# Movie Trailer Themes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2001, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-trailer-themes/50623 "2001-01-18T02:54:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-trailer-themes/50623/1 "2001-01-18T02:54:48Z")
I can hardly believe this question hasn’t been asked, but when I searched for it, I found nothing. I think we all know that movie trailers hijack epic, sweeping themes from other movies since their epic, sweeping soundtracks aren’t done yet (in fact, I think I learned this from Unca Cec). My question is: What the hell are they, specifically? I love soundtracks, I collect them, but there are two or three of these “standards” that I just can’t figure out. I know Carmina Burana (sp?) is used to death, American President, Backdraft and possibly the Last of the Mohicans…but what else? There’s one huge one that they always use in “political movie” trailers that I simply love but cannot find. IT’S DRIVING ME INSANE!!! Help me…I beg. jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-trailer-themes/50623/2 "2001-01-18T03:04:00Z")
You could try looking up some of those political movies here: [http://www.soundtrack.net/trailers/](http://www.soundtrack.net/trailers/) ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-trailer-themes/50623/3 "2001-01-18T03:04:25Z")
It’s been covered. Recently in fact. Be sure to change your search criteria to something other than the past 5 days. Here’s the thread: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=54062](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=54062) There’s a link in there to a site that demystifies those trailer themes. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-trailer-themes/50623/4 "2001-01-18T03:12:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by evilhanz \* > > It’s been covered. Recently in fact. Be sure to change your search criteria to something other than the past 5 days. I apologize for that, then. I’m mystified though. I searched “movie themes” under “any date” in “any forum” and nothing came up. I must be doing this wrong. jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![Kepi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kepi/32/7251_2.png) [@Kepi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepi)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-trailer-themes/50623/5 "2001-01-18T03:15:01Z")
Can you name a specific movie that it’s used for? I know that James Horner’s music from _Glory_ is often used for movie trailers, as well as for network TV movie promos. Specifically, I often hear two themes: “A Call To Arms” and “An Epitaph To War”. Maybe that’s what you have in mind. ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-trailer-themes/50623/6 "2001-01-18T03:24:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > I apologize for that, then. \*\* Oh, _I’m_ sorry. I didn’t intend to sound snippy. 🙂 Just a helpful tip. I think I searched on movie trailer, or something similar. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-trailer-themes/50623/7 "2001-01-18T03:32:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > **I searched “movie themes” under “any date” in “any forum” and nothing came up. I must be doing this wrong.** Nope, nothing wrong with your method. Just your terminology. 🙂 “Movie trailer music” works pretty good as a search term. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-trailer-themes/50623/8 "2001-01-18T03:49:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Nope, nothing wrong with your method. Just your terminology. 🙂 “Movie trailer music” works pretty good as a search term. > [@](#): > > Oh, _I’m_ sorry. I didn’t intend to sound snippy. Just a helpful tip. I think I searched on movie trailer, or something similar. Well, I thought I’d apologize anyway. Just to be safe. 🙂 I’m just a little newbie and I don’t want to get thrown into the pit for doing something stupid. the pit scares me. I’ve read it. jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-trailer-themes/50623/9 "2001-01-18T04:03:51Z")
I noticed Hans Zimmer’s “Journey To The Line” from “The Thin Red Line” was used for the trailer for “Pearl Harbor.” Bet we hear that one in a lot more trailers.