MovieChat Forums > Pork Chop Hill (1959) Discussion > Loudspeaker Music After Ultimatum

Loudspeaker Music After Ultimatum


Unless I am mistaken, the absolutely incredibly beautiful music played by the Red propagandist at the loudspeaker was "Autumn In New York", composed by Vernon Duke (Vladimir Dukelski) for the 1934 Broadway play "Thumbs Up". As a testimony to this music's true genius and beauty, the propagandist picked it because he knew how good it was-you couldn't pick just any old tune to do what he was trying to do, and he went through the whole stack of those old thick 78 rpm's to find just the one he knew he needed. The old saw that music hath charms to soothe the savage beast can never be more aptly demonstrated than with a tune such as this. The film was out in'59, and I believe that was when I first saw it. At the age of 5, the first time I heard the tune in the movie, this is the effect it had on me. Ever since, beautiful music, especially violins have always had an other-wordly effect on me.
The dude at the loudspeaker knew his job well, but when he said "Doesn't that make you think of all the things you want to live for ? Love, marriage. Why must you die before you have even begun to live ?"-he didn't know he was reminding the men of all the things they were fighting for. These men of King Co., 7th Div., 31st Regiment were essentially free men. The commie psycho-warrior had to have the empty well of his ignorance filled in-that free men fight better and braver because they have more to lose- something to fight and die for- but more importantly something to live for. Not surprisingly, no GI's went forward to accept his surrender.
I want to ask if anyone knows what version/what recording of Autumn In New York was used in the film, and where I may get a recording of it. These days, one wouldn't expect a remastered digital version on CD, But a 33 rpm version would do just fine. The best instrumental version in my opinion is by Mantovani. There are no really good vocal versions, Sinatra notwithstanding. I'd love to see a really good Ray Conniff type choral version. The tune has been perverted into jazz, and many people think of it as a "jazz standard". That's not the way it was written nor was it ever intended to be.

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Yes, rbahr. The playing of "Autumn In New York" (I wasn't familiar with the tune's name until you mentioned it) was a nice touch before the battle. A buddy of mine and me use to goof on each other now and then with the lines from the Chicom broadcaster, "...You are young. I am young. We don't want to die..."



"Ready when you are, Mister DeMille."

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The North Koreans/Chinese knew that some people would be affected by the propaganda in the backs of their minds even if up front they showed resolve and every little bit helps in a battle.






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