Customer Reviews

Where Eagles Dare

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Finally available on CD. WHERE EAGLES DARE was only previously available on CD for a short time during the infancy of CD music. Now this stirring soundtrack is available on CD once again. From beginning to end you enveloped in the original soundtrack. For those familiar with the movie, you cannot help but feel the cold of the movie's cable car sequence while listening to this soundtrack. The CD also contains some incidental "Bavarian" music as heard in the background during several scenes. The CD cover could be a little more exciting, but the CD itself is wonderful listening.

This is a seminal score that deserves to be heard. Majestic, soaring, brooding, mysterious, pulsating and sometimes strident. It fits the film like a hand in glove and, remarkably, bears repeated listening on its own. Recently, the film was finally released on a very well done DVD in its original widescreen format and 5.1 digital surround. If you want a suspenceful action film, look no further.

Let's face it, the film industry hasn't exactly stored its classic film scores, or films, with great care. This score is a rarity. The Chapter III recording has been out of print for years. It and previous releases are from a rerecording done for the original lp soundtrack release.

In early 2004, Film Score Monthly released a limited edition 2CD set taken from the actual recordings for the film -- "remixed from 1/2" three-track safety tapes of the original six-track 35mm magnetic film masters". It sounds like it was freshly recorded with very fine sonics and a clarity remarkable in a recording over 30 years old. On the FSM release, "Where Eagles Dare" fills the first disc in its entirety -- 74 minutes. The second disc contains incidental music for the film and a couple alternate takes -- in addition to the score from "Operation Crossbow"! This 2CD set is accompanied by a 28 page booklet jam-packed with liner notes and illustrations. A top notch release. Those of you looking for this limited edition FSM-TCM-Rhino release are advised to visit the FSM website for this outstanding release. Highly, highly recommended!

The score for Where Eagles Dare was released a long time ago but was sadly put out of print. Finally, after years of waiting, it has been re-released. Ron Goodwin's score doesn't have any sweet nice romantic themes or funny out-place humor like John Williams. This score has much more maturity and more sense for the action in the movie. The main theme, which makes many variation appearances, greatly portrays the great risks and out-numbering odds against the characters during the movie but still has hints of heroics in it. The fugue variation sounds the best, though. It has a military feel to it and a sense of desparation. It sounds like a darker version of the Cage Fugue from Jaws, the military theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and a slight likeness to the military theme heard in the beginning of Stargate. In the whole score, Goodwin vividly describes the events. High shrill and creeping strings convey the dangers over ground, and blasts of the orchestra signify signs of danger looming. The best action tracks are the Main Title, Pursued By The Enemy (heard many times in the movie, particularly near the end), and Chase To The Airfield (has a nice display of the fugur variation). The rest of the tracks add suspense and shouldn't be skipped, for, unlike Crimson Tide, they don't move at a slow pace. I highly recommend this gem of a score. Once you listen to this score, you won't doubt why Ron Goodwin is considered the master of war scores and adventure. His work has surely influenced many a composer of today.

I don't care what anyone says about the film or its flaws, not only was the movie a genuine masterpiece of the action/adventure genre, but the soundtrack was also a work of art. I agree with those that say the film might have been a flop had it not been for this music, but then again music really does make the movie and nowhere is that more true than with "Where Eagles Dare" Every track from beginning to end has you literally "seeing" the movie without the picture and its one of those few where you can actually visualize the scene according to each track and the progress of the story. Driving in your car or just wandering about the house you can see this movie just by listening to the CD alone! My only wish is to finally see this film released on DVD in its original widescreen format and 5.1 digital surround. Only then will final justice to be done to the soundtrack and this fine movie for all time.

I can remember the impact of the film score for Where Eagles Dare from that first cinematic treat as a boy in the late sixties to a recent aquisition of this tremendous double feature CD which totally indemnifies the quality of Goodwin's work. The opening side drum signature is instantly recognisable, simple yet highly effective in its musical parallel as burst from a Schmeiser Sub Machine Gun. The opening arrangement builds to stunning crescendo as you become immersed in roller coaster orchestration of perfect dynamics mirroring the awesome Bavarian Backdrop as the Junkers JU-88 and main theme sequence leaves you in full anticipation of the excitement and complexity of the addictive and complimentary underscore that has your full attention right to the last track. The source music on CD2 Operation Crossbow Tracks 20-27 is also a listening must. Goodwin triumphed with the Where Eagles Dare soundtrack which has to be appreciated and compared to the work of the great composers.

This is War Music at its best. Personally I only Like 2 of the tracks on this CD; Main Theme and Chase to the Airfield. The remaining tracks are good but are not to my liking as they are slow in tempo and emotion.

Chase the Airfield in by far the better of the two, Contributing to the speed and action of the scene in the film. Chase the Airfield is a track you can listen to over and over again without disappointment.

The Main Theme is a good composition adding the fell and location of the film at the start. Uppon the intro to the film the track starts. Duing its climax you allready know where the plane is, somewhere behind the german lines. This is because the main theme was produced in the style of Classical German Music and deep notes in the composition. Again this track is a master piece.

With out this music the film would have been a flop which just shows you how must power the music really Is to the overall feel of the film.

This is a MUST buy for any War Music fan.

This is a must for soundtrack movie fans. Im very happy to see this released on cd.I love this movie and I love this music.You cant go wrong with this soundtrack.A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++