Customer Reviews

The Film Music of Ron Goodwin

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Great music performed by one of the best orchestras in the world. What more can you ask for?Ron Goodwin is a genius. The music that he wrote is incredible. His best pieces are featured here on this cd. From the great marches like " Force ten from Navarone" to great romantic sounding pieces like "Deadly Stranger" and the love theme from 633 Sqadron. I also really like the selections from "Monte Carlo or Bust"(almost seven minutes long) and the selections from "Those magnificent men in Their flying machines" (six minutes long). Rumon Gamba and the BBC Philharmonic do a great job performing all the pieces, and add another great cd to the Chandos movie series. This is a must have for fans of Ron Goddwin or great film music in general. It well deserves the 5 stars and maybe even more.

I love the music of Ron Goodwin, particularly "Battle of Britain" and "633 Squadron". Beware, though, that this is not cut from his soundtrack recordings. This is the BBC Philharmonic (i.e. small-time studio orchestra)and directed by some mysterious unknown conductor named Rumon Gamba. Some of the music is chopped up and poorly edited. The entire beginning of "633 Squadron" is cut out and the music starts probably 10 seconds or so from what should be the beginning. "Battle of Britain" is done as a medley of sorts and the individual segments are thrown together with no rhyme or reason.

Forget this CD and spend a little more on the original soundtracks.

This CD provides a range of music mainly from films and concerned with epic war dramas all from the pen of the well known Ron Goodwin. Films such as 633squadron, submarine - X, operation strongbow, force ten from navarone, where eagles dare are just some which are represented. I was particularly looking for the title'Those magnificant men in their flying machines' to add to a slide show of vintage planes in flight and on exhibition. This fitted the bill just fine.

Ron Goodwin is a fine composer. I particularly enjoyed listening to the music from the early 1960's Miss Marple films, starring Margaret Rutherford. But, to let one know; the Marple music is different from most of the Goodwin scores on this CD. His music is mostly of the rousing march or military variety.

This is a definitive starter collection representing the career of an often overlooked film composer. Particularly noteworthy are the selections from 633 SQUADRON, THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN, and the magnificent main title theme that accompanies the "postcard from London" opening to Hitchcock's FRENZY.

Goodwin's music is outstanding. His World War II scores are outstanding. They have drive and purpose. They sound good too.