Directors & Their Music

[Real Ray]

Soundcheck on WYNC did a show about Hitchcock and his relationship with music, and it got me thinking about this. There are the obvious one's like Rota & Fellini, Hermann & Hitchcock , Morriconne & Leoni. But these are some that come to mind off the top:

1.Scorsese & Rock & Roll: For my money, he's the first director to really marry the two over the course of his films. And he understands the ethos and sensibilty of rock music very well-it spans all the way from Mean Streets to Goodfellas, with many iconic moments. And things like the Kristofferson reference in Taxi Driver are bits that add something. It's the template being used by a lot of young directors today like P.T. Anderson-Boogie Nights an homage to that style, really.

2. Clint Eastwood & Lennie Niehaus : This has been a really good partnership. I find Eastwood's taste/touch with music in his films a highpoint in his style and as much a revelation as his development has a director as a whole.

3. John Hughes & The 80's: Has there been another director of teen genre films who had their finger on the pulse of his audience better then Hughes? The soundtracks are a snapshot of the decade musically.

4. Errol Morris & Phillip Glass: Two styles that fit hand-in-glove. Especially in Fog Of War.

5. Tim Burton & Danny Elfman: Another pair that seem made for each other.

[hangthadj]

It didn't last long, but...Jean-Luc Godard and Michael Legrand - Just awesome. The stuff in Band of Outsiders and a Woman is a Woman especially. Also of note, when Godard didn't think he'd work with Legrand anymore he noted in the credits of Band of Outsiders, the last score for film ever, by Michael Legrand. Of course he scored what, 50 more films?

[ForeverRed]

How bout Sergio Leone and Ennio Morricone, I can't really imagine one without the other.

[Unorthodox Yank]

Wes Anderson and Mark Mothersbaugh - Kinda odd, intricate compositions that set the mood for Anderson's films remarkably well, in my opinion.

Not to mention that Anderson always chooses some pretty stellar '60s songs as well.

[ForeverRed]

Wes Anderson and Mark Mothersbaugh - Kinda odd, intricate compositions that set the mood for Anderson's films remarkably well, in my opinion.

Not to mention that Anderson always chooses some pretty stellar '60s songs as well.

I agree, The Rushmore soundtrack, in my opinion, is one of the greatest compilations of music.

[Via_Chicago]

Scorcese's use of rock-and-roll music has been rather scattershot. While his use of music in both Goodfellas and Casino is quite perfect, his use in The Departed, his most recent film, is not nearly as brilliant, even while borrowing some of the same tunes. Of course, Scorcese did direct two of the best music documentaries ever, so it's quite clear that he grasps the history of said music and its implications.

I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned Stanley Kubrick, who is famous for using classical music to score his films. 2001 is undoubtedly the most iconic of all his pictures, both visually and musically, but his use of Bela Bartok in The Shining, Ligeti in Eyes Wide Shut, and Handel in Barry Lyndon is brilliant, even if a film like The Shining is not.

[Iceblink]

Quentin Tarantino tends to have some pretty interesting and memorable music in his movies... Pulp Fiction... Reservoir Dogs.... Kill Bill.

I don't know what it means... but thought it fit with the topic.

[Sachsen]

How 'bout Charlie Chaplin, who composed his own films' music?

Actor... director... composer...

[Via_Chicago]

How 'bout Charlie Chaplin, who composed his own films' music?

Actor... director... composer...

On that note. What about Robert Rodriguez, who also composes his own music? That's a little, er, rare, in modern film. (Okay, I'm drunk, what are you gonna do?)

[Dr. Know]

I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned Stanley Kubrick, who is famous for using classical music to score his films. 2001 is undoubtedly the most iconic of all his pictures, both visually and musically, but his use of Bela Bartok in The Shining, Ligeti in Eyes Wide Shut, and Handel in Barry Lyndon is brilliant, even if a film like The Shining is not.

Not to mention Wendy Carlos' quite influential electronic music score for A Clockwork Orange.

[Via_Chicago]

Not to mention Wendy Carlos' quite influential electronic music score for A Clockwork Orange.

Yeah, that's too bad because, with the exception of "Singin' in the Rain," that soundtrack blows (as does the movie IMHO). But yeah, it's influence cannot be denied.

P.S. I have a Prof who was childhood friends with Hunter S. Thompson. Apparently, he was quite the alpha male even as a child.

[spejic]

You can include John Carpenter among directors that make their own soundtracks.

[Real Ray]

I find Spike Lee quite interesting to look at-his scores have been built with two composers: his father Bill Lee early on, and in recent films, Terence Blanchard. He's also provided two of the best uses of music in recent years: the opening of Do The Right Thing (if you didn't see this on a big screen during its original release...sigh) with Rosie Perez dancing to Fight The Power, and the basketball-Copland montage in He's Got Game.

One director who should really be good at this, but who I don't rate on this score is Cameron Crowe. You'd think with his background, he be more original.

Re: Scorsese: Mean Streets, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, The Color Of Money, Goodfellas, and Casino, all show his deft touch with pop music.

[CHICO13]

Oliver Stone always digs deep into the classic rock vaults.

[Dr. Know]

Yeah, that's too bad because, with the exception of "Singin' in the Rain," that soundtrack blows (as does the movie IMHO). But yeah, it's influence cannot be denied.


I'm not a big fan of the classical pieces played on the moog but the original composition "Timesteps" is great imo.

[Goodsport]

Steven Spielberg and John Williams seem practically joined at the hip. George Lucas and John Williams almost as much.

Not that I'm complaining about either, of course. ;)


-G