MovieChat Forums > The ODESSA File (1974) Discussion > The Score

The Score

posted 17 years ago by john-wheat
13 replies | jump to latest

What did everybody think about Andrew Lloyd Webber's music score? I personnally think it spoiled the movie because it didn't fit. I'm one of those that listens for the music score while watching a movie and this disappointed me. I'm sure others disagree and that's fine, but this was a good movie but a bad music score. I'm definately not knocking Andrew Lloyd Webber because he's one of the great composers out there, this just wasn't his thing I guess. If it was me, I would have given the scoring job to ether John Barry, Jerry Goldsmith or Ron Goodwin or maybe even Miklos Rozsa. But that's just me. What does everybody else think?

[–] TurboarrowIII 17 years ago

I thought it was ok. It did convey some suspense especially when Miller is trying to get into the house near the end. Not great but overall I felt it was reasonable.

[–] pamsfriend 17 years ago

This score has to be one of the worse I have ever heard. From watching and listening it appears as if it was added as an afterthought. There is little foreshadowing in the music and it jars the senses. The only music in the film that is good is the singing in the reunion scene, but I doubt these songs were written by Rice and Webber. No wonder they do few film scores.

[–] Star_Red 16 years ago

I didn't like the score at all. I do not pay attention to the musical score intentionally when I watch a movie, but I tend to immediately notice it, if it's either wonderful or completely out of place. And Webber's score was misplaced and noisy at the wrong parts, it was very distracting.

[–] bastasch8647 13 years ago

Insipid, mediocre score with a jagged mix of rock rhythms broken up with discordant strings and German source music. Uninspired and unsupportive of the film's would-be "epic" feel.

[–] radiodaze 13 years ago

And I thought I was the only one who thought the score was awful. Thanks goodness there wasn't much of it.

[–] puttypaws 13 years ago

its was awful, yes!
it was a horrible racket that didnt sound good by itself, or in relation to the scenes

[–] skoobusman 13 years ago

I'd like to know if the music in the beginning when the movie title is displayed and also at the reunion is authentic German military anthem or something made up for this movie.
Does anyone know? Title too if known.
Thanks.

[–] noveltylibrary 13 years ago

it sucked

[–] jztzt 12 years ago

I agree. Better and more experienced composers like Michael small or Jerry Fielding should have composed the score. The subsequent mood of the film would surely be more sinister and emotional; and the thriller, suspense, and action elements of the film would be effectively accentuated (such as the case with Michael Small's score for Marathon Man, another Nazi conspiracy film). Webster's score is too showy, funky, and overblown. It needs an atonal and avant-garde aspect that Small or Fielding would have nailed. Also, the score needs more restraint and subtlety. The groove aspect of the music doesn't fit in with the film at all. It's annoying and stands out like a sore thumb. Usually when music is effectively used in movies, one either tends to not notice it or the viewer allows it carry him or her through the film like a river. In this case, the music bothered me every time it played.

[–] BrianEJanssen 11 years ago

Yeah, I'm with you...it was pretty bad!

[–] Sandoz 9 years ago

Wow, such vitriol for the musical score of this film! I'd never call it a great score, but I think it was effective enough for a thriller, and I actually like how it doesn't have a full orchestra sound like so many "Hollywood" scores tend to do...I think it works since the film was shot in Germany it helps establish that milieu of "foreign-ness" that European films often have. Also, it kind of reminds me of the score for another thriller from the same time period...Dave Grusin's for Three Days Of The Condor. Both are gritty and lean compositions that don't intrude much into the story.

And I love the song "Christmas Dream" that begins the film over the main credits...aside from the English vocal, it sounds like it could have been an actual West German song from 1963.

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