News

Hopefully fans of classic 1960s film scores have been saving their pennies, as the limited editions just keep on comin’.

Intrada just made available two classic western scores from Universal; Kritzerland has two briskly-selling new releases now available, both rescued from the MGM library. Making its debut in any medium is Les Baxter’s score to 1967’s shockfest, Sadismo. The American International release was one of a series of documentaries spawned by 1962’s Mondo Cane, each film featuring graphic scenes of torture and brutality. No wonder, then, that Sadismo hasn’t seen a video release. The score, however, shouldn’t languish in the same obscurity as the film; as producer Bruce Kimmel points out, it’s “Baxter in full exotica mode, and he truly puts the mondo in the music.” Whatever the dubious merits of the films, the Mondo series sure did produce great music; Mondo Cane introduced the now-standard “More” (“More than the greatest love the world has known…”) to the world. Baxter has already been represented this year by La-La Land reissues of his scores to Hell’s Belles and Beach Blanket Bingo; Sadismo is a worthy follow-up. (And it certainly has the most wickedly fun title!)

In a more serious vein, Kimmel restores to catalogue the score to Richard Attenborough’s 1977 film A Bridge Too Far, composed and conducted by John Addison (Tom Jones, Torn Curtain). An all-star cast included Laurence Olivier, Ryan O’Neal, Robert Redford, Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Gene Hackman and Liv Ullman, and the screenplay was by acclaimed writer William Goldman. Rykodisc previously released this original United Artists soundtrack album as part of its MGM Soundtrack series, but it is long out-of-print and has actually been one of the most difficult titles in that series to find. A Bridge Too Far has been totally remastered for this edition, and features new liner notes.

Both Sadismo and A Bridge Too Far are available in limited editions of 1,000 copies; Kimmel reports to Film Score Monthly‘s message board that A Bridge Too Far is nearly 80% sold out only one day after its release.

Hit the jump for track listings with sound samples for both titles.  The cue titles for Sadismo alone are worth the click…as the tag line for the film asked, “HOW MUCH SHOCK CAN YOU STAND?”

Les Baxter, Sadismo: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack (Kritzerland KR-20017, 2010)

1. Opening Logo
2. Main Title
3. The Dark Corners of This Sick World
4. The Rack, The Thumb Screw, and The Iron Maiden, Oh My
5. A Catalog of Cruelty
6. The Pain in Spain
7. Tokyo
8. Tokyo After Dark
9. Fertility Rites
10. Drugs That Turn Men Into Slaves
11. Dog’s World
12. Honky-Tonk Music
13. Gay Nightclubs for Women Only!
14. Free Love
15. Honky Tonk Music Part 2
16. Dipped in Paint
17. A Little Night Music
18. Body Painting
19. Lullaby
20. Pet Snakes a Go Go
21. Erotica Exotica
22. Tongs for the Mammaries
23. The Agony and the Ecstasy
24. Blues for Sadismos
25. Secrets of Beauty
26. End Title

John Addison, A Bridge Too Far: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack (United Artists UAG30097, reissued Kritzerland KR-20018, 2010)

1. Overture
2. A Dutch Rhapsody
3. Before The Holocaust
4. Underground Resistance
5. Air Lift
6. Hospital Tent
7. Arnhem
8. Nijmegen Bridge
9. March of the Paratroopers
10. Bailey Bridge
11. Human Roadblock
12. Futile Mission
13. The Waal River
14. Arnhem Destroyed
15. Retreat
16. A Bridge Too Far March