MovieChat Forums > Wings (1929) Discussion > The score

The score

posted 12 years ago by movibuf1962
4 replies | jump to latest

I have a DVD recording of this from a TCM broadcast in 2011, and am currently recording TCM's airing (in 2013), and the score is completely different. I understand it has gone through a major restoration for the Paramount centennial, including a sepia-tint and even some audio and color FX in the battle scenes, but can anyone verify that the music is COMPLETELY different? The original had a very distinctive organ riff throughout the film, and that is now gone. If this is a return to some original score from 1927, please advise. Thank you!! (I did try to look this up elsewhere, so please have patience with me if this is an already answered question.)

[–] Mon-Star 12 years ago

The Wings Blu-ray released in 2012 features 1080p high definition video with a newly-restored musical score by J.S. Zamecnik in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and an organ score by Gaylord Carter in Dolby Digital 2.0. It sounds like TCM used the new score in its broadcast.

For this release, the film’s original paper score was procured from the Library of Congress and recorded with a full orchestra. Like many silent film scores, the music was a combination of original composition, popular songs of the period and themes from classical music. Musicians with expertise in silent film music were chosen to recreate a truly orchestral experience.

[–] movibuf1962 12 years ago

Thank you much.

[–] Wakanohana 12 years ago

I don't remember the music from the first time(s) I saw Wings. It was probably with a Wurlitzer organ

But I like the orchestral soundtrack very much. The use of Felix Mendelssohn's incidental music to A Midsummer Night's Dream during the aerial combat scenes was very moving.

[–] DeepFriedJello 10 years ago

So, on the Netflix rental it came with piano and sound effects and also organ. I like organ music and started watching that, but didn't excite me, so I switched to the piano and sound effects version, and was happy I did. It was much more than piano and really contributed to the movie. Plus the sound effects were top notch. Sound of the cars and planes and much more, made it hardly seem like a silent film. A very enjoyable film.