# Suddenly I discover movie soundtracks. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 8, 2011, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908 "2011-03-08T11:25:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/1 "2011-03-08T11:25:03Z")
I love movies. I probably see 40 a year at the movies. I love music. I own hundreds of CDs and used to do live and studio mixing for bands. But until last weekend I owned no movie music even though I often notice how cool the soundtrack is while watching a movie. I saw _The Adjustment Bureau_ and while I quite liked the movie I adored the soundtrack. I could tell it was Thomas Newman because I’ve seen plenty of stuff he has scored and there were echoes of all of them. But I kept hearing things that made me think, “what is that?” While watching a movie you can’t close your eyes and wallow in the sounds so later I got the CD. Ever since I have been cranking it out really loud through my headphones and marveling at how clever it is. Amazing percussion arrangements and because it a movie soundtrack some musical ideas are only 30 seconds long. No need to make it 3 verses with chorus and a middle 8. So obviously I have missed lots of good stuff over the years and I bow to the collective Doper wisdom - what do I need to listen to? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/2 "2011-03-08T12:14:46Z")
My favourite Thomas Newman is his end titles for [Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsZ75J8_jNE). And I also love Hans Zimmer’s score for _Pirates of the Caribbean_. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/3 "2011-03-08T12:20:07Z")
Odd coincidence. My nephew is a jazz muso and i sent him an email along the same lines as the OP and was just reading his reply - [Hans Zimmer talks about his work](http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb110209hans_zimmer). ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/4 "2011-03-08T12:30:33Z")
I’m a lover of classical soundtracks. Bernard Hermann’s scores for Hitchcock’s movies (PSYCHO, VERTIGO, etc) are stunning. Elmer Bernstein’s score for DeMille’s THE TEN COMMANDMENTS is astounding. Not to mention Max Steiner, Dmitri Tiomkin, John Williams, et al. ---
**Author:** ![Promethea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Promethea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Promethea)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/5 "2011-03-08T12:40:39Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > I’m a lover of classical soundtracks. Bernard Hermann’s scores for Hitchcock’s movies (PSYCHO, VERTIGO, etc) are stunning. Seconding this - I have yet to find a Bernard Herrmann score where I thought he dropped the ball. as well as the above films for Hitchcock, I recommend his scores for \*Citizen Kane, Taxi Driver \*(my personal favourite), _Fahrenheit 451, Cape Fear_ and \*The Snows of Kilimanjaro \*for the insanely lovely, melancholy [‘Memory Waltz’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeRbgySM1DE). ---
**Author:** ![Skip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/6 "2011-03-08T12:45:50Z")
The Social Network by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (you can download a 5 track sampler [here](http://nullco.com/TSN/)) is great if you like downtempo moody stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/7 "2011-03-08T13:15:21Z")
_The Natural Silverado_ ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/8 "2011-03-08T14:08:26Z")
Thomas Newman is one of my favorite film score composers. I, too, like the _Lemony Snicket_ score, as well as _American Beauty_. I also like Carter Burwell’s score for _Fargo_. Another favorite, going way back, is Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Especially _The Adventures of Robin Hood_ and _The Sea Hawk_. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/9 "2011-03-08T14:20:29Z")
Some of my favorites include Gladiator, all 3 Lord of the Rings movies, and the Star Wars films. I also really enjoyed the score to the recent Sherlock Holmes movie, with Robert Downey, Jr. I’ll also second the above post which mentions Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/10 "2011-03-08T14:26:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Seconding this - I have yet to find a Bernard Herrmann score where I thought he dropped the ball. as well as the above films for Hitchcock, I recommend his scores for Citizen Kane, Taxi Driver (my personal favourite), Fahrenheit 451, Cape Fear and The Snows of Kilimanjaro for the insanely lovely, melancholy ‘Memory Waltz’. Thirding, and I have to mention all the sf/fantasy films he scored as well, particularly those of Ray Harryhausen – **Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, Jason and the Argonauts** , and others. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/11 "2011-03-08T15:41:18Z")
Edward Scissorhands The Piano Beetlejuice The Village ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/12 "2011-03-08T16:00:43Z")
Doris Day has some great soundtracks from her movies. by far the best is Love Me or Leave Me definitely her best work > **[Amazon.com: Love Me Or Leave Me: From The Sound Track (1955 Film): CDs &...](https://www.amazon.com/Love-Me-Leave-Sound-Track/dp/B0000027LK)** > > Product Description The 1955 movie soundtrack find Doris Day playing the part of famed 1920s singer Ruth Etting. Here she puts her own spin on Ettings hits and, in turn, scored some big hits for herself. The remastered CD features the... a few more great soundtracks. Make sure you get the original cast. Showboat South Pacific Sound of Music ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/13 "2011-03-08T16:06:23Z")
Thank you folks. [Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7wWAA3x35w) is my favorite track off the CD. For God knows what reason it seems to be about 10% faster. Still listen to the arrangement. Headphones and loud is best. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/14 "2011-03-08T16:14:18Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Doris Day has some great soundtracks from her movies. Well Doris Day is God. I recently posted about her being superwoman and I have most of her stuff. ---
**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 8, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/15 "2011-03-08T16:17:48Z")
Peter Gabriel’s score for the Last _Temptation of Christ_ is one of my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/16 "2011-03-08T17:09:44Z")
Some of my faves: Last of the Mohicans Bram Stoker’s Dracula Dances with Wolves A Clockwork Orange Amelie Ennio Morricone has an amazing body of work, with westerns like For a Few Dollars More and The Good the Bad and the Ugly but also The Untouchables and Cinema Paradiso and many others. (ETA: How could I forget The Mission?) The Godfather Part II is has an amazing score. I haven’t tried listening to any of them as albums, but Howard Shore’s scores for David Cronenberg films and Silence of the Lambs are hugely effective and atmospheric (i.e. creepy as hell). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/17 "2011-03-08T17:12:15Z")
Dirty Dancing, and American Graffiti are two more good ones. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/18 "2011-03-08T17:35:53Z")
> [@Promethea](#): > > Seconding this - I have yet to find a Bernard Herrmann score where I thought he dropped the ball. as well as the above films for Hitchcock, I recommend his scores for \*Citizen Kane, Taxi Driver \*(my personal favourite), _Fahrenheit 451, Cape Fear_ and \*The Snows of Kilimanjaro \*for the insanely lovely, melancholy [‘Memory Waltz’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeRbgySM1DE). All this talk of Hermann and no mention of NxNW? Best main title Evar! I used to own the soundtrack for Star Trek II. Brilliant work by James Horner. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/19 "2011-03-08T17:56:41Z")
> [@Promethea](#): > > Seconding this - I have yet to find a Bernard Herrmann score where I thought he dropped the ball. as well as the above films for Hitchcock, I recommend his scores for \*Citizen Kane, Taxi Driver \*(my personal favourite), _Fahrenheit 451, Cape Fear_ and \*The Snows of Kilimanjaro \*for the insanely lovely, melancholy [‘Memory Waltz’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeRbgySM1DE). More fantastic Herrmann: _The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, North by Northwest, On Dangerous Ground_ ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908/20 "2011-03-08T18:16:38Z")
The Last of the Mohicans Requiem for a Dream [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-i-discover-movie-soundtracks/573908.md?page=2)