Customer Reviews

Max Steiner: King Kong

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

1. Where does one begin when surrounded by so many things superlative?! Well first off, I'm very reluctant to hand out five stars to ANYTHING. But this CD rates a five and much more! At the risk of calling down fire and brim stone (not to mention frogs), the bottom line is: the re-recording is orders of magnitude better than the OST! It's a breathless stunner that knocks your socks off (plus a few shards of skin and muscle tissue). This is the first modern re-recording of the complete score (right down to multiple fanfares) of the 1933 film KING KONG (KK). For the two of you who may not know it, Max Steiner was the composer. A prolific creator of film music, Mr. Steiner seems to have composed more classic-film scores than all of his noted contemporaries put together. Over 150! (It is untrue that Jack Warner had Steiner leg-cuffed to his piano. Mr. Steiner was simply, well, a composer-aholic.) The CD is a re-release at "popular prices" of the original which is on the Marco Polo label. And, as such, it's the greatest classic-film-score bargain known to humankind (or any other life form)!

2. John Morgan's restoration of Steiner's score and William Stromberg's conducting of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra are beyond suburb! Mr. Morgan has left no musical fragment unexamined. It's all here folks! Mr. Stromberg has yet again demonstrated that he is one of the most gifted conductors of our generation! The ensemble has been (strongly encouraged?) to match if not exceed the intensity and tempo of the OST. Truth be known, Mr. Stromberg has provided us with a work product that surpasses the original (an ultima-extreme rarity for modern re-recording of classic film scores). The micing/mixing is outstanding courtesy of recording engineers Edward Shakhnazarian and Vitaly Ivanov

3. Many aficionados consider KK music to be the first film score ever written for the movies. While this seems to be true for American talkies, my research indicates that the first totally original film score was probably composed for the 1908 silent film ASSASSINATION OF THE DUC DE GUISE. Its creator was none other than Camille Saint-Saens!

4. The CD booklet, however, is a mixed bag. James D'Arc's essay on Steiner ("'Curiously Appropriate'") is outstanding. So is John Morgan's "Reconstruction Notes." However, the track notes by Ray Faiola focus on what is occurring on screen rather than on a deconstruction of the score's cues. Hey guys, let's keep the focus on the audio domain. This is a music CD. It's not a video CD. Nor is it a DVD.

William Flanigan, Ph.D.

This is the first complete re-recording of the landmark score for King Kong (the good one ;-) ) and I highly recommend it. I disagree with the two star "Disappointed" review below (or somewhere). In my opinion the music for the death scene (track 22) sounds great. In fact, I lined up the movie and this recording and even the timing is virtually identical. The trumets do sound slightly different (not as shrill), but that's because of the good recording quality rather than because of the score reconstruction or conducting. If you took this recording and "aged" it with filters to simulate the comparitively tinny 1933 sound it would probably be indistinguishable from the original except to experts.

Anyway, if you're a Kong fan, a Steiner fan, or a general movie music fan you should have this, and the price makes it a very easy decision. By the way, as a bit of trivia for you, Stromberg and Morgan were called in for the Peter Jackson remake to provide their reconstruction for the theater scenes, which used Steiner's music from the original. (Those scenes actually used more than just the theater music. For example, the scrifice music was also used.)

Restored by John Morgan and performed with relish by the Moscow Symphony under Stromberg, this selection (part of a classical soundtracks series issued by Marco Polo during the 1990's) emerges as one of Steiner's most distinctive. The manner in which he handles the leitmotives of different cultures and characters is extraordinary. There is terror, suspense, romance and humor to spare. The acoustics are warm and not too reverberent -- a surprise considering the recording venue. The urgency and passion of this conductor and orchestra are just plain fun. These musicians were having a good time!

If you love soundtracks, you will be quite surprised by the quality of the content and performance here. It would be difficult to imagine that the 1933 KING KONG score could be considered "ambient" music, but it is. It is completely listenable, filled with invention and campy multicultural material

At $6.98 it is robbery. On a list of favorite all-time soundtracks, it ranks in my top 25. Call me crazy, but...

This is a very powerful and mysterious score. Max Steiner did a tremendous job. Conductor William T. Stromberg and the Moscow Symphony Orchestra once again come through with an excellent recording.

No one did it better that Max Steiner. One can listen to this fabulous soundtrack and envision scene after scene of this classic movie. It's easy to realize that the movie might not have had the same impact had it not been for this moving and exhilerating score.
William T. Stromberg and the Moscow Symphony Orchestra honor this score with superb arrangements. A must have for any soundtrack or classical music collector, or any King Kong fan.

Very nostalgic score. The recording is excellent! They really got it right and it sounds magnificent!

I accidentally came across Max Steiner's original soundtrack for King Kong while searching for the James Newton Howard release to Peter Jackson's film. I say accidentally because I been an avid collector and listener of movie soundtracks/scores for years, however inexplicably this one flew under my radar. Quite simply, this score is a 5-star classic and should be in anyone's collection; end of musical review.

However while searching, Amazon offered their usual "twofer" deal and I was a little confused about which recording to purchase, the Rhino or the Marco Polo version. Although earlier reviews touched on the issue, I thought I would concentrate upon that point. Since I could get both recordings for under $20, a little more than the price of one new CD down at the Borders, I went for the "twofer" and have been happy with the decision (no I don't work for Amazon, although would gladly accept any royalties sent my way!).

Each recording brings something different to the table. The first two-thirds of the Rhino version contains movie dialogue with some musical excerpts in the background, while the remaining third contains the 24-minute King Kong Music Suite, all from the original movie (73-minutes total). The CD comes in a cardboard package with a wonderful 36-page booklet containing a wealth of information about the movie and its music. It's not in a jewel box, so you have to be a little careful, but it is a very nice presentation, more of a little book rather than a CD. Yes, the CD may be a tad difficult to remove from the case, however I think quite a few of us will simply remove it once, rip it to the computer then download to the iPod. The Marco Polo version comes in a standard jewel case, this time with, you guessed it, a marvelous 38-page booklet describing the movie and its music. The Polo version is a 72-minute, 1996 recording of the original score, no dialogue.

Where the versions differ most is the sound; the Rhino version apparently originates from the source material, so although remarkably crisp and clean, it sounds like it was recorded in 1933. The updated Polo version could have been used in the current movie. So which version is better? Neither really, it depends upon the experience for which you are looking. I enjoy listening to the Rhino version on a rainy day when my attention span is not up to watching the King Kong DVD. Simply close your eyes, listen to the dialogue, and the movie plays in your imagination. On the other hand, the updated Polo version sonically illustrates what a masterpiece Steiner's score really is. The choice is yours!

This soundtrack album has all the themes, all the cues, and even the deleted and extended stuff from one of my favorite films. When it says, "Complete 1933 Film Score". It meant it!
With over 72 minutes of musical score, this, by far, is the best "King Kong" sound track I've came across. United Artist Orchestra took a stab at it back in the early 70's followed by Fred Steiner's (no relation)version, which was my favorite until I got this gem.
If you're a "King Kong" fan and you love the score, this is a must.

Hearing this score performed by a full orchestra recorded with today's technology was a revelation. The individual instruments really stand out, and that adds a clarity you can't hear when watching the movie. On top of that, it's a fine performance by the Moscow Symphony under William Stromberg.

The original soundtrack of KING KONG is a big success. Max Steiner does terrific work here, indicative of future success ("Gone With The Wind," "Casablanca," etc). If you loved the movie, you'll love the soundtrack. And I also recommend the 2005 film AND soundtrack.