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Hollywood's big secret about why you probably like a lot of films and television shows is in the MUSIC, and how the music fits into the story. Here, you have a fantastic example with the score prepared by the now legendary John Williams.
Granted, music can take a bad movie and make it better, but in this case, it takes a brilliant movie and makes it phenomenal!
Originally, the soundtrack recording offered for this classic film (on vinyl) was adequate... then a later CD version actually edited out some tracks to fit it all on one disc! What were they thinking?
Finally, Rhino gives the music from this film the treatment it so richly deserves. This is a must for collectors of Williams's work, as it includes nearly every music cue from the film, and some bonus alternate recordings, all on two compact discs.
The tracks are positioned well, and the included booklet has a lot more! The liner notes really help to paint the picture of what the music is doing in each scene. Chock full of photos from the film, and lots of behind the scene notes, and with a foreword written by the Man Of Steel himself, Christopher Reeve, It's like a visit to Metropolis!
Where "Star Wars - Episode IV" started the Williams era, "Superman: The Movie" solidified it. Highly recommended.
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John Williams is the man in Hollywood when it comes to composing movie scores. If you want some evidence to back that statement up then purchase this soundtrack.
The theme for Superman:The Movie could possibly be the greatest score ever for a film. It's an absolutely amazing song. The brass work in the song is incredible. The melody in the song is amazing. John Williams is known for his heavy brass parts and the trumpets are incredible in this song. When they hit that climax of that short run in the melody I smile everytime. It's such am amazing song and makes this soundtrack worth the price.
The rest of the cd isn't bad, but nothing can compare to the theme. A lot of the songs on the soundtrack contain parts from it. This really is an easy listening peace that you will listen to every song.
If you love John Williams then buy this. If you love Superman buy this. If you love classical music then buy this. You won't regret it.
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Even if you're not a fan of the SUPERMAN movie (what do you mean, you're not a fan of the SUPERMAN movie??!), you will be enthralled by this wonderful soundtrack which vividly characterizes the heroics of Krypton's favorite son and his adventurous exploits from the comic pages to the big screen. This is John Williams at his best. If you like his work, check out his excellent and under promoted work in 1972's THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE, too...available on CD with music from THE PAPER CHASE.
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"YOU WILL BELIEVE A MAN CAN FLY"-(original 1978 advertising catch-phrase for SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE)
The musical score for SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE is as much a masterwork as the film itself. Both are artistic achievements of the highest order. The only difference is, that of the many aspects of the motion picture's production which were crafted to perfection and make the film all it could possibly be, John Williams' superb score is the one part that can be separated from the whole and remain standing as a seminal creation. This music is among the most powerful and emotionally-charged ever composed, and I dare say William's best. I realize it's not "safe" to make these claims about both the film and it's music because of the comic book subject matter. "Surely, a more serious film and it's score deserve the 'best' label", many would say. On the contrary, it is the very fact that the filmakers and composer were able to take a fantasy character and achieve such artistic greatness that makes SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE and William's wonderful aural accompaniment all the more awesome. Shame on those who say the film is dated. The exquisite cinematography of Geoffrey Unsworth, the inspired direction of Richard Donner, a top-notch acting job by the entire cast high-lighted by the endearing personality of Christopher Reeve, Mario Puzo's excellent script with just the right balance of deadly seriousness and effective humor, the sets, editing, special effects, right down to the coolest title/credits sequence ever concieved, as well as JW's masterful contribution, all combine to make SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE a timeless work of pure cinema, honed to perfection. Hats are also off to Alexander Salkind who gave the creators the luxurious amount of time and money needed to do the job right. The reputation of the film and it's score will continue to grow in the years to come. Those who prefer their super-hero films dark and cynical need know that idealism will always have a place and media products that glorify good-will do not exist only in the past. SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE and John Williams' score are heroic, epic achievements, both of which bring almost infinite pleasure, not to mention inspiration, to those blessed souls able to appreciate them.
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From the original 2 LP vinyl recording to the "special price" one-disc CD release, I've owned every available version of John Williams' 1978 score for Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie. And even though I enjoyed all of those versions, there always seemed to be something missing from the various tracks.
Okay, so the London Symphony Orchestra (under the baton of the composer) still had that powerful timbre and the music was thrilling, but wasn't the main title music in the movie, well, a bit longer? And wasn't there a heckuva lot more music in the nearly three-hour movie than in any of the LPs, cassettes, or the first CD version? (At least in the first CD version the label warns consumers that two tracks had been removed!)
Finally, more than 20 years after the premiere of Superman: The Movie, Warner Bros. and ace producer Nick Redman teamed up to present the complete score to this awesome comic book epic. At last, Williams'legions of fans can now hear the Prologue and Main Title as they were presented in the film, and several other previously unreleased tracks -- some never used in the final cut of the movie -- are heard for the first time. Also, as in other Redman-produced re-issues, the cues appear in chronological order, following the plot of Superman from beginning to end. In addition, alternative versions of the Superman March and the "Can You Read My Mind" vocal have been included.
The Superman: The Movie 2-disc set comes in a jacketed slimline jewel case and includes an illustrated booklet of liner notes and commentary by Christopher Reeve and others.
For Williams fans and lovers of film music, this version of the Superman score is indeed Super, man.
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