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In Reply to: Top 25 film scores... posted by Jeff Starrs on October 4, 2005 at 01:29:07:

Jeff Starrs,
I like this kind of list preciesly because they automatically put me in a contrary mood and I 'm allowed to hate the choices and the order anyway, no one really cares. The main positive use of such a list is thatit reminds us to listen better to the scores when we see them again and generally appreciate the role of the music.
But, really, that's a pretty good list as these lists go- since these lists tend to alloy the actual quality with the movie's popularity to come up with these ratings. Hence, these lists always are topped by familiar movies that made lots of money.
As I say, it's good list and perhaps I'd place "Vertigo" a bit higher in the rankings, and I'd like to add a serious, wonderful score, that for the Charles Laughton/John Mills 1954 "Hobson's Choice". I'm embarassed to say I can't remember if the composer was Arnold Bax- becasuse Bax scores a couple of Laughton's movies, or who I think it is- William Walton. Walton and Bax were superb serious composers of the first half of the 20th C and perhaps only Britten was more prestigious in the UK then.
The score for "Hobson's Choice" is certainly "Bambi's Choice" and, the movie itself is one of the greats. I think John Mill's acting- as a shoemaker that undergoes a miraculous transformation from employee to human before your eyes- and comic as hell- is one the most memorable acting jobs I know of. Let me say Mills is comparable to Neville in "Richard III" and Hawthorn in "The Madness of King George" As for the music-it's- whether Walton or Bax- is just perfect. And it may also be Laughton's best role- the blustery, self-important owner of the Manchester shoe shop where Mills is working down a hole in the floor- see it! A young Prunella Scales- later Sybil Fawlty in "Fawlty Towers" -is one of Laughton's three daughters- and spoiled rotten.
Cheers,
Bambi B

Follow Ups:

Music by Malcolm Arnold. Good post. (nt) - orejones 01:47:23 10/05/05 (2)
- Music by Malcolm Arnold. Thanks! - Bambi B 04:06:28 10/05/05 (1)
  orejones,
  Tbanks for mentioning Malcolm Arnold- I hadn't seen "Hobson's" for 15 years and couldn't sleep wondering if it were Bax or Walton!
  It's obviously time to watch it again.
  
  Cheers,
  Bambi B
  - Re: Music by Malcolm Arnold. Thanks! - patrickU 09:02:47 10/05/05 (0)
    I just did again after a span of very few months.
    I can only say.
    Formidable. And that is the right word for it.
Re: Thanks...a fascinating post... - Jeff Starrs 23:10:06 10/04/05 (5)
..Yes, Hobson's Choice (don't remember the music) is a wonderful film and your mention of the very British John Mills got me thinking of Hayley, his daughter, who for us school boys at the time was a weird kind of sexual icon.
Prunella Scales' Sybil, is classic study in dragons.
I think I'll dig out the series tonight and have a laugh...
- Hayley Mills - Sexual Icon? - Road Warrior 05:58:59 10/05/05 (4)
  looking at her today its hard to believe, but yes, after Pollyanna, I was crazy about her. She was a hot number back then, both sexually (to males in early teens) and as an in demand starlet in Parent Trap, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, and of course Pollyanna.
  ----------------------------------------------------------
  
  "Do I have to spell it out?
  C --- H ---- E ---E ---- S --- E
  A --- N --- D
  O ---- N ---- I ---- O ---- N ---- S"
  - Re: Hayley Mills - Sexual Icon? - woodburger 10:20:25 10/05/05 (0)
    I was hers. I think I was 12. Didn't know WHY.
  - Re: Hayley Mills - Sexual Icon? - Jeff Starrs 10:05:14 10/05/05 (0)
    Yeah, I know...I seem to remember it was all a bit confusing for a young boy sorting the hot stuff from the innocent Polly Anna things...I'm not sure if it got much easier, either....
  - Hayley in Journey to Center of The Earth?--I don't think so - - C.B. 06:25:18 10/05/05 (1)
    here are the credits -
    Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)
    Directed by
    Henry Levin
    
    Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
    Charles Brackett
    Robert Burns poem "My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose" [used in song]
    Walter Reisch
    Jules Verne novel Voyage au centre de la terre
    Cast (in credits order)
    Pat Boone .... Alec McEwen
    James Mason .... Professor Oliver Lindenbrook
    Arlene Dahl .... Mrs. Carla Goetaborg
    Diane Baker .... Jenny
    Thayer David .... Count Saknussem
    Peter Ronson .... Hans Belker
    Robert Adler .... Groom
    Alan Napier .... Dean
    - You are correct sir, In Search Of The Castaways - Road Warrior 09:19:02 10/05/05 (0)
      Was what I was thinking of.
      And it had another hit simgle, Castaway.
      I believe The Parent Trap had a huge single, Lets Get Together, altho I can't remember if Hayley sang it or not.
      ----------------------------------------------------------
      
      "Do I have to spell it out?
      C --- H ---- E ---E ---- S --- E
      A --- N --- D
      O ---- N ---- I ---- O ---- N ---- S"

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