"North by Northwest"
Title of musical piece is
"Prelude"
Composed by Bernard Herrmann
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
This piece from the title sequence in my opinion tried to prepare the audience for the fast pace adventure that Cary Grants character Roger O. Thornhill is about to embark on. The opening credits are shown on a angled grid iron array that moves up and down and from side to side quickly then in a graphic match cut suddenly we see a the side of a building with a busy city reflected below. Throughout the remainder of the piece we see busy scenes of city traffic and people hurrying about their business. All this in an attempt to get the viewer fired up for the non stop action. I feel the piece works well for the time it was made. I think they makers where trying for a modern look with this scene and combined with the music I believe it had the desired affect on the audience.
"Punch-Drunk Love"
Title of musical piece is "He Needs Me" remix
Original composition by Harry Nilsson
Remix composition by Jon Brion and Jonathon Karp
Performed by Shelly Duvall
I think this song fit the well in for its place in this film. Kind of whimsical but relates the mind set of Emily Watson's character Lena as the two characters meet in the main foyer of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki. Adam Sandler's (Barry) kind of nervous and business like and Lena very confident and obviously has her mind set on what she wants. As the two meet in the shot he is ready to shake hands and she grabs him and kisses him. The foyer is suddenly full of fast walking people as if conveying the fact that all of this, for Barry is happening so fast. But as he gets over the initial shock of the event he calms and the room clears leaving Lena and Barry to enjoy each other. For me it, I think had the desired affect and there is no mistake about what Lena is feeling.
"The Godfather"
Title of musical piece is "The Baptism"
Composer(s) Nino Rota, Carmine Coppola, Johnny Farrow, Marty Symes
This piece of music for me for me fit the best of all of the choices in this assignment and relates to the Michael characters ( Al Pacino) state of mind at that moment in the film. It is of coarse supposed to correspond with the child's baptism inside the Church but what the music combined with the various scenes is the telling the audience of the struggle Michael is having in doing what needs to be done in protecting his family and the families honor. His internal conflict between good and evil.
"A Bridge to Far"
Title of musical piece is "The Son Bridge" uncredited
Composed by John Addison
I have seen this movie many times
since I first saw it in the theater in 1977. This short musical piece always
stuck out as one I remember. The solders, having just landed in Holland to
capture a bridge emerge from the forest and the music relates their caution and
as they dash toward it picks up to almost a joyous tune of triumph. Their Colonel
(Eliot Gould) pushes to the front of the pack. Just as they arrive at the
bridge the music stops and the German Army blows up the bridge. For me this
music fit perfect, just when you think it’s in the bag, party over. And yes I
can relate to this scene on a personal level.