MovieChat Forums > The Sand Pebbles (1966) Discussion > TheScore that might have been

TheScore that might have been

posted 17 years ago by alxnrth
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Even though I think Sand Pebbles may be Jerry Goldsmith's best score, I am intrigued by the thought that Alex North was originally scheduled to compose the music. Goldsmith was pulled off Grand Prix where I believe he would have composed a better score than Maurice Jarre, especially at his peak in 1966. Yet there is one cue toward the end of the film which has a definite North sound. Anybody know if he was able to compose anything before the assignment of Goldsmith?

Dale

[–] haristas 16 years ago

If you're still here after leaving this post over a year ago, the commentary on the latest DVD says that North backed out of the assignment almost right away, and that only Goldsmith worked on it. However, you have to remember that Goldsmith and North were friends and often Goldsmith could sound a bit like North.

[–] scruffy58 16 years ago

Indeed. North and Goldsmith were very close friends and it was North who recommended Goldsmith for "The Sand Pebbles" after he backed out of the assignment. North excelled at scoring epics, so his contribution would have been interesting. North was also responsible for another of Goldsmith's finest scores - the Prologue to "The Agony and the Ecstacy". North scored the film proper but was unable to score the Prologue due to other commitments. He suggested Goldsmith who wrote a gorgeous suite of music that I feel would play quite nicely as a concert piece.

"Thus, we began our longest journey together."
Adult Scout, 'To Kill A Mockingbird'

[–] kevinsmithf1master02 16 years ago

What's wrong with Goldsmith's score as it is?

[–] scruffy58 16 years ago

Absolutely nothing. I honestly think it is one of the finest scores ever written for film and certainly one of Goldsmith's finest. It fits the film perfectly and is so intelligently used. He was robbed of the Oscar.

"Thus, we began our longest journey together."
Adult Scout, 'To Kill A Mockingbird'