Jerry Goldsmith


What a shame that his music wasn't nominated for an Oscar. It's one of the most iconic and soaringly gorgeous pieces of music ever set to film and makes you feel larger than life itself; like you can do any and everything- much like how the Rudy character must've felt. But great music doesn't need award validation to prove how great it is; I'm just thankful it exists, and I at least hope the Library of Congress has it in its archives so it will be preserved forever to inspire future generations.

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Totally agree. The score can make a great movie magical. This one does.



Is very bad to steal Jobu's rum. Is very bad.

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I'm a passionate admirer of most of Jerry Goldsmith's work -- both musically and dramatically. Years after his death, hundreds of scores continue to demonstrate that artist's incredible versatility across many genres in radio, television, and film.

When HOOSIERS was released, I was in my early 30s and had never cared for sports. (Even as a kid, my love for movies equalled what many boys felt about athletic games.) But Goldsmith's music for HOOSIERS conferred upon basketball not only suspense, but a sheer exhilaration about the game (and its ethic) which I had never experienced before. While I never felt the urge to buy HOOSIERS on DVD, it probably remains a good film. RUDY, however, is a powerful one -- although I have even less interest in football than HOOSIERS had conveyed to me for basketball.

Reading through some of these IMDb discussion boards on RUDY today (a day after enduring a Super Bowl broadcast with my enthusiast wife and brother-in-law), I see postings from multiple viewers who dismiss RUDY because it's not "about" football. (This is pretty equivalent to what we hardcore Sam Peckinpah fans feel whenever people complain that his masterful JUNIOR BONNER turns out not to be about the rodeo.)

RUDY, like JUNIOR BONNER, takes the milieu of a particular sport against which to present a valuable story about character and personal motivation -- as well as poignant family conflict. Alas, it's simply the truth that most people merely "sit through" movies, without noticing (let alone appreciating) the countless deliberate details through which great films communicate their power. Instrumental original music can be among the strongest, yet most subtle aspects of a picture's effect. (And I mean this in total contrast to the comparative laziness of modern filmmakers "coasting" on lyrics of songs to express their movies' drama.) So even though Goldsmith's score for RUDY occasionally is loud enough to be noticed by viewers who ordinarily pay no attention to "background" music, I can't relate to people who don't grasp what that sublime, soaring score adds to the film ... just as I couldn't understand back in 1994 how Jerry Goldsmith missed yet another deserved Oscar nomination for this one.

Well, I understand that my tastes are hardly universal. But I'm pleased to know, at the same time, that RUDY has fans who do recognize that a healthy proportion of this picture's power came from the makers' choice of composer.

Most great films deserve a more appreciative audience than they get.

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This is the best Jerry Goldsmith score in my opinion, and truly elevates this movie to another level because of it. It gives me chills every time I hear it.

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I love the score to HOOSIERS. The main theme in RUDY reminded me of the old Irish song "The Last Rose of Summer," not really appropriate for RUDY, IMHO.

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I think Goldsmith's stock will only grow through the years. Hell, most Austrians didn't even remember Mozart decades after his death. While I'm not comparing genres, Goldsmith was indeed a musical genius.

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