Brilliant piece on the essential role of music in movies. Personal highlights on your list include Lawrence of Arabia, Local Hero, and Paris, Texas. And The Godfather of course.
From my own, I would add the wonderful evocative music of Bill Conti for Rocky (not just the rousing theme song, but also the grimy melancholy pieces) and Nick Cave and Warren Ellis for the overlooked and underrated The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford. Lastly, you mention John Barry, but I would add his tremendous score for Zulu which sets the tone perfectly for the carnage to come.
Thanks for reading and for your insightful comments and suggestions. If I had to do over again, I would've expanded this list to include 50 top film scores, and yes, Bill Conti's great score for "Rocky" (which I played on vinyl too many times to count back then) would be on the list. I'm also happy to read that you like both the movie and the music for "The Assassination of Jessie James..." The author of the original novel, Robert Hanson, is from my hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, and I'm a big fan of both the novel and the film. Lastly, I've never seen "Zulu" or heard the score - I'll put it on my list of films and scores to check out - thank you for the recommendation.
You’re welcome Jim. That’s a cool fact about Robert Hanson being from your home town. I thought it was a great adaptation of his book. The cinematography from Roger Deakins is fantastic as usual. Zulu is a classic!
Thanks for reading! I've never seen "Day of the Dophins," although it's a movie I've been curious about for some time. However, I am a big Georges de le Rue fan, especially for his scores for Truffaut's movies, Godard's contempt, and many others. I'll see if I can find this soundtrack because now I want to hear it (and I'm still curious to see the movie too).
Thanks for reading! Yes, that's a great score too! Like I said below, I was trying to limit myself to 25, and like I mentioned before, if I wrote this article now, I would expand it to 50.
I know, but I was limiting myself to two films by the same composer, so i went with “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” and “Once Upon a Time In the West.” But for Morricone and Bernard Hermann, it would be possible for the entire list to be made up of their scores, because they wrote such great music for so many movies. Thank you for reading!
Thanks for reading! Actually, I'm a huge David Shire fan (especially for his score for "The Hindenburg,"), and of course "The Conversation." Even so, it was hard to limit my top film scores to 25, so I tried to be very discerning in my choices. If I wrote this piece now, I would expand it to include 50 great scores, and then I would definitely include Shire's haunting score for "The Conversation."
In my all-time top ten of films, enhanced by visiting both Wadi Rum and Aqaba with my mother. The Arabian sunsets, skies, and history is like no other.
Thanks for reading my post. "Koyaanisqatsi" is also the first time I heard Philip Glass' music too. Also, I agree that "The Big Country" is a great film score. If I had made my list longer, I definitely would have included that score too. Finally, thanks for telling me about Quincy Jones' score for "Austin Powers." I didn't know that - how interesting!
Amazing piece, Jim. I keep scrolling and finding new ones and reading . . . Every single score here is phenomenal.
What's missing?
I want to say The Social Network's. Trent Reznor's turn to film scoring is one of the most exciting this to happen with music composition in the movies in a long time, I think.
Thanks for reading my post. Yes, as you know I'm a big fan of Trent Reznor's work writing film scores - especially his more recent ones. If my list was longer, I would've definitely included something by him. I'm excited to see what he does in the future as he continues his collaboration with Luca Guadagnino.
Honestly, I think a somewhat funny but actually real contender that deserves mention is Randy Edelman’s score for Dragonheart.
Not because Dragonheart is an especially great or important film — I have a soft spot for it because I was a kid when it came out — but because its main theme was such an insane banger and so perfect at capturing a kind of epic emotionality that it became basically the default temp track in every single film trailer for like two decades, and honestly you *still* sometimes hear it pop up randomly. I think I heard it NBC throw it into some Olympics coverage last year…
Supposedly, the original screenwriter of Dragonheart wanted Liam Neeson in the Dennis Quaid role, but was disregarded. Neeson was not the celebrity he is now.
Thanks for reading my post! I've never seen the movie, "Dragonheart," but I'm a fan of Edelman's solo singer/songwriter albums, which can be hard to find (but I did find one I didn't have a few weeks ago at the used record store and I love it). I think he's very talented, so I'm sure his score is excellent. I'll check it out - thanks for recommendation.
Really enjoyed your list -- I'd personally have gone for Indiana Jones / "The Raiders March" as the representative entry for John Williams, but I mean, you can't really argue with Star Wars on that front. Kinda spoiled for choice with Williams.
Also, as proof I didn't hallucinate this, someone's put together a pretty good compilation of trailers that used Edelman's Dragonheart theme over the years, which -- I feel quite vindicated to find -- includes NBC's Olympic coverage outro. I'm also quite certain it appeared in significantly more trailers than just this, but it gives a good sense of how omnipresent that theme was until well into the 2000s:
Thanks! If I had made my list longer, I definitely would've included "Raiders of the Lost Ark." It was hard to narrow the list down to only 25 scores. Also, thanks for sharing the link to the "Dragonheart" music. Now, I recognize that theme, but I'm not sure where I first heard it since I've never seen "Dragonheart." Thanks for sharing it with me.
What a wonderful piece, thanks Jim. You picked some wonderful scores and in some instances the scores are better than the films themselves, merely my opinion. Keep up the good work my friend. Take care.
I would add The Third Man (unforgettable theme), Days of Heaven (Ennio Morricone), Manhattan (the Gershwin score basically defines the movie), and Backbeat. The studio band recreating the early Beatles' sound is incredible.
Thanks for reading my post! Yes, those are all great scores, especially that theme for "The Third Man." I've always loved Morricone's score for "Days of Heaven," and "Backbeat" is a movie I enjoy revisiting fairly often. And, although it's adapted from Gershwin's music, "Manhattan" wouldn't work without it. Thanks for the great suggestions!
Thanks for reading my post! Yes, I love Jarre's score for Dr. Zhivago. I think that was the first time I heard any of his music. I was 12 and saw Lean's film during its re-release in the 70s. I immediately got the soundtrack lp after that. If I expanded my list, Jarre's score for "Zhivago" would definitely be on it.
You left out Elmer Bernstein’s Magnificent 7 and The Great Escape. He was one of the most revered composers of movie themes ever. And both movies—especially Magnificent 7—have instantly recognizable themes. Unforgivable.
Thanks for reading my post! Yes, Elmer Bernstein wrote great film scores too. As I said in the intro to my post, the list shouldn't be looked at as definitive but simply as a starting point. If the list was expanded, both of these scores would definitely be on it.
I just watched the Good the Bad and the Ugly, and Fistful Of Dollars. I know the score for GBU is iconic, but I think I like the Fistful score a little more. I also just watched Blade Runner. That is a great score.
Thanks for reading my post! I haven't listened to my soundtrack to "Fistful" in a while - I'll revisit it this week and see if I like it more now than "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly." Also, I agree that "Blade Runner" has a great score by Vangelis. It's amazing how it doesn't sound dated at all; it could've been composed and performed now and nobody would know the difference.
Thanks for reading my post! I agree that Bernard Herrmann's score for "Taxi Driver" is great. If I had expanded my list, I would've definitely included it.
Brilliant piece on the essential role of music in movies. Personal highlights on your list include Lawrence of Arabia, Local Hero, and Paris, Texas. And The Godfather of course.
From my own, I would add the wonderful evocative music of Bill Conti for Rocky (not just the rousing theme song, but also the grimy melancholy pieces) and Nick Cave and Warren Ellis for the overlooked and underrated The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford. Lastly, you mention John Barry, but I would add his tremendous score for Zulu which sets the tone perfectly for the carnage to come.
Hi James,
Thanks for reading and for your insightful comments and suggestions. If I had to do over again, I would've expanded this list to include 50 top film scores, and yes, Bill Conti's great score for "Rocky" (which I played on vinyl too many times to count back then) would be on the list. I'm also happy to read that you like both the movie and the music for "The Assassination of Jessie James..." The author of the original novel, Robert Hanson, is from my hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, and I'm a big fan of both the novel and the film. Lastly, I've never seen "Zulu" or heard the score - I'll put it on my list of films and scores to check out - thank you for the recommendation.
You’re welcome Jim. That’s a cool fact about Robert Hanson being from your home town. I thought it was a great adaptation of his book. The cinematography from Roger Deakins is fantastic as usual. Zulu is a classic!
George de le Rue's soundtrack for ''Day of the Dolphins ... magnificent!
Hi Mary,
Thanks for reading! I've never seen "Day of the Dophins," although it's a movie I've been curious about for some time. However, I am a big Georges de le Rue fan, especially for his scores for Truffaut's movies, Godard's contempt, and many others. I'll see if I can find this soundtrack because now I want to hear it (and I'm still curious to see the movie too).
I really hope the link I just sent works. It is a spectacular piece of music. Imagine two dolphins breaching at the climax
Check out Reunion by Georges Delerue on Amazon Music
https://music.amazon.com/albums/B07WCH6KHM?trackAsin=B07W89P8X8&do=play&ts=1774212664&ref=dm_sh_XlaT4CaJ8Q0gDYKpcVLtB8Y2M
Hi Mary,
Ok, I will - thanks!
I really hope the link I sent works
Yes, it worked! Thank you!
No Morricone's Cinema Paradiso?
I would also add The Mission
Thanks for reading! Yes, that's a great score too! Like I said below, I was trying to limit myself to 25, and like I mentioned before, if I wrote this article now, I would expand it to 50.
I know, but I was limiting myself to two films by the same composer, so i went with “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” and “Once Upon a Time In the West.” But for Morricone and Bernard Hermann, it would be possible for the entire list to be made up of their scores, because they wrote such great music for so many movies. Thank you for reading!
I also love the soundtrack to Nebraska
Hi Citizenswain,
Thanks for reading! That’s a great score too. As you know, Alexander Payne is originally from Nebraska, where I live.
All stellar but you forgot The Conversation. One of the greatest EVER. Brother-in-law soul.
Hi Citizenswain,
Thanks for reading! Actually, I'm a huge David Shire fan (especially for his score for "The Hindenburg,"), and of course "The Conversation." Even so, it was hard to limit my top film scores to 25, so I tried to be very discerning in my choices. If I wrote this piece now, I would expand it to include 50 great scores, and then I would definitely include Shire's haunting score for "The Conversation."
I love soundtracks. There is a good doc called Score that i loved. Thanks and have a good weekend! ✌️
Lawrence of Arabia is such a magnificent movie, and the main theme is just as majestic. I love it.
In my all-time top ten of films, enhanced by visiting both Wadi Rum and Aqaba with my mother. The Arabian sunsets, skies, and history is like no other.
Hi Larry,
Thanks for reading! Maurice Jarre really knew how to write memorable themes for epic films.
Betty Blue, and pretty much all Gabriel Yared scores….
Hi Robert,
Yes, for sure. There were too many to include them all in my list. I especially like Yared's score for "The English Patient."
Koyaanisquatsi turned me into a lifelong fan of Philip Glass.
For westerns I will add The Big Country by Jerome Moss.
Fun fact: Quincy Jones' score for Austin Powers was originally from the 1965 film 'The Pawnbroker' - definitely not a comedy.
Hi Arthur,
Thanks for reading my post. "Koyaanisqatsi" is also the first time I heard Philip Glass' music too. Also, I agree that "The Big Country" is a great film score. If I had made my list longer, I definitely would have included that score too. Finally, thanks for telling me about Quincy Jones' score for "Austin Powers." I didn't know that - how interesting!
Amazing piece, Jim. I keep scrolling and finding new ones and reading . . . Every single score here is phenomenal.
What's missing?
I want to say The Social Network's. Trent Reznor's turn to film scoring is one of the most exciting this to happen with music composition in the movies in a long time, I think.
Hi Brock,
Thanks for reading my post. Yes, as you know I'm a big fan of Trent Reznor's work writing film scores - especially his more recent ones. If my list was longer, I would've definitely included something by him. I'm excited to see what he does in the future as he continues his collaboration with Luca Guadagnino.
Honestly, I think a somewhat funny but actually real contender that deserves mention is Randy Edelman’s score for Dragonheart.
Not because Dragonheart is an especially great or important film — I have a soft spot for it because I was a kid when it came out — but because its main theme was such an insane banger and so perfect at capturing a kind of epic emotionality that it became basically the default temp track in every single film trailer for like two decades, and honestly you *still* sometimes hear it pop up randomly. I think I heard it NBC throw it into some Olympics coverage last year…
Supposedly, the original screenwriter of Dragonheart wanted Liam Neeson in the Dennis Quaid role, but was disregarded. Neeson was not the celebrity he is now.
Hi Salty,
Thanks for reading my post! I've never seen the movie, "Dragonheart," but I'm a fan of Edelman's solo singer/songwriter albums, which can be hard to find (but I did find one I didn't have a few weeks ago at the used record store and I love it). I think he's very talented, so I'm sure his score is excellent. I'll check it out - thanks for recommendation.
Really enjoyed your list -- I'd personally have gone for Indiana Jones / "The Raiders March" as the representative entry for John Williams, but I mean, you can't really argue with Star Wars on that front. Kinda spoiled for choice with Williams.
Also, as proof I didn't hallucinate this, someone's put together a pretty good compilation of trailers that used Edelman's Dragonheart theme over the years, which -- I feel quite vindicated to find -- includes NBC's Olympic coverage outro. I'm also quite certain it appeared in significantly more trailers than just this, but it gives a good sense of how omnipresent that theme was until well into the 2000s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mgg_U_dayg
Hi Salty,
Thanks! If I had made my list longer, I definitely would've included "Raiders of the Lost Ark." It was hard to narrow the list down to only 25 scores. Also, thanks for sharing the link to the "Dragonheart" music. Now, I recognize that theme, but I'm not sure where I first heard it since I've never seen "Dragonheart." Thanks for sharing it with me.
What a wonderful piece, thanks Jim. You picked some wonderful scores and in some instances the scores are better than the films themselves, merely my opinion. Keep up the good work my friend. Take care.
Hi Kelley,
Thanks! What are your favorite film scores? I'd like to know. Take care and keep writing.
I would add The Third Man (unforgettable theme), Days of Heaven (Ennio Morricone), Manhattan (the Gershwin score basically defines the movie), and Backbeat. The studio band recreating the early Beatles' sound is incredible.
Hi Lia,
Thanks for reading my post! Yes, those are all great scores, especially that theme for "The Third Man." I've always loved Morricone's score for "Days of Heaven," and "Backbeat" is a movie I enjoy revisiting fairly often. And, although it's adapted from Gershwin's music, "Manhattan" wouldn't work without it. Thanks for the great suggestions!
I would add Maurice Jarre's score of Dr. Zhivago.
I'd also add Nino Rota's score to Romeo and Juliet during that same time frame. Thanks for your list and including Blade Runner.
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for reading my post! Yes, I love Jarre's score for Dr. Zhivago. I think that was the first time I heard any of his music. I was 12 and saw Lean's film during its re-release in the 70s. I immediately got the soundtrack lp after that. If I expanded my list, Jarre's score for "Zhivago" would definitely be on it.
You left out Elmer Bernstein’s Magnificent 7 and The Great Escape. He was one of the most revered composers of movie themes ever. And both movies—especially Magnificent 7—have instantly recognizable themes. Unforgivable.
Hi None,
Thanks for reading my post! Yes, Elmer Bernstein wrote great film scores too. As I said in the intro to my post, the list shouldn't be looked at as definitive but simply as a starting point. If the list was expanded, both of these scores would definitely be on it.
I just watched the Good the Bad and the Ugly, and Fistful Of Dollars. I know the score for GBU is iconic, but I think I like the Fistful score a little more. I also just watched Blade Runner. That is a great score.
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for reading my post! I haven't listened to my soundtrack to "Fistful" in a while - I'll revisit it this week and see if I like it more now than "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly." Also, I agree that "Blade Runner" has a great score by Vangelis. It's amazing how it doesn't sound dated at all; it could've been composed and performed now and nobody would know the difference.
A good selection overall, John Williams’s lush, gooey scores excepted. You should have included Taxi Driver, for heaven’s sake.
Hi Lamoreaux,
Thanks for reading my post! I agree that Bernard Herrmann's score for "Taxi Driver" is great. If I had expanded my list, I would've definitely included it.