TOP FILM SCORES

The Princess Bride - Mark Knopfler
2001 A Space Odyssey - Various Classical Composers
Pink Floyd The Wall - Pink Floyd
Fargo & Millers Crossing - Carter Burwell
Casablanca - Max Steiner
The Graduate - Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel
Dancer in the Dark - Björk
the odd conglomeration of jazz and classical tunes in just about any Woody Allen film.

This list is by no means complete, or in any sort of order, it's just what I liked that I didn't see, and I saw a lot that I liked.

I agree that this score is the best western movie score and westerns, especially Ford/Wayne westerns, is my favorite genre.

It was interesting to read all the different scores people nominated for top 10, most of which I agree with. However, I was surprised not to see on anybody's list one of the greatest scores ever written. It is even played sometimes on classical radio stations.

That would be Erich Korngold's (sp?) The Adventures of Robin Hood.

You can get a little taste of this score at http://www.reelclassics.com/Actors/Peck/peck3.htm

including a snippet of the main title theme..that just grabs you the moment the film begins.
R/click & d/l for the best sound.

The Big Country - my favourite film; the Big Country - my favourite film music.
I still have the original vinyl LP disc released with the film in 1958, but have always wondered why a piece of music in the film is NOT on the LP. It accompanies my favourite scene of the film. This is when the Major says "So, I'm alone in this", gets on his horse and rides into Blanco Canyon. Foreman Steve watches him go, but realises he has to follow, casting a glance to him when he finally catches up, which says "Well I'm here against my better judgment". The rest of the crew then ride around the bend, all to this great music accompaniment. But why was it not on the LP?

I saw this film only once when I was 8. I can still remember the score and most of the movie (Jean Simmons looked just like my grandmother, just younger), the movie made quite an impact on me. I remember my parents taking me to the drive-in (I always went in my PJ's and had my pillow but I didn't sleep at all). I remember vividly the "big country" and especially the music. My husband and I were discussing great westerns last night and I could even still remember the name... which is how I got to this site. Fun to see other people have enjoyed it too and still talk about it.

I thought it was a good, sweeping film score but it's too derivative of Copland to really be something unique and special. The music accompanying the charge at the end (and used earlier as well) was a great piece of music.

I agree that the film score for The Big Country is without equal for westerns.
The main theme draws the listener into the film as a beautiful sunrise draws one into the day. It's grandiose splendor is so captivating I feel like I am in
the saddle crossing the vast land and admiring the beauty before me. Only a fantastic musical score can do that and sometimes it is what makes a picture. However, the film still stands as one of the great westerns of the cinema.

I just watched the movie. The score was so iritating that I thinked to turn off the TV, but I endure the torture.