MovieChat Forums > The Sand Pebbles (1966) Discussion > Beautiful, powerful musical score

Beautiful, powerful musical score

posted 20 years ago by ecarle
22 replies | jump to latest

I'm one of those people who thinks that most great movies have great scores, and the score to the great "Sand Pebbles" (count me in as a fan) is no exception.

It's from the great Jerry Goldsmith. He finds a way to take one simple melody and work it as both a lovely "love theme" (for a tragic love that cannot be) and a powerful "loss theme" (for the lives and innocence that will be lost as the Chinese conflict comes to engulf and destroy the crew of the warship.)

The score is very powerful over the symbolic opening credits, as the image of a small Chinese junk (boat) gradually grows much larger than that of the American gunboat also on screen.

Great score, great credits. Great movie.

[–] BilligerVogel 20 years ago

"...the symbolic opening credits, as the image of a small Chinese junk (boat) gradually grows much larger than that of the American gunboat also on screen."

Wow, y'know, I've never really noticed that... Thanks!

[–] haristas 20 years ago

I'm a huge Goldsmith fan and this is one of his greatest scores. The late, great Jerry Goldsmith was GOD! I hope you own the Varese Sarabande CD. Also, check out sometime www.thesandpebbles.com Great tribute site.

[–] Kingum2341 20 years ago

Never watched this film actually.

[–] porfle 18 years ago

<<"Never watched this film actually."<<

Thanks for telling us that! Otherwise, I would have erroneously assumed that you had.

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[–] chuckju 20 years ago

I agree that this musical score was superb and wonderfully complimented the film. You might want to check out Goldsmith's score for "Lonely Are The Brave" with Kirk Douglas. Another wonderful use of horns used to evoke tragedy and yearning. At least one can get the CD for Sand Pebbles. Not so Lonely...or many other good Goldsmith scores.

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[–] scarlie 19 years ago

I would ike to know if you know the name of the theme song that is played throughout the movie.

thanks

steve

[–] mtmv 18 years ago

"I would ike to know if you know the name of the theme song that is played throughout the movie"

It's called AND WE WERE LOVERS written by Jerry Goldsmith. Vocal versions of the song have been recorded by Shirley Bassey and Andy Williams (among others).

[–] gebegb 19 years ago

My goodness.
I just watched it on (rented) DVD for the first time.

Isn't it curious -- I didn't even know it had music.
I'll take your word for it.

The music must have fit very well, if I don't remember it.
(If one remembers the music, then chances are, the music is calling attention to itself, instead of blending seamlessly into each scene.)

[–] alxnrth 18 years ago

I couldn't agree more! Goldsmith was at his peak in the mid-'60s, Sand Pebbles. The Blue Max & shortly thereafter the groundbreaking Planet of the Apes. It was sad to see his decline into mediocrity, (my opinion & other's) toward the end of his life. There were few examples of his genius culminating in LA Confidential for which he should have reveived the Oscar. He was a unique individual & a composer whose work deserves to be remembered & played far beyond today.
Dale

[–] aroth15 18 years ago

I have to disagree. I'm a pianist and I've always noticed the music to a film. In this case I think the score was mediocre. The few melodies are trite and unimaginative. I know Goldsmith has done countless films, but I'm not aware of any of his scores that I was drawn to. I felt this one was particularly weak. Melodies completely forgettable.

Allen Roth
"I look up, I look down..."

[–] blame_thatcher_2003-2011 18 years ago

You're one of the very few musicians who is not impressed with Goldsmith.

§ A Quinn Martin Production

[–] Memories-Of-Murder 16 years ago

I doubt he's even a musician, to tell you the truth!

"This are Nice shoes! Couldn't you afford some real Nike?"

[–] mark_shleck-1 18 years ago

You're forgetting the score he composed in Patton, which was nominated for an Oscar in 1970, but lost out to the saccharine-sweet Love Story.

You can't hold a candle to Gulbenkian.

[–] SeanJoyce 15 years ago

alxnrth:

It was sad to see his decline into mediocrity, (my opinion & other's) toward the end of his life.

Goldsmith was consistent...his brilliance never wavered, not for an instant.

And North was a fantastic composer as well.

"...if that was off, I'd be whoopin' your ass up and down this street." ~ an irate Tarantino

[–] alxnrth 15 years ago

There was a (long) time during which I purchased any Goldsmith soundtrack without having heard it. Along about FIRST BLOOD that began to change and even though it is much prized by die hards & I play it every few years to confirm my diagnosis, I consider SUPERGIRL a prime example of his decline. I do love LA Confidential among his later works & feel he was robbed when Horner won the Oscar for TITANIC.

Dale

[–] hawks-bill 18 years ago

Its blend of tragic, romantic and epic elements, all perfectly matched to time and place, makes it one of the most effective scores ever written.

[–] raymond_chandler 18 years ago

For my money, this is the best score I have ever heard, in terms of matching the action onscreen to the musical themes. Two other very, very good ones (IMO) are Howard Shore's score for the 3 LOTR films, and Clint Mansell's score for "The Fountain".