Customer Reviews

Local Hero (1983 Film)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Dire Straits notwithstanding, Mark Knopler's score for "Local Hero" is one of his most wonderful musical contributions. This film score is one of his finest, along with his scores for "Cal" and "Comfort and Joy". Did James Horner hear these Knopfler scores before his titanic "Titanic" score? I think so. But Horner was not able (or allowed) to communicate so simple and sweet a vision. "Local Hero" is one of the great films of the 80s, and so, too, is Mark Knopfler's score for that film.

In 1983, at the height of the Dire Straights' reign of pop music ("Money for Nothing"), Dire Straights lead song writer Mark Knopfler scored the soundtrack of a delightful "little movie that could" called Local Hero.

"Local Hero" (14 tracks, 43 min.) creates the atmosphere of the Scottish scene in which the movie is set, in which a US expat is sent to convince a small seaside town to sell their interest in a beach so that a "big bad" US oil company can explore ir for oil. The mostly instrumental soundtrack is superb from start to finish, creating a wonderful mood. The opener "The Rocks and the Water" sets the stage, just superbly brought of what the Scottish seaside is like. Knopfler's guitar virtuoso gets a workout in a couple of tracks, but it never deteriorates from the overall mood. Other outstanding tracks include "The Mist Covered Mountains", gently bringing in a local band playing a sorrowful yet hopefull tune, and "Stargazer", in which you can just see and smell the open Scottish sky. There isn't a single weak track on the album, frankly. This album remains a soundtrack by which others should be measured by.

The best known track remains the very last one "Going Home (Theme of Local Hero)", which is as close as you'll get to the Dire Straights' sound, and it inevitably appears on Dire Straight live and compilation CDs. But it is the anamoly on this gorgeous soundtrack. This album was originally released in 1983, when I bought it on vinyl, and I bought it when the CD came out in 1990. Isn't it about time for a re-release on remastered sound?

Local Hero is one of my favorite film scores, and contains some of the best music Mark Knopfler has written. It is hedonistically enjoyable and bears repeated listening. The music is not anything like a Dire Straits album, but is beautifully evocative of the small town in northern Scotland where the movie is set.

Mark Knopfler is clearly the main the main songwriter, but Alan Clark (a founding member of The Hollies) collaborates with Knoplfer on some tunes, and contributes a few short pieces of music of his own, including the hauntingly beautiful "Stargazer", which actually sounds like the Aurora Borealis. Gerry Rafferty ("Baker Street") contributes vocals to one track as well. I am left with the impression that having other talented musicians to work with on this project (instead of sidemen) inspired Knopfler to create a great achievement not only in the music presented but in the quality of the audio production as well. Knopfler has not reached same heights again on any of his later soundtracks, although the music for "Wag the Dog" comes fairly close.

As much as I love my old LP version of this album I have to admit that the CD is stunning. The wide dynamic range of the music is what CDs were made for.

This is my favorite movie ever, so I'm biased. What the soundtrack brings to the table is dreamy, sensual, and romantic. Knopfler communicates much better through his guitar playing than singing (he does none here), and "Smooching", "Going Home", and "Wild Theme" are brimful of wistfulness, borrowing more from classical than folk. I listened to this album every night for the summer of 1983!

I loved the quirky Scottish movie Local Hero, because it was so pure Scotland, instead of what people think Scotland is. The music greatly added to the delightfully whimsical tale. It has a lot of great cuts, but it's with the old standard Mist Covered Mountains it really finds its soul. It's one of the best recorded versions of this beautiful song. It alone is worth the price tag!

It's a soothing score, making it one I play often. With his impressive Dire Straight credentials and a long line of musical scores since, this debut solo effort really showed his feel for how music can really set the tone for the movie.

...and a very good one at that.

People who are looking for a Dire Straits CD should not buy this. People who are expecting a soundtrack the way they are done today (nothing but a collection of singles) should not buy this. However, if you are looking for a hidden gem, filled with a tapestry of musical styles, then this is worth buying.

Does a common melody run through many of the songs? Yes. Are some the songs...er...ah, "subtle"? Yes. But that does not discount the fact that this is a very enjoyable CD.

While you certainly can pick out Mark Knopfler's guitar, this CD has much more than that. The theme song, "Going Home" is a strong instrumental that even made it to Dire Straits' set lists in the '80's (it is the last song on Alchemy). Gerry Rafferty's vocals on "The Way it Always Starts" would fit right on to his "Baker Street" CD.

Maybe it's becasue I have seen this movie a gazillion times, or maybe it is because I have visited the locations where the movie was filmed (aside: the beach is on the completely opposite coast of Scotland from the town), but I think this soundtrack captures the mood of the film and the gorgeous scenery perfectly.

This is a great CD to listen to when you are not really listening to it, if you know what I mean. Kind of like a soundtrack...Oh wait that what this is.

Well, the editorial review by Jim Emerson is right on the money about this being one of those soundtracks made for cd and not the vinyl medium...As I am writing this review I can hear the pops and ticks on my vinyl copy on the more quiet passages and tracks; But I love the nostalgic sound of vinyl---different strokes I guess...

Anyway, I have NEVER seen Local Hero but purchased a vinyl copy of the soundtrack at a used record shop. It is one of my favorite soundtracks of all time...Quite a few different styles of music by Mark Knopfler and it is a relaxing pleasure to hear this album to relax the mind and soothe the soul. Not quite ambient, not quite jazz, not quite pop, and by no means kitschy...Very eclectic, yet recognizeable and timeless...It is a somberly uplifting album.On vinyl, it sounds warm, sweet and awesome to me... Well worth owning regardless of the medium, but Mr. Emerson, you're right, it is a recording highly worthy of getting on the digital format...

A brilliant sound track!!

A good soundtrack should enhance the movie for which it was written. This soundtrack not only enhanced the mood and feeling of the movie, but also evokes those same feelings and moods when you listen to it.

I do not like the "Boomtown" song, but I did not like that part of the movie so much either.

But hearing the "Wild Theme" or "Whistle Theme", I can picture the spectacular beaches, rocks and cliffs.

Hearing "The Ceilidh and the Northern Lights", I can see the northern lights through Mac's drunken eyes.

Hearing "Smooching", I see Stella and Gordon dancing in the empty restaurant.

Hearing the "Going Home" theme, I feel again the half-empty "it can't be over yet" feeling I have whenever I see the ending again.

The movie is my all-time favorite. And the soundtrack album is, in my opinion, the best of Mark Knofler's soundtrack albums because it played a big part in the movie.

Early in his career, Mark Knopfler composed this soundtrack to a mostly cult-followed movie, Local Hero. I loved the instrumentals on this record when it was released in the mid 80's. After seeing the movie I learned to appreciate this S/T even more. "Smoochin'" could be the most beautiful instrumental ever composed. "Wild Theme" is gorgeous in it's own right. The Scottish/Irish themes in these tracks are compelling and interesting. Knopfler's guitar playing are smooth and beautiful, as usual. Guy Fletcher's keyboard offerings are moody and chilling at times. If you are a fan of Knopfler, this MUST be owned by you!