MovieChat Forums > Scaramouche (1952) Discussion > Victor Young's score

Victor Young's score

posted 19 years ago by austendw
7 replies | jump to latest

I just bought the CD of this score. It's a real delight. It starts with a reference to Richard Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier by way of Don Juan. Initially I thought it was a blatant rip-off - but as the motif is not repeated or used elsewhere, it can only be a very knowing indicator of the type of film we are about to see. And the rest of the score is a real joy, at times reminiscent of Korngold - there's a lushly romatic theme that might easily have been a song sung by Tauber or such-like. And there are a couple of beautiful, graceful, cues: "Pavane" and "Magic Box". It's years since I saw the film so I can't remember what action the latter cue was underscoring.

I've definitely got to get to know more Victor Young scores. Any suggestions, folks? The Samson and Deliah / The Quiet Man CD is on it's way, but apart from that?

[–] beatabeatrix 19 years ago

I have the CD also - it is indeed wonderful. The "Magic Box" cue is for a scene towards the end (before the duel) in which the characters on stage pop out of boxes. The characters are transformed when they step out of the box. Very pretty music. I can listen to it over and over.

[–] Harold_Robbins 18 years ago

A simply gorgeous score, with various lovely themes for each character: one of the Academy's great oversights. Young's glorious SCARAMOUCHE score was not among his many nominated scores, and when he finally DID win (for AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS) the honor came too late for him to enjoy it, as he'd died several months before!

The lyrical "Magic Boxes" theme has haunted me ever since I saw the film as a kid, though I've always thought of it as "Recognitions", because it is during this music that Aline and Lenore recognize each other, and Aline realizes that Scaramouche is Andre - I've always regreted that this stunning theme is cut off so abruptly here for dramatic effect. A few minutes later it's used again - more boldly and emphatically orchestrated, to climax the duel between Andre and Noel (which otherwise had no music) - they look into each others' eyes and . . . the choice of music to underscore the meaning is not accidental, and sets up what Lewis Stone soon reveals to Andre.

When I got the CD of this glorious score a couple of years ago, the first selection I played - over and over and over again - was "Magic Boxes". And what a delight to discover an alternate version, with more horns! But even that is too brief - how I long for a full-length, full-blooded performance of this score!

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bob_2060 18 years ago

so can I, over and over again ! when I feel down I put it on in the car.

[–] bob_2060 17 years ago

the magic box refers to the scene at the end of the film in the theatre where scaramouche and his girlfriend rise out of a round box; it's part of the show of the theatre group and ferrer and leigh are in the house, then followed by the long swordfight. great!

[–] Harold_Robbins 17 years ago

I hadn't listened to the CD in a while, so I popped it in while driving to a job interview this morning - that ecstatic "Magic Boxes" them just sets my tear-ducts flowing!

"I don't use a pen: I write with a goose quill dipped in venom!"---W. Lydecker

[–] Harold_Robbins 14 years ago

"I hadn't listened to the CD in a while, so I popped it in while driving to a job interview this morning - that ecstatic "Magic Boxes" them just sets my tear-ducts flowing!"

I popped this in yesterday, and three years later the results were the same.

"Remind me to tell you about the time I looked into the heart of an artichoke."