[Dixielandjazz] The Bad and The Beautiful

[Stephen G Barbone]

Dear Dan:

You must be too young to remember this movie (1952). It starred Kirk  
Douglas, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, and others. It won five or six  
Oscars  Last paragraph below is one reviewers take on the score.

The main theme is also known as "Love Is For The Very Young" by David  
Raksin. Back in the 1950s, it was considered, by some critics, to be  
one of the most romantic songs ever composed. Percy Faith recorded a  
beautiful rendition of it. As did Arthur Fiedler, with Stan Getz on  
Tenor Sax.

The music would, I think, be readily available from your local music  
store who would be able to order it if not in stock.


REVIEW:
This is David Raksin's standout work, possibly the best musical score  
ever written for any motion picture. Lonely, evocative, erotic and  
haunting, this work is compelling even without an association to the  
1952 film it accompanied; always a great listen on a rainy night. The  
"Spellbinder" theme interweaves through all of the selections, many of  
which are in short snippets, but roll fluidly thanks to an excellent  
job of editing. As a bonus, the tracks include two variations on the  
main title theme, which are arguably better than the final cut, and  
variations on the end title that likewise were not used. Try listening  
to the "siren song" qualities of the alternative selections without  
feeling the surges of passion the trumpet solos and saxphone wailings  
engender. The masterpiece Mr. Raksin created here tells the story of  
Jonathan Shields - movie mogul, star maker, and heel - but, as all  
great music does, it creates its own associations for the listener.  
For me, a beautiful woman on a foggy, chilly night on San Francisco  
Bay, blonde hair blowing in the breeze, silhouetted against the lights  
of The City. Thanks, Mr. Raksin.

Cheers,

Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband