although Kaplan is credited with the score, I don't hear much at all that is original in it.Main title music: Brigham Young(1939) March and Oh Susanna source music, This march was also used in Yellow Sky(1948 Peck western) and in the Gunfighter trailer(1950) Newman had a habit of reusing much of his music over and over
Not much music in rest of film
music from Westerner(1940) by Newman heard in two brief scenes at least
very short dramatic cues, by Kaplan probably
end title-Oh Susanna source
probably no more than 12-15 mins of music in film total. Typical of the sparse scoring style of 20th CF films during this time period.
J.
posted 02-06-2003 02:30 AM PT (US) Dinko
Romulan
12-minute scores instead of wall-to-wall synth droning. hmmm... sounds yummy.
posted 02-06-2003 06:33 AM PT (US) Graham Watt
Romulan
I agree, Dinko. When there was less music in films, it made its point more effectively. That's why the one alien in ALIEN is a hundred times scarier than the hundred aliens in ALIENS. Sorry, nothing to do with music there, but something to do with quantity and the dilution effect.Anyway, John, I didn't realize that Fox films from that period were so sparsely scored, but you make it sound like the RAWHIDE movie was no exception. I always imagined that Alfred Newman as boss would have pushed for quite a lot of music. What are some other short Fox scores from the period? As regards westerns in particular, my impression is that they were quite heavily scored...mmm, maybe not THE GUNFIGHTER. What I do remember is seeing WESTWARD THE WOMEN (MGM film, early 50s, Robert Taylor) on TV a few years back, and being really struck by the fact that it had no music at all. Those open plains and galloping horses seemed awfully lonesome out there with no music for company, but I must admit, it did give the film a hard, gritty edge.
posted 02-08-2003 10:55 AM PT (US) John C Winfrey
Romulan
Graham, there was a good stretch of films in late 40s and early 50s like this.Panic in Streets-1950
Gunfighter-1950
Knock on Any Door-1953
Niagra-1952
Twelve o Clock High-1949
Big Lift-1950-great march-only 15 mins music in film
many others like Boomerang-1946, Call Northside 777-1948-two cues, and othersearlier ones by Newman
1945-Tree Grows in Brooklyn-practically no score
1944-Purple Heart-very little score in it
Army Air Corp Song at end and for main title reuse of Hail to the Chief
1945-Bell for Adano-very little musicand so on
And of course early in his career many films had little music in them
1937-Dead End
1937-Slave Ship
1931-Arrowsmith
1931-Street Scene-12 mins orig score
1933-I Cover the Waterfront-two cues
many of the early 30s films had little music in them unless a musicalor in a few cases things like
Mr Robinson Crusoe-1932 almost wall to wall music because mostly a silent film
OUr Daily Bread-1934 and Les Miserables-1935 about 15 mins each.
things like Roman Scandals also had some orig Newman music mixed in with the adapted songs-1933J.
posted 02-09-2003 01:42 PM PT (US) Graham Watt
Romulan
Thanks for that info, John. I've only seen a few of the films you mention, but it does seem that sparseness (sparsity?) wasn't uncommon back then after all. Learning all the time!
posted 02-09-2003 01:52 PM PT (US) Old Infopop Software by UBB