Movies that would be dull without their soundtracks

[Blackthorn]

OK, maybe not dull, but I can't imagine these movies without the classic music:

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Last of the Mohicans (1992)

The Way We Were

Braveheart

The Sting

Superfly (1972)

Your thoughts?

 

[Seb Lucas]

I guess you mean 'less memorable' without the music

I suspect that what you're hitting on here is that sometimes the main theme music is far better remembered than the film itself.

A song or soundtrack sells a film as much as the camera work. What would Psycho be without Bernard Hermann? Even Hitchcock thought he had a failure until he saw the shower scene run with those famous violin screams.

My pet hate in a lot of modern films is the annoying overuse of musical clichés and fanfares and overstated soundtracks that seem to pollute the picture more than anything. But there's no doubt that memorable films generally have an effective and memorable soundtrack. It's part of a whole package.

 

[scottyrocks]

My favorite modern film, Raiders otLA (1981) would be way less than it is without its amazing iconic score.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

A couple of movies that owe a great deal to their soundtracks are; 'Jaws' (1975) & 'Pirates of The Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) (2003)

Also I don't think 'Once Upon a Time in The West' (1968) would have had such an emotional impact without Morricone's score.

 

[Edward]

All musicals, most classic Disney, Ghostbusters....

 

[LizzieMaine]

Any silent picture. And I'm not joking -- try watching a silent with no musical score, or a random needle-drop score, and then watch the same picture with an appropriate score. No contest.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Also I don't think 'Once Upon a Time in The West' (1968) would have had such an emotional impact without Morricone's score.

Now that is a blood great example! That score imbues the visuals with a transcendent, mystical quality. Good call.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Any silent picture. And I'm not joking -- try watching a silent with no musical score, or a random needle-drop score, and then watch the same picture with an appropriate score. No contest.

A great example of the importance of the score in telling the story...almost a wordless opera if there is such a thing.

 

[ChrisB]

The Third Man, which made Zither music, and Anton Karas biefly famous.

 

[pichi1]

Streets of Fire... dont know if it was the music or Diane Lane, but it is part of the soundtrack of my life

 

[GHT]

At least the music has put some youngsters in touch with the classics. They might not be able to name Gioachino Antonio Rossini but I would bet a pound to a penny they can hum the William Tell Overture.

 

[p51]

One sticks out to me immediately:
"Dances with Wolves"

 

[Bushman]

It was said that 1978's "Halloween" was laughable to test audiences before John Carpenter added his iconic score.

 

[JC225]

The 1992 version of "Dracula" when Francis Ford Coppola directed it. To me the soundtrack was so incredible at placing you not only psychologically but emotionally in the time period and places that the story took place that I can't imagine the film without it.

 

[scottyrocks]

Ah yes, Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), a modern masterpiece, as far as I'm concerned. Great cast (Gary Oldman, Wynona Ryder, Keanu Reeves, Anthony Hopkins, et al), music, costumes, effects, and editing, and I'm probably forgetting some other categories.

 

[navetsea]

I think Titanic won't sell without
my heart will go on