Bad film,great score


As a someone who has an interest in titanic I've seen nearly all of the titanic with the exception of "saved from the titanic" (the first film made about the sinking in 1912 starring a actual survivor of the titanic silent film actress Dorothy Gibson the only prints of the film were destroyed in a fire at eclaire studios in 1914).
Raise the titanic is an awful film its one of those films where you cant help but wince through ever scene. When ever I think about this film I can imagine the directors yelling at him to take his titanic toy and stop wasting water in the bath there are other people who need to use it.

However the only element of this film that I have any liking for what so ever is for the score at the begin of the film for the montage old photos of the titanic. The composer of the score none other than John Barry the man behind the scores of the james bond films, critics stated that the score was the only positive thing to note about the film.

I recently began looking into buying the soundtrack but discovered that the original recorded casettes of the soundtrack have been lost so A re-recording by the City of Prague Philharmonic was however released on compact disc in 1999.

The only positive thing about film to speak of is lost to the ravages of history shame.

reply

I enjoyed both the film and score. The score is haunting and poignant from time to time I catch myself humming it. Mrs. L.

Long Live Linarcos "Order Full Ahead Captain."
Still in love with Fred Sadoff

reply

Couldnt Agree more the score was brilliant! You can still buy the score from Silvascreen Records UK I must say you wouldnt even know its a rerecording! Could listen to this over and over! You can always tell a John Barry score take right at the beginning close your eyes and you think you have a bond film infront of you!

reply

I also like to add how well it sets the tone for every scene. The opening title theme is very royal, majestic wouldn't you say?? Is the score on DVD? Mrs. L.

Long Live Linarcos "Order Full Ahead Captain."
Still in love with Fred Sadoff

reply

I just won the OOP CD a couple of days ago, I thought I would be outbid for it on Ebay. I love the music since I heard it the very first time. The score is just incredile; just like the score for "The Poseidon Adventure" and "The Towering Inferno". Mrs. L.

Long Live Linarcos "Order Full Ahead Captain."
Still in love with Fred Sadoff

reply

What most people fall in love with, the first time at least, is the main theme. The Prelude is what you'd expect for a film about such a large ship, noble and stately and thoroughly John Barry. I think it's the bit that everyone remembers (although I have to admit that it wasn't nearly as great as I'd thought it would be and don't think it quite compares to many of Barry's classic main themes). Much of the remaining music is built around that theme, albeit in slightly less stately orchestrations (the biggest rendition is saved for the triumphant moment when the ship herself, now raised from the Atlantic... yes, quite.)

I must admit that there isn't a great deal of variety in the score, much of it is low and sonourous, probably accompanying endless underwater scenes of little submarines floating about looking at dingy special effects. This is perhaps the problem, James Horner at least had a love story and a tragedy to score, John Barry just had lots looking and luckily a bit of raising toward the end.

reply

I know I was taken by the score when I first heard it and everytime I ran the VHS tape or had seen it on TV. I always hummed, just as I do to The Poseidon Adventure. John Barry's score was just perfect for that movie, just as John Williams' was for TPA and TTI. Mrs. L.

Long Live Linarcos "Order Full Ahead Captain."
Still in love with Fred Sadoff

reply

[deleted]

I apologize, I shouldn't use acronyms...TPA is for "The Poseidon Adventure" and TTI is "The Towering Inferno". Mrs. L.

Long Live Linarcos "Order Full Ahead Captain."
Still in love with Fred Sadoff

reply

It's a great example of Barry's work of the time, and certainly reminiscent of his other scores from the previous 5 years.

A great challenge would be to watch KING KONG, MOONRAKER, THE WHITE BUFFALO, THE BLACK HOLE, and this movie back to back and see if it'd be possible to get all the John Barry music out of your head. All these movies practically have the same score, and that isn't a bad thing.

reply

Just watching this movie now. Great Barry score with a hint of the Black Hole there.

reply