Notablog

Song of the Day: The Go-Between (“Theme and Variations”), composed by Michel Legrand, was first heard in this 1971 historical drama, starring Julie Christie, Alan Bates, and Michael Redgrave. It was later re-worked by Marcelo Zarvos for the 2023 Todd Haynes film, “May December“, starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore.…

Song of the Day: Darling Lili (“Whistling Away the Dark”), music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Johnny Mercer, is a singular musical moment for Julie Andrews in this 1970 film, co-written by Blake Edwards and William Peter Blatty (yes, the novelist who wrote “The Exorcist“). The film also starred Rock…

Song of the Day: The Party (“Nothing to Lose”), music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Don Black, is heard in this 1968 improvisational comedy, directed by Blake Edwards, and starring Peter Sellers. This melodic song is delivered by Claudine Longet in the film, but with the hilarious antics going on…

Song of the Day: The Big Lebowski (“Lujon” aka “Slow Hot Wind”), music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Norman Gimbel, was originally included on Mancini‘s album, “Mr. Lucky Goes Latin,” though it had nothing to do with that television series. The music showed up later in several films, including “The…

Song of the Day: Gorky Park (“Irina’s Theme”) [YouTube link], composed by James Horner, is one of the musical highlights to this 1983 mystery, starring William Hurt, Lee Marvin, Ian Bannen, Brian Dennehy, and Joanna Pacula as Irina. The film is based on the 1981 novel by Martin Cruz Smith.…

Song of the Day: Rear Window (“Lisa”) [YouTube link], composed by Franz Waxman, is an original cue from the wide-ranging soundtrack to this voyeuristic, suspenseful 1954 thriller (one of my all-time Hitchcock favorites). The film stars James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Raymond Burr, and the always hilarious Thelma Ritter. The soundtrack…

Song of the Day: Ben-Hur (“Balthasar”) [YouTube link], composed by the great Miklos Rozsa, has been praised for being the “gorgeous multi-thematic cue” that it is. Rozsa won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for a soundtrack that remains his crowning achievement and a cinematic milestone. The 1959 film…