# Post your favorite "non-musical" movie themes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies, music\ **Created:** [March 19, 2023, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376 "2023-03-19T20:57:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/1 "2023-03-19T20:57:00Z")
By that I mean they have to be “stand-alone” pieces that are **not** performed as “numbers” in the movies themselves. They can be repeated as _background_ music, but not showcased separately. This eliminates, for example, the themes to _ **The Producers** _ (“Springtime for Hitler”), _ **The Great Race** _ (“The Sweetheart Tree”), and _ **My Fair Lady** _ (“I Could Have Danced All Night”). They don’t have to be instrumental. They can have lyrics too, so long as they’re not performed separately in the movie. I’ll start off with these: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/G3tF-iLP8Oo/hqdefault.jpg "The Dambusters") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3tF-iLP8Oo) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XWXQUhBsUVM/hqdefault.jpg "633 squadron theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWXQUhBsUVM) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8ieaYqW9FcA/hqdefault.jpg "The Great Escape（1963） - MainTitle Music") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ieaYqW9FcA) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AFaJWqVcv8k/maxresdefault.jpg "On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Remastered)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFaJWqVcv8k) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Jjq0WDvapow/maxresdefault.jpg "8. A Shot in the Dark - Henry Mancini") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjq0WDvapow) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/2 "2023-03-19T21:08:33Z")
**A Bridge Too Far** had a great theme: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XWBoMWZJkeI/hqdefault.jpg "A Bridge Too Far Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWBoMWZJkeI) **Jurassic Park 1993** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/D8zlUUrFK-M/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGH8gEygUMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDTLGRAlzqBRc2ZIuHEo-SthgZvvg "Jurassic Park theme song.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8zlUUrFK-M) **Indiana Jones**!!! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-bTpp8PQSog/maxresdefault.jpg "Indiana Jones Theme Song [HD]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bTpp8PQSog) **The Back to the Future Theme** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e8TZbze72Bc/hqdefault.jpg "The Back to the Future Theme Tune") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8TZbze72Bc) Another more obscure one that I think was great … **The Last Starfighter Theme** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rdk2hOnuFhk/hqdefault.jpg "The Last Starfighter Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdk2hOnuFhk) **The Incredibles** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2ZUHlrir4Og/hqdefault.jpg "incredibles theme song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZUHlrir4Og) ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/3 "2023-03-19T21:22:56Z")
[The Pink Panther (1963) title sequence - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4amWTwO1GM&list=PLRvO-XFZ2nu66yHa5yItFo1HqWx2w5ImT) The Pink Panther [The Inspector Clouseau Theme - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh8eysaqEEI) Another Mancini composition from the same series. Less well known, but I enjoy it nearly as much ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/4 "2023-03-19T21:30:05Z")
Anything by Lalo Schifrin. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XAYhNHhxN0A/maxresdefault.jpg "Mission Impossible Theme (Full Theme)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAYhNHhxN0A) And we can keep on the TV to movie theme-- John Williams. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/67VHi9PraRo/maxresdefault.jpg "Lost in Space - Apollo 440 (1998)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67VHi9PraRo) Of course both were remixed and redone for the movies. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/5 "2023-03-19T21:32:19Z")
Another Mancini composition, also from 1963. Soldier in the Rain. Makes a great earworm, as some of you will probably discover (cue evil laugh). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/869z9Ja2XHw/hqdefault.jpg "Soldier in the Rain Main Title") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=869z9Ja2XHw) It’s repeated later on in the film: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/NVOTZH-Npfw/maxresdefault.jpg "SOLDIER IN THE RAIN") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVOTZH-Npfw) Mancini was extraordinary. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/6 "2023-03-19T21:32:31Z")
Good choices! Here are a few more: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bBixD-rTB_c/maxresdefault.jpg "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (2004 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBixD-rTB_c) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/brhVcif_Bq4/maxresdefault.jpg "Per un pugno di dollari - Titoli") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brhVcif_Bq4) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yyV_eb3p3Zw/hqdefault.jpg "For a Few Dollars More • Main Theme • Ennio Morricone") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyV_eb3p3Zw) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/7 "2023-03-19T21:32:53Z")
I’ll get the Star Wars theme out of the way… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_D0ZQPqeJkk/hqdefault.jpg "Star Wars Main Theme (Full)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D0ZQPqeJkk) But actually the first one that came to mind was Beverly Hills Cop. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V4kWpi2HnPU/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGH8gISgTMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBtHV5KqiVGXWChzp1Fz49k9OTB5g "Beverly Hills Cop Main Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4kWpi2HnPU) ETA: Oh, and Car Wash is worth a mention. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eB0aROCl530/maxresdefault.jpg "Rose Royce - Car Wash (1976)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB0aROCl530) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/8 "2023-03-19T21:47:05Z")
> [@alovem](#): > > It’s repeated later on in the film: Against the rules, but I’ll forgive you. 🙂 And yes, I love Mancini too! ❤ ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/9 "2023-03-19T21:49:42Z")
You just wait until they make a Hawaii 5-0 movie! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/10 "2023-03-19T21:50:38Z")
I have to add this one while I’m thinking about it: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1hLIXrlpRe8/hqdefault.jpg "Pulp Fiction Misirlou") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hLIXrlpRe8) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/11 "2023-03-19T21:51:26Z")
Casino Royale / Herb Alpert [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hlxgfYjNhS8/maxresdefault.jpg "Herb Alpert (Casino Royale Theme) 24 bit Audiophile Quality") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlxgfYjNhS8) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/12 "2023-03-19T21:51:57Z")
… But only with the original cast! 😁 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/13 "2023-03-19T21:53:07Z")
That’s a great choice, I didn’t realize non-original songs counted. One of my favorites. I’ll add The Godfather: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HWqKPWO5T4o/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgZShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAEcI3jwqv5CKYaCi75hzUX0l0uOw "The Godfather Theme Song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWqKPWO5T4o) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/14 "2023-03-19T21:54:05Z")
Catchy, the way he worked “Promises, Promises” into the beginning. I never noticed that before! 👍 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/15 "2023-03-19T21:55:54Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > That’s a great choice, I didn’t realize non-original songs counted. Sure, why not? It’s so identified with the movie, I can’t help but think of one without the other! ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/16 "2023-03-19T22:01:28Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Casino Royale There are a ton of good ones from Bond movies, but I’ll go with Dr. No, which is has come to be thought of as the generic “James Bond” theme song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oTo3YtPxG5k/maxresdefault.jpg "Dr. No (1962) title sequence") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTo3YtPxG5k) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/17 "2023-03-19T22:06:06Z")
Thank you for posting this movie I’d never heard of before! What a cast! Jackie Gleason, Steve McQueen, Adam West, Tuesday Weld, and the rest, as they say! I’ve got to see it sometime soon! I’m assuming it’s on YouTube? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/18 "2023-03-19T22:08:49Z")
It is an excellent movie that I had forgotten the name of. TCM usually shows it at least once a year. Gleason was great. McQueen was in a very non-standard McQueen role. He said he took it so he could work with Jackie. Tuesday of course was beautiful. I don’t remember Adam West in at all, so that probably speaks volumes. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/19 "2023-03-19T22:17:26Z")
That is a great opening. I wouldn’t have thought of “Three Blind Mice” calypso style as a Bond theme. My Russian ex-wife thought for many years that _ **Doktor No** _ was a mistranslation. She was shocked when I told her “That was his _name_.” (She also had no idea what “L.A.” was, even though she heard it every day on CNN—“She’s in New York, he’s in L.A.” She stopped me one day when I happened to mention it and asked me what the hell it meant.) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376/20 "2023-03-19T22:29:54Z")
Not enough themes with words. Here’s The Breakfast Club. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CdqoNKCCt7A/maxresdefault.jpg "Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdqoNKCCt7A) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-favorite-non-musical-movie-themes/981376.md?page=2)