You know, I had forgotten just how good Omen III is. Jerry did a great job here and it's hard to get the theme out of mind now. It really was brilliant work. A few more for your consideration:
High Noon... I thought that Tiomkin did a good job of summarizing the chaos that was wrought on a man who wanted none of it, in just a few closing bars, and really just a repeat of the theme but stylistically.....the Cooper character's disgust for the town, and tyeing all together...pretty underrated and underappreciated IMHO.
Rio Lobo Wow! Goldsmith's stinging brass statements for the Sherry Lansing character's final revenge, and then a very nice segue into the heroic theme. Several great themes in this Western. I'm sure that there are those who would disagree, but I find this to be one of Jerry's most interesting Westerns.
North By Northwest....I'm not going to get into the psychology of the final scene, it's been commented on and analyzed to death by "film scholars", but it does stand out as a great "ending" score. Wonder if BH was smiling through the whole process???
And I'll end on a personal favorite. At the end of "Bite The Bullet", when the Gene Hackman character takes the saddle off of his horse and offers water....I don't know anyone who has ever owned, worked with, trained or been around horses that can get through this scene without wet eyes. A very powerful example of how film music can play on the emotions. The violins are not bombastic, they are not maudlin, but Alex North doesn't just grab the heartstrings, he reaches into your chest and rips a few of them out. And in a few seconds he finishes his score with an incredible uplifting theme and full orchestra. Alex North....0 to 60 in a few brief seconds. Incredible thoughtful film scoring. Seems to be a lost art today. i sure miss it. --Rich
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