MovieChat Forums > Summer and Smoke (1962) Discussion > Elmer Bernstein's Haunting Score

Elmer Bernstein's Haunting Score

posted 16 years ago by Loomis_Orange
5 replies | jump to latest

I thought this film was magnificent and Elmer Bernstein was one of the reasons why. The beginning when the children were talking to Alma as she was sitting beside the angel fountain and John comes to her an asks why she has been giving him those handkerchiefs and she says "you have a bad cold and your nose has been running all week"... and how he taunts her and forces a kiss on the cheek upon her and then she takes the handkerchiefs and holds them up to the angel fountain and that beautiful score takes over.... Chills went up and down my spine. I noticed that no one on this board has yet mentioned the music....

[–] jnaylor284 16 years ago

The music is beautiful and haunting indeed!
There is a Soundtrack CD available from RCA Records and BMG Music Spain 74321720592. It was issued in 1999. Hard to find, but google it or sometimes it is for resale on Ebay.

[–] Loomis_Orange 16 years ago

I know they had released a soundtrack and I did try and find it a few years ago. I should try again. Thanks for the heads up...

[–] Cello1949-2 15 years ago

I've just read your post, and as a degreed musician, I can tell you I did indeed notice the score! It's beautiful and mystical. Also, there are elements of Bernstein's "To Kill A Mockingbird" score. I have the CD of that one, and after listening to it many times over, I recognized some stylistic sililarities between the two.

Bravo that you noticed the music!

[–] Loomis_Orange 15 years ago

I notice the music in everything. There is that scene in "See No Evil" (the one starring Mia Farrow as the blind girl) where, after the killing, the shell casings are lying on the pavement outside and the wind starts blowing the autumn leaves across the driveway. That swirling sound Elmer Berstein came up with. He, I believe is my favorite score writer, along with Alex North, (the Misfits especially) of course. I love Morricone, Rota and Mancini. Jerry Goldsmith is also one of my favorites. I love what Previn did with "Inside Daisy Clover". Music is so very very important to a film. Hitchcock knew this so well that he actually created a film without any music at all.

I go over to youtube and look up movie scores. They have a lot of them. People say the internet is a well of slime with pornoraphy and all but it can be a goldmine of beauty if you know how to find it.

Whither goest thou, America, in thy shiny car in the night? ~ Jack Kerouac

[–] jones7418 13 years ago

Elmer Bernstein is one of those composers who never lets you down. He was my favorite throughout the '60's and 70's. I believe he is dead now. The music of Summer and Smoke, Hawaii and The Miracle remain some of my faves.