Customer Reviews

The Quiet American [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

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Craig Armstrong was chosen to score Graham Greene's novel about American's in the Vietnam conflict ~ "The Quiet American", starring Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser and Do Thi Hai Yen. Directed by Phillip Noyce, this film deals with a British Journalist, his girlfriend and an American in the medical field. All become a triangle within a CIA operative, things get sticky but the score by Armstrong is dynamic. Armstrong's opening cue "The Quiet American", theme emphasis the full-fledged love triangle in the middle of Vietnam. Twists of nail-biting intrigue offers danger and suspense with "SAIGON 1952" ~ "THE RITUAL OR REVENGE" and "ESCAPE FROM WATCHTOWER", arrangements, orchestration and performances by Metro Voices Choir are effective in conveying the struggles of the times. Hong Nhung vocals are beautifully traditional within the framework of the score and storyline. Performances on all twelves tracks are haunting with melodic counterparts and underscore.

Total Time: 48:02 on 12 Tracks ~ Varese Records 302-066-426-2 ~ (3/04/2003)

Full of forboding, as the times and the setting of this story surely were, this soundtrack to the masterpiece film is a superb achievement. The story concerns the decaying European presence and lurking American infiltration as the tragedy in Viet Nam began its climactic epoch. The film is based on Graham Greene's novel that set out a parable of how first European and then North American interests set about exploiting the intoxicating beauty that is Viet Nam and her people. As such, it was banned in the US for a long time. Most of my Viet Namese friends read this book translated as "The Sinister American", and so it is.
The music evocatively conveys the intrigues, the languor, the duplicities that flow underneath the surface of this story. Through the music, the incredible voice of Hong Nhung floats in and out, subtley conveying the sense that the Viet Namese are aware and counting out time until the moment is pregnant.
Viet Namese singers like Hong or Huong Thanh are forces of sublime passion to be reckoned with and Craig Armstrong beautifully and seamlessly integrates and weaves the seductive magic of these voices and the traditions from which they sprang into this compelling soundtrack.
Viet Nam is not all Martin Sheen and Marlin Brando, Oliver Stone and Stanley Kubrik. In fact these latter day westerners were just another in the parade of those who woul like to sleep with Viet Nam and walk away self-satisfied. The Viet Namese bid their time. Their cultural take on what happened is advanced by this film and this music.

Not one of Armstrong's best (for that just check Plunkett&Mcleane or Kiss of the Dragon), but really beautiful in its most part. Excellent drums arrangemens mixed with orchestra and a exotic voice, as usual in Armstrong music.

After several viewings, I found that the music thoughout this film greatly influenced my viewing enjoyment. It is very important that the score from a film such as this contain the traditional music of it's prevailing culture. Armstrong has nicely combined this element with synthetic percussion to create a melancholy, introspective (albeit short)work with foreboding undertones and uses the (good but not great) ending vocal track to give the listener a small sense of hope.

I got this for my mom, and she really likes the music from the movie. Moms happy, so Im happy.

When I saw the movie what drew my attention was that in some cabaret scenes French music was heard with a singer and a band performing wonderful songs in early 1950's style that helped a lot to enhance the excellent period feeling of this motion picture.

But when I finally read about the release of the CD with the music from this film I noticed that none of those wonderful French songs made it to the final selection. To me it is a big disappointment, and a strong reason not to buy it.

Is there any rational explanation for not including the French songs in this CD? If anyone can answer that, please tell me.

The cabaret scenes are just so 1950's Siagon but what did they leave off the soundtrack? That's right, those haunting French cabaret songs, the best part of the movie's soundtrack. And who was the singer? Alas, fabulous but unknown.