MovieChat Forums > The Lost World (1925) Discussion > Music in the Film (and elsewhere)

Music in the Film (and elsewhere)


I recently watched "The Lost World" (1925) for a class I am in (about special effects) and being a movie score nut, I noticed that the music that is played during the initial "conference scene" (the scene in which Challenger first tells everyone what he encountered and the aspiring reporter Roxton sneaks in) is also played in the end credits of the movie "First Knight" (1995). The soundtrack listing for "The Lost World" credits Rudolf Friml for the music (and my professor said he believed the music was based on a Hungarian tune, so I guess this makes sense if he is indeed also responsible for this section of music). Does anyone know if this is a common tune well known in Hungary? (national anthem or something perhaps). I'm curious, because I'd like to know why Goldsmith is listed as the sole creator for the soundtrack for "First Knight" if the music originally appeared in "The Lost World." This is driving me nuts! Thanks.

reply

What edition of the film are you watching (ie. who is performing the score)? Ruolph Friml only wrote a theme song to the film and that wasn't even played in most theaters.

-J. Theakston
The Silent Photoplayer
http://www.thephotoplayer.com/

reply

Okay, see I was wondering if that was all he had done- the theme. I'll have to double check with my professor, but the version we watched was on DVD to my knowledge (not sure if that helps or not). Is there just one DVD version so far?

reply

There are several editions available, although in my opinion, the best is the Film Preservation Associates DVD available through Image. It has two scores on it, one by the Alloy Orchestra ("modern" accompaniment) and The Robert Israel Orchestra (traditional silent film music).

-J. Theakston
The Silent Photoplayer
http://www.thephotoplayer.com/

reply

That would be a difficult question to answer as it is my understanding that during the Silent Film era, films were distributed to movie houses sans music or any other sound at all and the movie houses themselves provided an organist or pianist to come up with dramatic musical effects. So, from that perspective, there could be as many musical scores for this movie as there were movie houses operating at the time.

reply