How do costs of films change in the 70’s? How many films are produced yearly? Why did it change?
‘72-‘77: 178%
‘77-‘79: 200%
1937: 538 films
1970s: 160 films/year
Conglomeration (e.g. sony company) and they are becoming more cautious (make sequels, make films more likely to hit big, etc.)
Why are pop scores becoming more popular in the 70’s?
- Cheaper/promotion (baby boomers are young adults and they like pop)
- old school (orchestras) seen as irrelevant
Name some films that use pop scores
The Graduate (1967), *
Easy Rider 1969),
The Last Picture Show (1971), American Graffiti (1973) *
How does American Graffiti use pop scores in a notable way?
- Radio plays song.
- Radio starts playing lovey/romantic song when guy sees girl in car (“why do fools fall in love”)
- can use pop songs because each scene is a 2-3 minute flashback
How does The Graduate use pop score in a notable way?
- car engine in tunnel acts as instrument
- prolonged acoustic guitar while the guy talks in the gas station
- hitting the action in gas station as guy slams table
- music slows down as car runs out of fuel
What is the music in The Graduate based off of? What is the music in the gas station scene based on specifically?
- Music based on pop songs by Simon and Garfunkle (folk duo)
- E.g. gas station scene uses special version of Mrs Robinson
John Williams birth/death? Early life?
- 1932-
- trained as Concert Pianist at Julliard
- studied film music at UCLA
- father was high profile drummer for CBS orchestra (bernard herman was director)
- TV (late 50’s)
Name some TV shows John Williams worked on (3)
Lost in Space, Land of the Giants, Gilligan’s Island
When does John Williams start working on films? What kind of films does he do? With which director?
- late 60’s. Comedies and disaster films. Irwin Allen
The Poseidon Adventure released? Composer? Director/producer?
- John Williams. Irwin Allen.
The Sugarland Express released? Composer? Director?
- John Williams. Steven Spielberg
What’s notable about the score in The Sugarland Express?
- John brings in southern elements (blues)
- But core is still orchestral
- Adds harmonica (for the melody)
Jaws release? Composer? Director?
- John Williams. Steven Spielberg.
Star Wars released? Composer? Director?
- John Williams. George Lucas
Type of music in Star Wars?
Orchestral/ tonal. Marks shift back to style of Korngold (in fact, temp track is Korngold)
Themes in Star Wars
- Luke’s theme (big main theme from beginning): french horn - operatic convention (loners, hunters have french horn associated)
- also hear full battle mode version near end (thematic transformation)
- romantic theme: uses interval of 6th (classical convention): princess Leia theme
How successful was Star Wars album score?
- one of the best selling of all time. People that couldn’t see the film just listened to it (it had 80% of all the film’s score)
How was the Jaws release notable? What impact did it have on sales?
- instead of releasing to few theatres at a time in important cities, did a wide release (400 screens simultaneously)
- made back money in 2 weeks (as opposed to months)
Jaws themes? (3)
- shark theme: 2 notes - acts as safety blanket so you know shark is around. This is only violated near the end
- versatile: play fast/slow, low/high. Tells you what shark is doing
- Quint’s theme (the fisherman) - fugue - structured controlled, but melody can be changed into many variations. Baroque period music, very hard to chop up for narrative flow, but works this time since it’s phrasing the action only
- hooper’s theme (the scientist) - combination of earlier melodies. Very tonal (almost childlike) e.g. when he’s trying to get pictures of the shark
Type of music in Jaws
- blend of modernism (e.g. shark theme) and a return to the sound of Korngold (neoromantic music)
Describe the beach scene in Jaws (where the kid gets eaten)
- jaws theme
- modernism as sheriff realizes what’s going on (sounds like bernard’s ‘shriek’)
Which composer as known as the first ‘postmodernist’ composer? Why?
John Williams. Blend of neoromantic and modernist (isn’t held back back one or the other). Strong influence of Aaron Copland
