I think I remember this movie most for its sad main musical theme, played on violin. Billy Wilder had a reputation as a cynic, but he also had a romantic, melancholy streak (see "The Apartment"), and I think it really comes out in the score for this film, which gives Sherlock Holmes a much sadder "heart" than the brilliant detective had in other movies.
Yes, the score is one of the redeeming features of the movie (see my review at this site). I purchased an Angel brand record years ago: Rosza conducts Rosza. It included a suite of his score for this film. The enclosed brochure had extensive notes & comments for each piece. The author claimed that Billy Wilder's whole inspiration for this film came about from hearing Miklos Rosza's violin concerto, and wanting to build a scenario around it. Very interesting...!
Best regards,
Steve G.
Bump
shareAgreed. Let's give credit where credit is due. Rozsa's score may be the highpoint of his career.
shareIt wasn't written expressly for the film. Rozsa adapted his Violin Concerto
Listen to it here: - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VTqGpdt2og
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qziGIFmGjvI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypvA0fzTHC4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_dGg7Bo8ec
The church may shout but Darwin roars
Agreed.
Everything else he wrote I've heard (other than perhaps Spellbound) is terrible. Most of his work reminds me of Max RegeR (you can't tell whether it's being played forward or backward), and he composed what is likely to forever remain the single worst cue in the history of film music (the star of Bethlehem hovering over the manger).
This is actually a good score.
I watched this when I was very young. The music has always given me goosebumps ever since.
Rosza's score is probably one of the most underrated ever for a movie, due in part to critic's denouncement of the film. Easily *my* second favourite film ever!