This is a great film, I've always really enjoyed it. But has anyone ever noticed that the music was ripped off rather blatantly from the Rolling Stones? Sympathy For The Devil, Jigsaw Puzzle and others. I wonder how they got away with it!
shareYeah, it does sound like the Stones. That twangy, raw lead guitar in the first few minutes of the film is really effective as we watch the prisoners. This film still moves me - and Peter Strauss is excellent in the lead.
shareThey didn't rip off the music. If you have ever watched a movie then you should recognize that there is a 50-50 chance that the music wasn't written for that movie. It was music from some band or solo singer. The makers of the movie or tv show either get permission or pay for rights to use that music. As for this particular version of "Sympathy for the Devil", there was an instrumental version released once. I used to have it, but lost it somewhere. That is what is used in this movie.
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Also notice the music when Stiles was stabbed sounded a lot like Giorgio Moroder when he did the sound track for American Gigolo even though AG was not officially released till 1980.
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When I saw this (the original broadcast in 1979) I assumed it was the Stone's music. I was surprised NOT to see Jagger/Richard in any of the credits. I am almost positive that Jimmie Haskell was credited as the composer. It does not appear in his credits on IMDB, nor is there a composer credited on the listing for the film. On allmovie.com, his filmography does include a composer credit for Jericho Mile.
shareRegardless, I have always wanted the soundtrack for this movie. If it is an instrumental version by the Stones, I can't find it.
Whomever, Michael Mann or Jimmie Haskell, has the rights to the soundtrack and score could make a few shekels by putting it out on CD or MP3. I guess I'll just have to settle for dubbing it off of a DVD or VHS of the movie, if I can find one.
Michael Mann has always provided a very tight integration of visual imagery and contemporary music in his films and this is one of the best.
"In Europe, this 95-minute film was released in the theater and the musical scores are different depending on the release with Jimmie Haskell obtaining TV credit and James Di Pasquale tackling the theatrical version. In additon, the Rolling Stones appear with "Sympathy for the Devil" where Keith Richards plays an excellect lead guitar solo (he also plays the bass on this song) that many teams use as a "warm-up song" before competition. "
great info. it's the final run that always comes to mind when i hear "sympathy for the devil", even now.
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Go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!
I believe the music was DEFINITELY stolen from the Stones. Mann probably used DEVIL as a temp track, then asked the film's composer to do something similar. He did the same thing with "Thief," where the final track was inspired by COMFORTABLY NUMB. just my opinion.
shareI believe the music was DEFINITELY stolen from the Stones.