MovieChat Forums > King Solomon's Mines (1985) Discussion > Anybody else loved the music?

Anybody else loved the music?


Hard to believe that Jerry Goldsmith was nominated for "worst musical score" for this movie - a real insult!
In my opinion he created one of the mosty "catchy" themes in his career for this film. The main theme and its reprise in "No Diamonds/End Titles" (the last track) is one of my all-time-favorites in filmmusic. I love so much listening to this track.
I got the new "Prometheus" release and the audio quality blows you away, its like sitting in a concerto in front of the orchestra conducted by the maestro.
What do you think about the score for "King Solomon's Mines" ?

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First time I hear someone dared nominate this score as "worst". Shows us that many of those joke prizes are done by people who doesn't have the slightest idea. I think the score is very good -albeit a bit overdependant of the main theme- but very good by its own and by far the best thing in this sorry Indiana Jones rip-off. I have three versions of this score: the original, Silva double edition (truncated) with Delta Force, the expanded version, and another version released recently with a couple of bonus tracks and improved sound. I still listen to it, and I even have the latest version downloaded in my computer at work.

Yeah, it's very good, and one of the last pure-orchestra scores done by the GREAT Jerry Goldsmith for a looooong time (I think his last was the score for The Mummy). By the way, if you are curious enough, you should check the TERRIBLE cover of Goldsmith main theme done by another composer -don't recall his name- for the even worse sequel, Allan Quatermain and the lost city of gold.

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Yeah I love the music too! Though during the movie it gets a little choppy and repetitive, but I always remember how great it sounded.

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First I have to say, that Jerry Goldsmith is one of the greatest movie composers of all time, that's a fact. his extremly wide range of themes proves that, from 1970s till his death.

though this soundtrack is not one of his best (most movies of the 80s were not good enough for his music) its a great work compared to other composers. you can also hear a little similarity in his work during the 80s. in this movies score I especially hear a similarity to stark trek V.

perhaps Jerry's bad luck in the 80s was, that he often worked for not the leading genre movies. john williams did star wars, superman and indiana jones, the whole spielberg stuff while Jerry did star trek, supergirl (argh!!!) and quatermain.

in my opinion this scores fits perfect and makes the movie at least a little classy.

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I loved Goldsmith's score for this movie!

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This is the first I've heard of all this 'Worst Score' nonsense. Quite frankly, I'm amazed. Who were these people who nominated it? Did they listen to the same score? Are they crazy?

I would have thought that Jerry Goldsmith was probably asked to write something similar to the Indiana Jones march, which might have been used as a temp-track during editing, but Jerry came up with a wonderful score and motif which more than stands on it's own. Another composer I've always liked; Robert Folk, wrote a score to the Pauly Shore movie "In the Army now", and listening to it, you can tell that it's basically Indy again (a lot of people compare Folk's 'Lawnmowerman 2' score to Williams' 'Jurassic Park). Jerry didn't fall into this trap at all, in my opinion. Plus, this was mid-80's, during Jerry's synth-bender.

I've always enjoyed the film for what it was, but Jerry's score simply makes it a better movie. Hell! Jerry's scores were often better than the movies they belonged to! I'm a bit of a Goldsmith mark. Can you tell?

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This is the first I've heard of all this 'Worst Score' nonsense. Quite frankly, I'm amazed. Who were these people who nominated it? Did they listen to the same score? Are they crazy?


No, they just noticed how blatantly Goldsmith tried to imitate the style of John William's Indiana Jones theme. And so did I. It's good... but it lacks a big deal of originality.

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~No matter where you go, there you are~

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yeah dude I have to admit I've been a fan of the 1985 quatermain films for quite some time and the music is what originally drew me to it. Goldsmith did an incredible job on the score and to this day I always listen to it.

I think the reason I like the Allan Quatermain theme better than the Indiana Jones theme is because the quatermain theme is more synchronized for action scenes to where the indie theme has more of a mellow dramatic atmosphere to it. But thats just my opinion.

Jerry Goldsmith rocks and so does Allan Quatermain.

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I've always loved the score to this film. It's the perfect topping to this fun, cheesy film. I also have the Prometheus release as well as the Intrada release before that and it's pure joy to listen to on its own.

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Goldsmith added a complete touch of class to what amounts to a B movie, albeit a fun one.

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The main theme is as good as the Indiana Jones theme.

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The score was really too good for the movie.

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!

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I say this is even BETTER than the INDY theme by williams

They hate us 'cause they ain't us

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when the film started, Rambo instantly sprung to mind..

Sid woz ere

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I have the soundtrack to King Solomon's Mines. Great music love pumping the volume up on it.




"Don't worry about the length, they'll ride up with wear,"

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Yeah, I recognized some elements from Rambo too. This score is also very heroic.

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