Before “Harry Potter.” Before “Jurassic Park.” Before “E.T.” Before “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Before “Superman.” Before “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Before “Star Wars.” Before “Jaws.” Before even John Williams… there was Johnny Williams.
Well before Williams became America’s most famous living composer, he was busy honing his craft as an orchestrator, an arranger, a session pianist, and a composer in the bush league of television. This week on “Picture Perfect,” we’ll hear some of “Johnny” Williams’ music for “Lost in Space.”
Also on the program will be selections from “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour” by Bernard Herrmann, the theme from “Wagon Train” by Jerome Moross, and a medley of well-known television music by Jerry Goldsmith.
Don’t touch that dial! Movie composers think inside the box, on “Picture Perfect,” music for the movies (and television), now in syndication on KWAX Classical Oregon!
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Clip and save the start times for all three of my recorded shows:
PICTURE PERFECT, the movie music show – Friday at 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST
SWEETNESS AND LIGHT, the light music program – Saturday at 11:00 AM EST/8:00 AM PST
THE LOST CHORD, unusual and neglected rep – Saturday at 7:00 PM EST/4:00 PM PST
Stream them, wherever you are, at the link!
https://kwax.uoregon.edu
Tag: Jerry Goldsmith
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Bustin’ Out of the Joint on “Picture Perfect”
This week on “Picture Perfect,” get yourself free. It’s an hour of music from movies about prison breaks.
Indomitable Steve McQueen does hard time on Devil’s Island in “Papillon” (Jerry Goldsmith); Paul Newman sticks it to The Man in “Cool Hand Luke” (Lalo Schifrin); Tim Robbins makes good use of a Rita Hayworth poster in “The Shawshank Redemption” (Thomas Newman); and an all-star cast, led by a barbed-wire hopping McQueen, flee their Nazi captors in “The Great Escape” (Elmer Bernstein).
Let’s face it, nobody looks good in orange. Grab a shank and a file. We’re bustin’ out of the joint, on “Picture Perfect,” music for the movies, now in syndication on KWAX Classical Oregon!
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Clip and save the start times for all three of my recorded shows:
PICTURE PERFECT, the movie music show – Friday at 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST
SWEETNESS AND LIGHT, the light music program – Saturday at 11:00 AM EST/8:00 AM PST
THE LOST CHORD, unusual and neglected rep – Saturday at 7:00 PM EST/4:00 PM PST
Stream them, wherever you are, at the link!
https://kwax.uoregon.edu -
Planet of the Apes Prophecy Music Review
I don’t know about you, but I found life much less disturbing when all these escapist fantasies I viewed or read as a kid became so embedded in our popular culture that they attained almost “camp” status. I’ve been noticing of late, and I must say, it’s making me rather uneasy, that an awful lot of them are starting to seem downright prophetic.
But really? “Planet of the Apes?”
Of course, the “Apes” movies were always thinly-veiled allegories about all the ways humans are idiots – violent, acquisitive, xenophobic, racist, fundamentalist, and irredeemably destructive. Unquestionably it is so, but even the original “Planet of the Apes” had moments of self-aware levity! Once the lights came up and we got on with our lives, who believed these fairy stories were more than cautionary tales? Who anticipated that the destiny of human civilization would seem to be playing out just as the “Apes” movies forecast?
But that’s what gives them their elemental power. The issues addressed, sadly, will always be the same. Ignorance, fear, and brutality will always rage against enlightenment, equity, and compassion, and the people who can make a difference will never change before it’s too late.
But… it’s Friday, and I know you’re all looking forward to the weekend. Our demise may be inevitable, but for now, kick back and enjoy selections from this lovingly restored, limited edition boxed set of “Apes” music from La-La Land Records.
Today on “Picture Perfect,” in the wake of my spoken intro about Jerry Goldsmith’s seminal score, delivered earlier this week, prior to a screening of the first film at Princeton Garden Theatre, I am primed for primates. I hope you’ll join me as we sample music from “Planet of the Apes” (1968),” “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” (1970), “Escape from the Planet of the Apes” (1971), “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes” (1972), and “Battle for the Planet of the Apes” (1973). Composers will include Goldsmith (who also scored “Escape”), Leonard Rosenman (“Beneath” and “Battle”), and Tom Scott (“Conquest”).
Has there ever been a more nihilistic series pitched to a family audience? From the era of Flower Power, the Vietnam War, and the Nixon administration, “Planet of the Apes” was the ultimate bad trip. As I say, it’s easy to view these films as silly, escapist fare, but more than half a century later, the themes, subtexts and overarching message of “Planet of the Apes” remain disconcertingly relevant.
Keep your filthy paws off me, you damn dirty apes! Yes we have no bananas, on “Picture Perfect,” music for the movies, now in syndication on KWAX, the radio station of the University of Oregon!
Clip and save the start times for all three of my recorded shows:
PICTURE PERFECT, the movie music show – Friday at 8:00 PM EDT/5:00 PM PDT
SWEETNESS AND LIGHT, the light music program – Saturday at 11:00 AM EDT/8:00 AM PDT
THE LOST CHORD, unusual and neglected rep – Saturday at 7:00 PM EDT/4:00 PM PDT
Stream them, wherever you are, at the link!
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Planet of the Apes Score Celebrated at Princeton
Despite the rain, I’m happy to report there was a very nice turn-out last night for the Princeton Garden Theatre’s screening of “Planet of the Apes.” I spoke beforehand about Jerry Goldsmith’s bold and imaginative music. Also, there was the enticement of trivia and prizes! (The Garden has the most knowledgeable and passionate audiences.)
The film was shown as part of the theatre’s “Keeping the Score” series, lovingly curated to illuminate the powerful contributions of music, in all its varieties, to the collaborative art form that is cinema. Next up: Franz Waxman’s score for Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rebecca” on June 4. The schedule for the next few months is posted on the Garden’s website. Thank you, Princeton Garden Theatre. It was heartening to find that people clearly still love their “Apes!”
https://www.princetongardentheatre.org
Since I am primed for primates, the focus of my movie music show, “Picture Perfect,” this week will be a survey of all five of the “Apes” scores from this era, including music by Goldsmith, Leonard Rosenman, and Tom Scott. The show will air on KWAX, this Friday at 8:00 p.m. EDT/5:00 p.m. PDT. Stream it wherever you are at the link!
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Ape Sounds Goldsmith’s Score at Princeton Garden
I’ll be talking about Jerry Goldsmith’s music for the 1968 classic “Planet of the Apes” as a brief intro to a screening of the ultimate sci-fi switcheroo at Princeton Garden Theatre tomorrow night at 7:00.
My appearance ties in with the Garden’s ongoing series, “Keeping the Score,” lovingly curated to highlight the artistry of the great film composers and their indispensable contributions to enduring audience favorites.
You’ll find the current schedule here:
https://www.princetongardentheatre.org/score
Lots more repertory films to enjoy during Hollywood Summer Nights:
https://www.princetongardentheatre.org/hsn
The Garden homepage:
https://www.princetongardentheatre.org/
PHOTOS: Goldsmith (top) and going ape
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