Does anyone know if the U.S. DVD releases of "Odd Man Out" have the full musical opening? Neither of the U.K. DVDs from Network or Carlton have it.
In the original version the music begins on the soundtrack ahead of the film proper, starting on the film's Censor's certificate, playing through the J.Arthur Rank and Two Cities trademarks and on to the main credits. The U.K.
DVDs have both cut the musical opening.
You might be interested that Chandos Records Ltd. have released a CD-- The Film Music Of William Alwyn(1905-1985) which contains the film score of Odd Man Out. It lasts over 26 mins. They are based in Colchester Essex England.
shareThanks for taking the trouble to reply. I do have the Chandos C.D. but the conductor's interpretation of the score is quite different to Muir Mathieson's original. The title music is complete on the CD, but is played at a snail's pace that makes rather tedious listening. We had a private 16mm screening of "Odd Man Out" in our home many years ago and the renters were kind enough to hire us a new print complete with BBFC certificate. That is how I know the opening music layout.
share1. Muir was on a job-assignment for the director/studio - he had to make the music 'fit' to the screen-time, that's why it is at a faster pace.
2. The Chandos CD follows the composer's stated tempo on the sheet music manuscript. There is no comparison to the sweeping quality of the sound of the LSO and Hickox to a 'rushed' 1947 mono sound (no bad reflection on Muir, that's just how it is.)
3. Our minds identify with what we originally hear - and that's normal - but the CD reflects "here is my music as a composer" and the film reflects the needs of a film, with Alwyn in complete synch with the producer-director's wishes, and what the editor did picking out the various queues.
You refer to the "sheet music manuscript" for ODD MAN OUT. Where could this be obtained? I would very much like to learn to play it on my piano, but haven't found it at any of the usual sheet music sources.
shareThat's a pity. I have the original version on tape, and the integration of the music is very important. Did you know that Reed played the soundtrack during the shooting, and had the actors set their movements to it? Almost like ballet.
shareThe version shown this week on TCM had the full musical opening, which nicely incorporated the crashes of J Arthur Rank's gong.
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