Customer Reviews

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence: Soundtrack From The Original Motion Picture

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although this CD stands on its own very well -- and indeed was the most compelling soundtrack of 1983 -- it's hard to consider it totally separately from Sakomoto's other OST masterpiece, 1987's 'The Last Emperor'. Both movies had oriental themes and settings, but whereas 'The Last Emperor' was a largely acoustic / orchestral venture for Sakomoto, this is all-electronic.

'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence' has two stand-out themes: the title theme (tracks #1, #10 and #19), and 'Sowing the Seed' (track #14). Both are excellent and unforgettable. The rest are sketches which provide a magnificent aural background to the dramatic events that unfold at the Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. I feel you have to see the movie to fully appreciate Sakomoto's intent, though the sight of David Bowie dressed as a schoolboy for one scene may be hard to take!

The final track, 'Forbidden Colours', deserves a mention, because this was the single released to promote the movie. It sounds as if Sakomoto and Seigen Ono created the entire instrumental soundtrack in Tokyo, but then the western producer decided a vocal-based track was needed for the single. I would guess that the opening instrumental track was sent to David Sylvian -- please tell me that he wasn't picked just because he sang for a band called 'Japan'! -- who then pasted his vocals over the top.

The single did reasonably well in the UK charts, but DJs quickly realised that the instrumental B-side -- i.e. the theme with the Sylvian vocal stripped out -- had more commercial merit. And this is the theme that everyone remembers the movie for. But over the years, David Sylvian's song has really grown on me. His lyric focusses on the homo-erotic relationship between the characters that Sakomoto and Bowie play, a theme which isn't so promounced in the original novel.

In retrospect, Sylvian's treatment of the song seems entirely right. It just seems bizarre that Bowie appears in the movie, but doesn't play on the soundtrack, whereas Sakomoto does. And yet for 1985's 'The Falcon and the Snowman', Bowie sings the main theme, but doesn't appear in the movie.

Anyway, enjoy the soundtrack, and make sure you see the movie. It's visceral!

This CD disappeared for some time, I remember hunting for years to find it again. This re-release gives fans of the movie and the two artists another chance to listen to a fine Sakamoto piece. Sakamoto was in Yellow Magic orchestra, Sylvian in Japan and then on his own. The collaboration with Sylvian is one of many: Bamboo Music/Bamboo Houses and Sylvian's first 3 solo albums -- all amazing when Sakamoto adds his unique keyboard touches. "Forbidden Colors" stands away from the rest of the album, I think, a wonderful song, one of my favorites.

Buy the movie, it's still available, enjoy Bowie against Sakamoto and Tom Conti's fine performance. Then, you'll need this album.

I watched the movie for the first time when I was 21.

I listened to the entire soundtrack for the first time when I was 18.

I have known the melody of the title theme....since I was in elementary school.

I always whistled this melody without knowing what the music was called or who it was by.

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence was the soundtrack of my life.

PS.
I have recently noticed the track #2 on disc #2 of the compilation Clicks & Cuts 3 (on Mille Plateaux), by Antonelli Electr., starts with a melody that is very remniscent of one of the short tracks on Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence. It made me really excited...

This is the soundtrack to the 1983 feature film "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence". Sakamoto, who was in the now-legendary New Wave/synth group Yellow Magic Orchestra, composed and performed the entire evocative score. Addtionally, Sakamoto starred as a Japanese POW camp commandant, along with British POW's Tom Conti and David Bowie (as an Australian commando). The movie, while a disappointment at the box office, is quite an experience; a strange drama set in a Japanese-run POW camp in the Dutch East Indies in World War II, but worth watching. The ending is emotional; you may shed a few tears at the end!

As good as the film is, the soundtrack is stunning, especially the title track; it's haunting, mesmorizing, and powerful. (The only clunker is the David Sylvian vocal on the "reprise" at the end, which was not on the film's soundtrack.)

At the very least, get this brilliant soundtrack!

This music is wonderful, wether or not you've seen the movie. The movie is great too. Its about Power and Control, which most things in the world are based on. Everyone wants to be in power and will do anything to get there or keep it there. The movie is about the ruler and somebody who won't be ruled. The soundtrack is wonderful.

close your eyes and enjoy this work of art

This is an excellent soundtrack.. I have been listening to it for over 13 years. Reviews are not my forte but believe me its good. by the way I dont see much in these ratings people put in that are less than 4 stars.. strange eh?

I an very new to world music (music outside of the US and UK)... But I really love this CD. The movie was good, too, even though it's partially in Japanese... You can still follow along, though, if you have any intelligence. Check them both out.

My college roommate bought this when it was released. I have always loved the Forbidden Colours version with David Sylvian's vocals. A real gem of a song.