The Accidental Tourist

John Williams (Author) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: FSM
• ASIN: B0019MLVJC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #415,354 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

One of John Williams's finest "intimate" scores is back in print on CD: The Accidental Tourist (1988). The Accidental Tourist was Lawrence Kasdan's sensitive adaptation of Anne Tyler's novel about a writer of travel guidebooks (William Hurt) who comes out of his rigid emotional shell (after the tragic death of his son) thanks to the love of a quirky dog trainer (Geena Davis, in an Oscar-winning role). Kathleen Turner plays Hurt's estranged wife, with Bill Pullman, Ed Begley Jr. and Amy Wright among the supporting cast. Williams's score for The Accidental Tourist relies on a single theme, albeit one comprised of three parts: an A theme for the main character (often played by piano), a syncopated B theme, and a four-note motive derived (often for French horns) from the opening phrase of the A theme. The orchestra is relatively small, with a subtle sheen of electronics to convey the emotional detachment of the main character. When the main character finally chooses to follow his heart, Williams's musical catharsis is remarkable in its emotional flowering while remaining faithful to the understated approach of the picture. The Accidental Tourist was one of the first John Williams soundtracks to appear on CD, and one of the last to be issued on vinyl. Both formats went out of print and the CD has become a high-priced collector's item. FSM reissues the original album program (which was thoughtfully assembled for listening purposes and comprised almost all of the score), remastered from the original Warner Bros. Records tapes and chronicled with new liner notes by Williams authority Jeff Eldridge-including reel and part breakdowns of the component cues. Main Title 2:33 Macon Alone 4:42 Trip to London 1:55 The Healing Process 5:10 Fixing the Plumbing on a Rainy Afternoon 3:14 A Second Chance 3:12 Wedding Scene 2:51 Back With Sarah 4:04 Bedroom Conversation 4:33 Rose and Julian 2:08 A New Beginning 3:27 End Credits (A Second Chance) 3:13

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Can Find It, October 17, 2005

By 

C. Wilson (SCAPPOOSE, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Accidental Tourist (Audio CD)

This is one of my favorite movies..
this and Picnic are way at the top.
Both soundtracks are way at the top too.
I have the audiobook,movie and soundtrack.

It is a haunting soundtrack,it just is so beautiful.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST!, September 27, 2005

By 

J. I. Martinez Moreno - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Accidental Tourist (Audio CD)

TO ME, ONE OF THE BEST THREE SCORES EVER WRITTEN BY MR. WILLIAMS. BEAUTIFUL, SAD, LONELY AS THE MAIN CHARACTER, YOU CAN NEVER BE TIRED OF LISTENING, BECAUSE IS THE SOUNDTRACK OF EVERYBODY'S USUAL AND MEDIOCRIOUS LIFE. AN ABSOLUTE PIECE OF ART, FROM THE BEGGINING TO THE END. GOD BLESS JOHN WILLIAMS, AND GOD BLESS LAWRENCE KASDAN FOR THIS MOVIE

3.0 out of 5 stars Come Again?, January 18, 2012

By 

David Cady (NYC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST [Soundtrack] (Audio CD)

As a huge -- I mean huge -- John Williams fan, I've been spending my time lately buying some of his lesser known scores. $20 is a lot to pay for a CD these days, but I'm something of a completionist, and "The Accidental Tourist" is hard to get and promised to be a welcome addition to the collection. I wish I could say I wasn't disappointed. The main theme William's has written here is one of his best: a lovely, evocative, delicate melody. But on an album of 12 tracks, we hear this theme...12 times. Yes, there are changes in tempi and orchestration, but for the most part we hear it the same way over and over and over again. As well as the score may have worked in the film -- I haven't seen it in years -- as a home listening experience, it's fairly monotonous.

As always the orchestrations are superb, and Williams' ability to create mood through music is peerless. But a theme that represents the emotional wasteland of losing of a child should be different than one that represents finding true love the second time around, no? Even in his fantasy/action scores (the "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter" series'), Williams masterfully created many different "leitmotifs" for different characters and situations. Williams' score for "Stanley and Iris," similar in feeling to this one, has three distinct and separate musical themes. As much as I respect Williams' talent, taste and judgement, I wish he had done more of that here.