Lust For Life (Limited Edition CD Soundtrack)
Sound:
B Music: B+
Vincente
Minnelli’s Lust For Life (1956) is a
still-celebrated portrait of tormented painter Vincent Van Gogh, and one reason
is the remarkable music score provided by Miklos Rozsa. It is easily one of the best scores for a
biopic in all of the Classical Hollywood period and one of Rozsa’s key
works. This Film Score Monthly/FSM label
CD release of the music soundtrack is the first time it has ever been available
in its entirety, in its original theatrical film recordings and it is
impressive.
What
seems like a score that will be bombastic throughout suddenly develops nuances
and depth not often found in biopics then or now. This is the kind of score that makes you want
to see the film (or see it again), but no DVD has been issued yet. Instead of repeating himself in what he did
for Salvador Dali’s work in his classic score for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1945
masterwork Spellbound, Rozsa uses
his ideas of music history and music literacy to enhance the amazing visuals of
the film and further the feel of Van Gogh’s life and world, which were more one
and the same than just about anyone else’s because of what the title refers to.
Another
plus is the PCM CD 2.0 Stereo sound off of the original master material. The music is presented chronologically, and six
bonus tracks are offered. Despite the
kinds of problems that have developed for many of the old M-G-M studio scores,
not to mention is atrocity of stereo scores being replaced by inferior mono
tapes and thrown out, there is always the expectation of warping and
damage. This has relatively little
distortion or warping trouble throughout its nearly 70-minutes-long
length. Turner Entertainment’s evasive
action paid off on this one.
There is also
the usual high-quality booklet with great pictures and priceless information,
but the CD is limited to only 3,000 pressings, so be sure to check out more
information about this and other great limited edition soundtracks at www.filmscoremonthly.com for
details. This is likely the only place
you are going to be able to get such classics, while they last.
- Nicholas Sheffo
