Customer Reviews

It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD]

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

 

 

Though touted as an original "soundtrack" recording, this is in actuality an original "score" recording. The soundtrack was recorded with the 106 member Los Angeles Philharmonic. This disc is a re-recording with a 65 piece orchestra, helmed by composer Ernest Gold. However, all of the well remembered themes are here, and some bits of memorable dialogue. Also included are full versions of "Thirty One Flavors," and "You Satisfy My Soul" - the songs heard during the scenes with Dick Shawn and Barrie Chase. All in all, a fun listening experience of music which was as much a character in the film as any of the actors.

This soundtrack is one of my favorite Ernest Gold works. I waited years for this to be available on CD. The score was touted as one of the stars of the film, and those who have seen this wonderfully humorous epic, like myself, would certainly agree. Even though no single cut from this soundtrack was distinctive enough on its own to ever make its mark in radio play, listeners will vividly recall scenes from the movie as they browse the tracks. I particularly enjoy the Main Title, Music at the Big W, and Adios Santa Rosita, among others. This soundtrack is reasonably listenable on its own. It includes a variety of musical styles wrapped together with a recurring theme that identifies itself as part of this classic film that is a who's who of comedy actors of it's time. If you haven't seen the 1963 film, get that as well - an all time comedy classic.

Any of Ernest Gold's soundtracks are worth having if you like his music. Judgement at Nuremburg is a reprint of the original soundtrack and is now available. Other Ernest Gold soundtracks that I have heard include Exodus (with its famous theme music that did make radio play in its time), Ship of Fools, and On the Beach, an early cold war doomsday classic. By the way, with the exception of Exodus, the other films mentioned here were all directed by Stanley Kramer. Another collaboration between these two men was The Secret of Santa Vittoria, a WWII comedy/drama. Get your Ernest Gold now before it goes out of print.

This is not the exact music heard in the movie. It is a remake. Someone should issue the ACTUAL music soundtrack heard in the movie on cd. They Could Take The Original 6-Track 70mm Optical Soundtracks, and use a mixing board to get rid of the dialogue and sound effects, and edit the selections to how they are heard on this CD, but they would be the originals heard in the movie (maybe throw in some extra music from the movie that has never appeared on any of the soundtrack albums in the past 41 years, hint, hint :). Until then, I guess this is as good as it gets.

One of my husbands favorite films - it was a gift for him and he loves it!

Ernest Gold was so adept at his craft, it is hard to believe that much of his career was spent scoring unremarkable television programs and B-movies. His long-running relationship with director Stanley Kramer led to many collaborations, including It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World in 1963. Billed as "the comedy to end all comedies," this star-studded, Ultra Panavision 70 spectacle needed a rollicking soundtrack to match. And that, Ernest Gold delivered. Gold's "merry-go-round" approach captures the essence of Mad World's fruitless race perfectly; carefully orchestrated themes reflect and magnify the on-screen action.

That stated, this compilation has its shortcomings. Obviously, this recording is not the original soundtrack but is instead a re-record with a smaller orchestra. The difference is particularly noticeable in the overture. Rather than an overwhelming, thundering chorus, the vocals seem to be coming from a stripped-down ensemble. The arrangements differ from the originals as well, with each track being much shorter than the movie version. Despite these departures from the original soundtrack, this recording is bold and well balanced with fidelity and noise control that is decent for its era. A casual listener would be hard-pressed to distinguish this recording from the actual soundtrack.

Also on the CD are some dialog snippets taken from the movie, but I find these to be excessively annoying. The last track is an excerpt from Something a Little Less Serious, the 1991 making-of feature included on the "restored" video release.

The liner booklet includes a fold-out movie poster--albeit from the 1970 theatrical re-release. The insert also contains notes by score critic Andy Dursin and some interesting photos but looks like a (good) graphic design student's senior project and somehow seems misplaced. (Personal rant:) And enough with plastering that damned MGM lion on everything--Mad World wasn't an MGM release!

If you loved the movie, you'll love this CD. I have seen the movie dozens of times and it's just wonderful to have the music available when I drive around, though somewhat less madly than these characters. The CD has all the essential musical elements from the movie and immediately calls to mind those parts of the film that are assocaited with it. Thanks, Mr. Gold, for having the foresight to produce it. The information that comes with the CD is great, too.

A motion picture score, composed and conducted by the Oscar Winner Ernest Gold (Exodus), enhanced CD with the theatrical trailer.