Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] [Soundtrack]

Franz Waxman (Artist), Joel McNeely (Artist), Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B0000793VV
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,027 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sunset Boulevard Prelude - Joel McKneely

2. Paramount Studio

3. Chase and Mansion

4. Norma Desmond

5. An Aging Actress

6. Reading the Script

7. The Strange Garden

8. Norma's Gallery

9. The Waxworks and The Bridge Game

10. Afternoon Outings

11. Sacrifice of Self-Respect

12. The Old Bathing Beauty

13. Parading to Paramount

14. Old Friends

15. DeMille's Compassion

16. Norma's Suspicions

17. A New Interest and The Studio Stroll

18. Her First Husband

19. The Showdown

20. Farewell

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Billy Wilder's 1950 classic is an unsettling exploration of Hollywood's heart of darkness--and a beguiling, cautionary horror film at heart. Like the best of that genre, it turns on an axis of human foibles--greed, ambition, delusion, narcissism--that aren't exactly metaphorical in Wilder's skilled hands. The director's musical accomplice, Franz Waxman, was hardly a stranger to the genre, either; his Bride of Frankenstein remains an undisputed classic. Hard to believe, but this glorious new digital recording of Waxman's Oscar^®-winning music for Sunset Boulevard marks the first release of the film's complete soundtrack. Carefully evoking every detail and nuance in Waxman's masterful score, conductor Joel McNeely and producer Robert Townson have turned in one of their most rewarding classic film score re-creations yet, offering up a compelling Waxman who evokes Hollywood's golden age allure in one bar, then skewers it mercilessly the next. By turns romantic, mysterious, and thoroughly creepy, this Royal Scottish National Orchestra recording of Waxman's masterpiece should be a cornerstone of any serious collection of classic film music. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "I am BIG; it's the pictures that got small", December 22, 2002

By 

Reginald D. Garrard "the G-man" (Camilla, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] (Audio CD)

Not only can Norma Desmond's quote be applied to the stars of the past, it can be attached to the musical scores of Hollywood's Golden Age, pre-1960. For it was in the early half of the twentieth century when the pairing of film and music was at its apex.

For my money, no other score can best exemplify the art of film scoring than Waxman's dynamic accompaniment to Billy Wilder's gem. Part tragedy, part comedy, and dead-on-the-mark attack on the price of fame, the movie needed a score befitting its multi-layered story. Waxman provided just that: a work that is whimsical, deliberate, haunting, poetic, and reflective. There are also elements of American jazz, reminiscent of the music of Gershwin, who himself incorporated that musical form in many of his compositions.

It's no surprise that Varese-Sarabande would release such a priceless recording, spearheaded by Joel McNeely, one that obviously respects the work of the film scoring masters.

As far as selections go, each one is feast for the ears, with special note given to "The Comeback", the familiar cue heard as Desmond (Gloria Swanson) descends from the top of the staircase in expectation of the "fans" below.

Film historians must consider this among the top ten scores of all time.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mother of All Film Scores...at Long Last!!!, August 21, 2006

By 

Charles L. Cron (Burbank, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] (Audio CD)

This is a glorious recording of one of the most lyrical, haunting scores ever composed for a film. Each succeeding track is a treat for the ears, refreshing and invigorating. Neeley and Varese Sarabande should be congratulated for recording and releasing this hirtherto neglected gem.

In my opinion, though, the only part of the entire CD that doesn't work is the beginning of the "Waxworks" track - the score to this particular moment in the film (when Norma, watching herself onscreen, rises triumphantly to proclaim "I'll be up there again, so help me!") is one of the most powerful and recognizable images in filmdom. In the original, the music is strong, powerful and almost spine-tingling, but this moment on the CD is underwhelming and not fully realized. However, what is one misfire (totalling all of eight bars, at most) compared to the richness and texture of the rest of the recording?!

In short, if you love film music, you most likely love the score to SUNSET BOULEVARD - and if you love SUNSET BOULEVARD, then you will most likely love this recording, too.

4.0 out of 5 stars A LITTLE OVER THE TOP BUT - I THINK NORMA DESMOND WOULD HAVE BEEN PLEASED!, January 12, 2012

By 

THE AUTISTIC WEREWOLF "Wolf D." (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] (Audio CD)

I am autistic as such I am always the odd man out. I agree with the other lone reviewer that the Orchestra went a LITTLE OVER THE TOP with its interpretation of this Sunset Boulevard soundtrack reproduction. The difference between myself and the lone reviewer who gave this effort one star is I gave this Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] CD four stars out of five. I feel Mr. Waxmann was the MASTER, the Mistro and this is by far one of his best works in his vast galaxy of best works. What made Waxmann a master is exactly what distinguishes this soundtrack is a good but far from perfect copy of the original work. The original was crafted by the great man Waxmann himself and part of his mastery was he spoke with great controlled subtly in each of the individual pieces of music. The rapport Waxmann had with both the listener and the music was so much more than just personal it was intimate. Waxman created the Sunset Boulevard Soundtrack based on an intimacy he had with the work individually and collectively that no Orchestra no matter how good will ever reproduce with the exacting care and insight of Waxmann himself.

In listening to this version of Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] at very best you must always remember you are listening to this orchestra's best effort interpretation of the Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] Soundtrack. Art is not a assembly line of mass produced precision built replica's. Each artist in an orchestra puts a little of themselves in their music. Each artist responds to the limits of their unique gifts. The pure Waxmann version of Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] is a work of art frozen in time. No modern day copy of the Mona Lisa will capture the full passion, talent and ethos that is Leonardo's classic masterpiece. Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] is not meant to be an exact duplicate of the Waxmann masterpiece anymore than a laser print copy of the Mona Lisa is meant to be a substitute for the original that earns her keep daily in Paris.

Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] is meant to give a slice of joy in the lives of us who love and treasure the production values, fine acting and most of all the musical score of Sunset Boulevard. I for one am pleased as punch to have this version of Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score]. No this version of Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] is not perfect but when I play this CD reproduction of the more awesome Waxmann effort I can enjoy and thrill to each part of the Sunset Boulevard film in my mind as if Norma Desmond were standing right beside me. In summary yes I agree this reproduction of Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] is over the top in many ways but; to expect otherwise is to unfairly burden the artist who brought us this work with a task they can never do justice to. This effort that gave us Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] Soundtrack must be applauded and valued in its own right. I for one am beyond happy that the people who brought us Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] made the effort. The Original Sunset Boulevard Movie Soundtrack was pure genius and it is the ultimate challenge to try to copy genius for even the best effort usually is a pale comparison to any master work. As a disabled man with autism I know all too well that is not how many times one succeeds that makes them great it is instead how many times one tries against all odds fails and tries again that makes one truly GREAT! Against all odd's those responsible for creating this Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] CD went up toe toe against Mr Waxmann the Wonder-kind with this less than perfect but enjoyable best effort CD reproduction of Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] the treasured result.

Is this Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] a spitting image of the soundtrack heard in the movie NO and only a fool would expected it to be so. Is this Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] CD a best effort interpretation of the masterwork of Mr. Waxmann's Original Sunset Boulevard master work heard in the actual movie I'd say so. I paid top dollar for this Sunset Boulevard [Original Motion Picture Score] CD and I did not feel in the least bit ill used for the outlay of MY hard earned cash. I am honored and proud to have this little piece of Norma Desmond and her Sunset Boulevard Universe grace the equally odd but wonderful precincts of my home.