Tiger Tank and The Liquidator

Hi,

I was looking out the 1965 film "The Liquidator" this morning, in something of a tribute to the late Rod Taylor, a film I haven't seen in many years.

As soon as the Main Title theme started I was struck by something I'd never noticed before - I felt the first instrumental part had a strong resemblance to the basis of the "Tiger Tank" track from Kelly's Heroes, a track I know pretty well; K'sH was a one of my earliest cinema memories and the soundtrack was one of the first LPs I ever bought. I honestly could not have told you who wrote The Liquidator score. But it turns out it was indeed also by Lalo Schifrin. I suspect he may have spotted something in that early track and borrowed and elaborated on it for his Kelly's Heroes cue.

Possibly a flight of fancy here, induced by sleep deprivation, but I do hear a resemblance, in a more basic form, than simply the distinctive touch of a composer. There is even the clock, bell, ticking motif.

Does anyone else hear it?

(It isn't quite so apparent in the Youtube version of Tiger Tank as in the film - the film as you'll probably remember features a clock chime as does The Liquidator theme - but I still hear a little more than a passing similarity.)

Tiger Tank -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed2vDhNXFPM


The Liquidator -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcelojO6uqQ

Of course, Tiger Tank was used by Quentin Tarantino in Inglorious Basterds, which featured Rod Taylor's final film performance in a cameo as Winston Churchill. I guess that part IS pure coincidence. Or maybe not...

I think I need to sleep soon!