Jerry Goldsmith - Morituri '2020

Tracks list

Newly remastered release of exciting, aggressive Jerry Goldsmith WWII score,
Morituri! Terrific cast headlines 1965 20th Century Fox movie: Marlon Brando,
Yul Brynner, Trevor Howard, Janet Margolin, Wally Cox, Hans Christian Belch,
William Redfield. Intelligent, complex script comes from Daniel Taradash,
Bernhard Wick helms. Striking b&w camerawork from Conrad Hall. Wartime Freighter
loaded valuable with supplies, spy activities, sabotage and intrigue plus
unusual locales that include Yokohama, Macao and the high seas all inspire Jerry
Goldsmith to fashion intense, riveting score for orchestra with spotlight on
solo zither at the onset. Score also displays composer’s peerless talent
for percussion writing, in this instance, often powerful snare & bass drum.
Abundance of additional Goldsmith “signatures” abound: pulsating
left hand piano, muted brass punctuation, xylophone adding to rhythms, zig-zag
action motifs (pre-Planet of the Apes) and rhythmic ostinati galore. Amongst
numerous musical highlights: “Boat Drill” announces with trumpet
fanfare, then launches with lively action material featuring jagged rhythms in
piano, cello, xylophone while brass drive forward, all the while exposed
electric guitar plucking away. “A Change of Face/Sneak Attack”
features main theme (heard first in “Main Title” on zither) get
lively treatment for full orchestra with crisp punctuation from low strings,
trombones amidst the excitement. Subito changes in dynamics highlight velocity
of action riffs during “Caught In The Act” while ferocious triplet
figures for orchestra in jagged fashion highlight knockout “A Lost
Cause”. Years later, when Fox produced The Last Hard Men, with Charlton
Heston & James Coburn, music editor Len Engel was tasked with stitching music
from existing Jerry Goldsmith scores into cohesive soundtrack. Prominently
featured during controversial, unpleasant rape sequence, which unfolds without
dialog, Engel used stunning “Abandoned Ship” cue from current score,
showcasing incredibly intense, ever-tightening music in virtual textbook display
of building intensity via repeating, lean two-part harmonic motif that ceases to
change while outbursts first from trombone then additional brass and eventually
swirling strings wind tighter and tighter until they literally break. Written
for Morituri, the cue deserves a special spotlight. CD was previously released
on FSM label with judicious trims to damaged channels of 35mm multi-track
recordings. All have been restored with current technology, allowing remastered
Intrada release to showcase improved audio restoration. Dramatic package design
from Kay Marshall with flipper cover featuring both original title art and
re-release title art, literate notes from Tim Grieving, production work from
Mike Matessino. Jerry Goldsmith composes, Lionel Newman conducts. Intrada
Special Collection CD available while quantities and interest remain!

Tracklist:
01. Jerry Goldsmith - Main Title / Tokyo (2:13)
02. Jerry Goldsmith - Assignment In Macao (2:06)
03. Jerry Goldsmith - Bon Voyage / Hot Wire (3:41)
04. Jerry Goldsmith - Boat Drill (1:20)
05. Jerry Goldsmith - What To Do Next (1:09)
06. Jerry Goldsmith - Theme From Morituri (1:51)
07. Jerry Goldsmith - A Change Of Face / Sneak Attack (1:56)
08. Jerry Goldsmith - Nine Days Out (1:39)
09. Jerry Goldsmith - Traffic Jam / Caught In The Act (4:52)
10. Jerry Goldsmith - Boarding Party (1:08)
11. Jerry Goldsmith - The Meeting (1:03)
12. Jerry Goldsmith - The Prisoners (2:47)
13. Jerry Goldsmith - Change Of Command (1:04)
14. Jerry Goldsmith - Prepare For Mutiny (3:39)
15. Jerry Goldsmith - A Lost Cause (1:39)
16. Jerry Goldsmith - A Change Of Heart (2:13)
17. Jerry Goldsmith - Break Out (3:12)
18. Jerry Goldsmith - Abandoned Ship (4:03)
19. Jerry Goldsmith - End Title (1:16)

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