# Best marriage of music and visuals in a film. (spoilers ok) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 3, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424 "2005-08-03T14:50:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/21 "2005-08-03T18:26:36Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > The at the end of “Love Actually”, the scene where people are meeting their loved ones at the airport, with the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows”, completely made that movie for me. You must’ve liked **Boogie Nights** then because Paul Thomas Anderson ended that film with the same song and a similar (though superior) sense of closure. ---
**Author:** ![big\_dogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f1d935/32.png) [@big\_dogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/big_dogs)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/22 "2005-08-03T18:27:43Z")
The first time I consciously noticed the impact of the music on the movie was when I saw **To Live And Die In L.A.**. Excellent soundtrack done by (believe it or not) Wang Chung. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/23 "2005-08-03T19:30:13Z")
I’ve always loved the opening suicide scene in **Harold and Maude** when he puts the Cat Stevens record on. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/24 "2005-08-03T20:25:56Z")
I luuurve me Giorgio Moroder’s soundtrack for “Cat People.” Really did a great job of creating a haunting atmosphere for the movie. Also, the soundtrack for the Bruce Willis version of “Last Man Standing” – it doesn’t work as music on it’s own, but it really made the movie what it was, whatever it was. Finally, the incidental music for the Japanese anime "Saiyuki’ contains some really inspired jazz tunes – they make great driving music. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/25 "2005-08-03T22:45:04Z")
How about Ry Cooder in [**Paris, Texas**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087884/)? ---
**Author:** ![bupkis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@bupkis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bupkis)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/26 "2005-08-03T23:37:08Z")
Anytime the main theme played during [In the Mood for Love](http://www.wkw-inthemoodforlove.com/eng/homepg/homepg.asp). [Baraka](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0103767/). I second the climax sequence of **Last of the Mohicans**. I think Tarantino uses pop songs to fantastic effect all throughout **Pulp Fiction**. ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/27 "2005-08-03T23:49:06Z")
> [@bupkis](#): > > I think Tarantino uses pop songs to fantastic effect all throughout **Pulp Fiction**. Wow, I forgot all about Tarantino! One of my personal favorites is the song “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” played over the showdown between The Bride and Oren-Ishii. It fit so well, it could have been scored for the film. Gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/28 "2005-08-03T23:50:32Z")
> [@Alias](#): > > Wow, I forgot all about Tarantino! One of my personal favorites is the song “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” played over the showdown between The Bride and Oren-Ishii. It fit so well, it could have been scored for the film. Gorgeous. In Kill Bill, that is. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/29 "2005-08-04T00:22:13Z")
I remember a scene with a floating plastic shopping bag in **American Beauty**. It was probably scored by James Newton Howard (name?), seems like that was his style. Also, seems like the light-smashing home run in **The Natural** may have been similar in style. How about that single piano note stuff in **Eyes Wide Shut**? Too funny. (note: all names of movies/composers may be incorrect due to Vicodin haze) ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/30 "2005-08-04T00:31:41Z")
> [@beckwall](#): > > I remember a scene with a floating plastic shopping bag in **American Beauty**. > It was probably scored by James Newton Howard (name?), seems like that was his style. Also, seems like the light-smashing home run in **The Natural** may have been similar in style. _Beauty_ was by Thomas Newman while _Natural_ was by his cousin Randy Newman. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/31 "2005-08-04T00:36:49Z")
The scene of a plane crash to Gorecki’s Symphony No. 3 in **Fearless** is a particularly memorable combination. And even though its a complete cliche now, John Williams’ **Jaws** theme is worthy of mention too. ---
**Author:** ![greenlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@greenlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenlady)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/32 "2005-08-04T00:45:57Z")
Haveta nominate the music someone decided to connect with the space sequences in **2001, a Space Odyssey**. Also, the early man sequences in the same movie. I seem to remember hearing long ago that it was quite by accident that those particular classical pieces were chosen – like it was someone’s “oh, we need something to listen to while we watch the dailies” kind of thing. Also, I think the music in **Castaway** with Tom Hanks has wonderful music accompaniment. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/33 "2005-08-04T00:52:27Z")
Several that came to my mind have already been mentioned or alluded to above: –“I Can’t Stop Loving You” at the end of Osamu Tezuka’s **Metropolis** –the Khachaturian music; yes, but I was thinking about the “invention of the hula hoop” scene from **The Hudsucker Proxy** –just about anything Tarantino did for \*\*Reservoir Dogs \*\* (“Hooked on a Feeling”; “Stuck in the Middle with You”), **Pulp Fiction** , and **Kill Bill**. I would add \*\*Jackie Brown \*\* to this list, but I really don’t care for the Delphonics at all. –The end credits David Bowie song for **Cat People**. To name a few. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/34 "2005-08-04T00:59:22Z")
> [@Alias](#): > > Wow, I forgot all about Tarantino! One of my personal favorites is the song “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” played over the showdown between The Bride and Oren-Ishii. It fit so well, it could have been scored for the film. Gorgeous. Actually, that was the first one that came to mind when I mentioned **Kill Bill** – although I chose not to focus on it specifically, because the use of music throughout the whole pair of movies was just excellent. That was definitely one of the better ones, though! I also particularly like “Flower of Carnage”, which is the song played at the end of that battle, between the Bride and O-Ren. ---
**Author:** ![Baggins111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@Baggins111](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baggins111)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/35 "2005-08-04T02:13:51Z")
**Star Wars** Ep IV, A New Hope, The Original. John William’s score. ALL OF IT. ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/36 "2005-08-04T02:26:39Z")
The beginning and ending scenes of _Manhattan_, where there are black-and-white shots of New York street scenes, and then of the skyline, while George Gershwin’s _Rhapsody in Blue_ plays. Man, that is great. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/37 "2005-08-04T06:26:00Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > The use of **in a garda de’vida** (sp) in **Manhunter** , and the use of **Carmina Burana** in **Excalibur** are the two greatest use of musical score that I know of. Agreed. Actually, I agree with much of what has been posted. _Run Lola Run_, all of Tarantino’s work, and _Last of the Mohicans_ in particular. Also of note is anything 60s-70s, especially when set in Vietnam. _Apocalypse Now_, _Platoon_, (White Rabbit in particular), _Full Metal Jacket_, (the scene immediately after bootcamp), and hell, even _Forrest Gump_. Where have I seen _Volunteers_ by Jefferson Airplane in a movie? I always liked that song, and saw it once in a movie, but I forget which one. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/38 "2005-08-04T08:47:52Z")
> [@big\_dogs](#): > > The first time I consciously noticed the impact of the music on the movie was when I saw **To Live And Die In L.A.**. > > Excellent soundtrack done by (believe it or not) Wang Chung. I agree. Wang Chung is,. well,. Wang Chung. But that movie wouldn’t have been as 80’s slick without it. **Manhunter** was the same way. **Shriekback** mixed in with wacky serial killer dude. ---
**Author:** ![Gerome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Gerome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerome)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/39 "2005-08-04T13:34:34Z")
How about the graveyard sequence in **The Good, the Bad and the Ugly** with Ennio Morricone’s **The Ecstacy of Gold** playing loudly? Brilliant, I say, after almost three hours of buildup. ---
**Author:** ![parthenokinesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cc9497/32.png) [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424/40 "2005-08-04T13:44:50Z")
Another nod to “Stuck in the Middle With You” in **Reservoir Dogs** , I can’t hear that song now without seeing that scene in my head, Madsen doing that little dance before going to work with the razor…{shudder} A recent favorite is “Don’t Stop Me Now” in **Shaun of the Dead**. That whole sequence is just fried gold. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-marriage-of-music-and-visuals-in-a-film-spoilers-ok/315424.md?page=3)