Jerry Goldsmith: Papillon [Original recording remastered, Soundtrack, Import]

Jerry Goldsmith (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Jerry Goldsmith
• Audio CD (March 20, 2008)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered, Soundtrack, Import
• Label: Emarcy Import
• ASIN: B000069LE2
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,518 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Theme From Papillon

2. The Camp

3. Reunion

4. New Friend

5. The Dream

6. Freedom

7. Catching Butterflies

8. Gift From The Sea

9. Arrest

10. Theme From Papillon (Short Version)

11. Antonios Death

12. Cruel Sea

13. Hospital

14. Survival

15. Toi Qui Regarde La Mer Par Nicoletta (Bonus)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Introspective music that makes you think, December 19, 2003

By 

ShriGovind (India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jerry Goldsmith: Papillon (Audio CD)

Whoever has read Henry Charriere's best selling book- Papilon will sure love this soundtrack.The tracks are simple at the same time provocative and brings to life the pain and sufferings endured by Henry in the french penal settlements.The music can become at times very dark and sullen, that might make more sense in the movie. But the soundtrack does make a standalone statement and Jerry goldsmith proves that he is the king of orchestra and melody. In summary, this soundtrack will give you a totally new listening experience that will force you to think inwards and ponder about the very meaning of human existence. Advice: if you want to add a unique and a rare piece of music to your collection..then go for it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great collaboration between director, June 17, 2011

By 

Lou B. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jerry Goldsmith: Papillon (Audio CD)

Franklin J. Schaffner and composer Jerry Goldsmith. I just find it sad that this long awaited expanded edition of
this score is available as an import from Universal France but we should be happy that such a version exists because
the score to PAPILLON is one of Goldsmith's more lyrical and brutal works and shows a heavy influence toward the Impressionist composers like Ravel and Debussy.
The score is a close cousin to the composer's own personal favorite ISLANDS IN THE STREAM and one can definitely hear the similarities in orchestration. Also, in parts of this work one can also detect some ideas that the composer
used to even greater effect in THE WIND AND THE LION. While this music may not be measured up as a classic to the undisputed Schaffner/Goldsmith projects PATTON and PLANET OF THE APES, there is much to commend this music and why I
gave it five stars.
First off, there are great instances of emotion in evidence here. Listen to the track entitled "Reunion" where he takes the main theme and has it played by oboe when Charriere and Dega are reunited after many years. Goldsmith had said early on in his career that he was a serial composer but you will find no serialism here. One of the most beautiful tracks is "Gift From the Sea" composed for a scene with no dialogue which shows the director's trust in his composer to deliver the goods. Most composers prefer to write music for people than big spectacles and Goldsmith was no exception which may account for his music here to be so moving.
My second reason is that the music he wrote representing the prison and their incarceration is unrelentingly harsh and brutal. The opening cue in the film and score (not the album) is the jarring "The Camp" which is very effective in the film as no music is heard until the convicts reach Devil's Island. In this cue Goldsmith uses
muted horns and high strings and woodwinds as the main characters watch one of their comrades shot dead as he tries to make an escape delirious with fever. It is a harrowing piece which concludes with Papillon's theme played by a mournful accordion accompanied by low strings.
For a composer justifiably revered for his action writing there is one cue here that fits that bill perfectly and it is "Antonio's Death" wherein the composer creates a nightmarish and frantic piece with agitated string passages and ferocious snarling from the brass section and percussive hits when Antonio is killed ina horrible booby trap. It is the most intense piece of music in the whole score.
PAPILLON is another classic in the composer's repertoire and has been somewhat overlooked by other works that the two men worked on together but that shouldn't deter one from getting this album. It earned Goldsmith yet another Academy Award nomination and should have won but I've always believed that the music branch of the Academy were intensely jealous of Goldsmith's massive talent----I mean, come on, one Oscar out of 18 nominations? Decide for yourself when you listen to this album.