AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores

On September 23, AFI will announce their top 25 movie scores from the past 100 years. Here is the link for the 250 nominated scores (I hope you have adobe acrobat):

http://www.afi.com/Docs/tvevents/pdf/scores250.pdf

What scores do you think will make the top 25? Do you think some scores should have made the list that didn't? How do you think Star Wars will place? Discuss.

 

I was wondering what they would do next. I would have thought effects films.

 

I`m thinking The Godfather will get number 1,looking at it I don`t think sequels are nominated ESB should have taken ANH~s place.

 

Well I'll be happy as long as Lawrence of Arabia, Sunset Blvd. and The Third Man get in the top 10 (hopefully Lawrence for 1.) It'll be interesting to see who gets selected, because a lot of those scores are well done (some I don't even know how they got on the list.)

And like that...he's gone.

 

"Casablanca" or Phsyco are going to be the top 2. I bet your lightsabers on that.

 

I think that these scores will make the list:

- Star Wars
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Lawrence of Arabia
- Dr. Zhivago
- Gone With the Wind
- Casablanca
- E.T.

I was sad Dragonheart did not make it.

 

Not sure if I entirely approve of that list.

First off I must say it's sad that sequels couldn't make the list. I mean the scores to TESB, ROTJ, TPM, AOTC, ROTS, IJATTOD, IJATLC, LOTR: TTT, LOTR: TROTK, Aliens, and Alien 3 certainly best many of the scores on that list.

I also notice Tomorrow Never Dies made it and Goldfinger too. Wouldn't those be considered sequels? Did they not use the traditional James Bond theme at some point? Or was the theme barely in the films to count?

Second I'd like to say that I haven't heard maybe 50% of that lists scores, but I know some pretty good scores that should have made it to the top 250 at least. I know some of the movies themselves may have sucked, but they had damn good scores that AFI fails to recognize me thinks.

Requiem for a Dream - I think it's very unique and was overlooked.

Jurassic Park - It does have other themes besides the main theme.

Hook - One of John Williams best scores that constantly gets overlooked because of the film itself.

Born on the Fourth of July - Another great score.

Angelas Ashes - Brings a tear to my eye.

Home Alone - Once again the type of movie it was passes judgement down upon the score itself.

Krull - Like it or not, this film had a decent score by Horner.

Beelejuice - Okay there were allegations of music theft involved, but still, it's pretty damn good.

Pee Wee's Big Adventure - Type of movie clouds AFI's ears.

Back to the Future - Considering As Good As It Gets made the bloody list...

Backdraft - Great score.

Crimson Tide - See above.

Godzilla - I know it's foreign and thus not elligable. Just thought it should be mentioned.

The Seven Samurai - Same as the above.

Gremlins - I think it's a rather clever score. Certainly outshines A.I. Artificial Intelligence.

Poltergeist - One of Goldsmiths best in my opinion. It's not just the main theme either.

Hellraiser: Hellbound - Type of movie outshines the beautiful score.

Henry V - Patrick Doyles "Much Ado About Nothing" makes it but not this?

Rudy - I thought it had a great theme.

Cocoon - I thought Horner did wonderful work here.

Willow - Same here. It had multiple themes.

Goonies - Okay maybe this one is in the top 500.

Young Sherlock Holmes - Overlooked because of the movie.

Terms of Endearment - I thought this one had some decent themes.

Last of the Mohicans - Now how did this one not make the list?

The Joy Luck Club - Beautiful score.

The Land Before Time - Maybe top 500. I'm just writing them down as I think of them.

A Nightmare Before Christmas - If the Wizard of Oz can make it and As Good As It Doesn't Get...

Sleepy Hollow - Honorable mention.

Something Wicked This Way Comes - Overlooked score.

Airplane! - Hehehe

Ghostbusters - Bernstein did pretty good. While people may remember the song, the score had a great beat to it all.

Interview With A Vampire - Elliot Goldenthal at his best in my opinion.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day - I thought the main theme was pretty good and the score was solid. Especially compared to others on the 250 list. Certainly not top 100 material, but still pretty good.




EDIT: As for the top 25...

Goldfinger, Titanic, Batman, Alien, Conan the Barbarian, Braveheart, and LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring might rank high, but I don't think they'll crack the top 25.

My predictions on the end result...

25. The Pink Panther - Henry Mancini
24. Fargo - Carter Burwell
23. Patton - Jerry Goldsmith
22. Glory - James Horner
21. Superman - John Williams
20. Close Encounters of the Third Kind - John Williams
19. The Ten Commandments - Elmer Bernstein
18. Rocky - Bill Conti
17. The Omen - Jerry Goldsmith
16. Lawrence of Arabia - Maurice Jarre
15. Raiders of the Lost Ark - John Williams
14. Chariots of Fire - Vangelis
13. Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Jerry Goldsmith
12. The Great Escape - Elmer Bernstein
11. The Wizard of Oz - Herbert Stothart
10. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial - John Williams
09. The Magnificent Seven - Elmer Bern

 

I'll take the bet and say Casablanca will not be in the top ten. It's got one of the most memorable songs in films, and Steiner integrates it well, but it's not top ten.

Here's my guess for the top ten that I first posted at another site:

Gone with the Wind
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Star Wars
Ben Hur
Vertigo
Psycho
To Kill a Mockingbird
Lawrence of Arabia
The Big Country
The Godfather, Titanic, or LOTR (if considered as a series)

 

I'll take the bet and say Casablanca will not be in the top ten. It's got one of the most memorable songs in films, and Steiner integrates it well, but it's not top ten.

Oh I completely agree. Except I think they're stupid enough to put it in the top ten.

 

What about the score to the 1960's version of Romeo and Juliet? That was a memorable score.

Also how about Bram Stokers Dracula in the early 90's? Wojciech Kilar did great with that.

For that matter, Taste the Blood of Dracula had a great set of themes by James Bernard. Speaking of Bernard, I think he did Nosferatu as well. And one of the other Dracula films. Surprised nothing of his made it.

 

Knowing the reverence the AFI has for movies like Gone With the Wind, it will probably take the top spot. It has great music and great themes. I would be happy if it did so, but I would like it better if Star Wars or LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring takes number 1. I also think Lawrence of Arabia will be a solid contender for the top spot. I agree that Casablanca didn't have exceptional music, but had great incorporation of "As time goes by." It will still most likely make the top 10.

 

I wish they'd consider all the LOTR film scores instead of just the first. Same with Star Wars. It just feels wrong to exclude such awesome work.

 

I agree. I hate it when they don't include sequels. Example...AFI's 100 Best Movies, the Academy Awards (Williams should've had wins for Empire, Return, and Crusade), etc.

 

I believe it will either be Star Wars or Gone With The Wind at pole position.

I think I agree with AFI's stance about sequels because they just clutter up the voting process anyways.

"Tomorrow Never Dies"....? Who's been huffing the king-size cohiba? Independence Day should be on the list.

If Titanic even gets into the top 25 I will lose all respect for AFI.

Psycho is a sure lock but I hope that Mr Hermanns scores for Cape Fear and North By Northwest
get some love too.

Maybe I should look at the list before commenting further.

 

Yeah, sequels could confuse the voting, but it still gets me really mad when great movies are ignored because they are "originals." I do agree that Gone With the Wind could take #1. AFI loves it and it would deserve the top spot in my opinion. It had a great score.

 

Upping. Three days till the results!

 

I don't have the time right now to go through the entire list for my picks, but I thought I'd post for discussion what the AFI members are supposed to take into consideration, according to the website:

FILM SCORE
An original music composition written to serve as the dramatic underscore to an American film released in the sound era.*

CREATIVE IMPACT
Film Scores that enrich the moviegoing experience by bringing the emotional elements of a film's story to life.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Film Scores that create a new sound and, therefore, present the film in a distinct fashion while advancing the art forms.

LEGACY
Film Scores that are also enjoyed apart from the movie and evoking the memory of its film source, thus ensuring and enlivening both the music and the movie's historical legacy.

Hopefully the AFI people actually thought about these things before they voted.

 

Yeah, these are the things they put into consideration. Thanks for posting them. They are important.

 

Its is comming! It...IT IS COMMING!!!!!!!

 

I don't if you meant the score music, but if you meant 'As Time Goes By', the song itself doesn't count for this list. This list is for the score music. In 2004, they did the list of 100 Greatest Songs, 'As Time Goes By' was ranked #2, 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' from The Wizard of Oz was #1.

 

He ment the integration of it into the score. Most of the score was basically "As Time Goes Bye" without lyrics.

One Day!

 

My final guesses before the big revelation tomorrow. I've had months to think about this and the elimination process just bounced back and forth. Even in my top 50, I couldn't fit a single score of Alfred Newman, Alex North, or Franz Waxman. Surprising for sure but...


50. Casablanca - Max Steiner
49. Gladiator - Hans Zimmer
48. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - Burt Bacharach
47. The Alamo - Dimitri Tiomkin
46. The Right Stuff - Bill Conti
45. Titanic - James Horner
44. Shaft - Isaac Hayes
43. The Third Man - Anton Karas
42. Alien - Jerry Goldsmith
41. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves - Michael Kamen
40. The Ten Commandments - Elmer Bernstein
39. Love Story - Francis Lai
38. The Wind and the Lion - Jerry Goldsmith
37. Conan the Barbarian - Basil Poledouris
36. High Noon - Dimitri Tiomkin
35. The Wizard of Oz - Herbert Stothart
34. Laura - David Raksin
33. Goldfinger - John Barry
32. The Omen - Jerry Goldsmith
31. Batman - Danny Elfman
30. The Sea Hawk - Erich Wolfgang Korngold
29. El Cid - Miklos Rozsa
28. Patton - Jerry Goldsmith
27. The Way We Were - Marvin Hamlisch
26. Glory - James Horner


TOP 25.

25. Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Jerry Goldsmith
24. Hatari - Henry Mancini
23. City Lights - Charles Chaplin
22. Exodus - Ernest Gold
21. Chariots of Fire - Vangelis
20. Close Encounters of the Third Kind - John Williams
19. Lawrence of Arabia - Maurice Jarre
18. The Bridge Over The River Kwai - Malcolm Arnold
17. Ben-Hur - Miklos Rozsa
16. Rocky - Bill Conti
15. Superman - John Williams
14. The Great Escape - Elmer Bernstein
13. Breakfast At Tiffany's - Henry Mancini
12. The Godfather - Nino Rota
11. Schindler's List - John Williams
10. The Magnificent Seven - Elmer Bernstein
09. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial - John Williams
08. Doctor Zhivago - Maurice Jarre
07. Jaws - John Williams
06. Psycho - Bernard Hermann
05. Raiders of the Lost Ark - John Williams
04. The Pink Panther - Henry Mancini
03. Gone With The Wind - Max Steiner
02. To Kill A Mockingbird - Elmer Bernstein
01. Star Wars - John Williams

 

The day has arrived!!!

 

I don't think in no way shape or form that SW will be number 1. I think Williams is a true genius and I love his work but considering all the amounts of score music done over the 85 years or so; (or whatever it is..) that SW: ANH would be number 1. I would go crazy and raise a toast to everyone if it is one but I don't see it happening.

 

So where is it? Today is September 23rd is it not? Or should I say was in some parts. Did AFI forget? If the date was pushed back, why wasn't the site updated?