Search - Alex North :: The Shoes of the Fisherman [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

Brilliant, the kind of movie music nobody writes any more

James Luckard | Los Angeles, CA | 06/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I picked this up used after reading numerous rave reviews, and boy am I glad I did. Alex North is considered one of the greatest film composers, and his "Cleopatra" score is one of my first movie music memories.



This album presents the complete score to "Fisherman," which is filled with memorable themes and gorgeous orchestrations. Apparently North used elements of his score for "2001," which was rejected by Stanley Kubrick, in this film. It's a highly entertaining listen and displays a playful ease with the sounds of the orchestra that reminds me of John Williams at his best.



The sound can best be described as "Spartacus" meets "Doctor Zhivago." There's a heavy Russian influence, since that's where the film's Pope, played by Anthony Quinn, comes from. The epic music for the Vatican is powerful and stirring without feeling corny or lapsing into stereotypical "religious" sounds.



As if that's not good enough, the second disc also has the complete soundtrack album to "Where Eagles Dare," which I thoroughly enjoyed too."

Beautifully packaged, masterfully engineered, a truly rare g

Pete | North America | 01/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Shoes Of The Fisherman was a wonderful film set at the height of the cold war between the Western nations and the Soviet Union. The film shows us a planet on the brink of war and chaos. China is headed towards starvation, and the world's superpowers are ready to engage in a battle that will mutually sure their own destruction. From the tumult emerges a Pope who aims to bring peace. And the film's climax should be a lesson for today's leaders about finding the courage to love and care for others regardless of the cost. The Shoes Of The Fisherman was wonderfully acted and shot. with a cast including screen legends Anthony Quinn, John Sir John Gielgud, and the great Sir Laurence Oliver. Add to this a moving soundtrack by Alex North and you have a near perfect film. I never thought that I would ever see this soundtrack on CD but here it is! And the producers have thrown in a couple of other scores by North as well. Probably the best piece in this collection is the 'Coronation' scene's music. It truly sounds as though it was written for the crowning of a Pope. It also reminds me a bit of the music of John Tavener.



One of the nicest features of this two disc set is the packaging and appearance. each disc is a 'picture disc' with different image of Quinn as Pope Kiril on each CD. And the liner notes contain all sorts of information and colour photos of the film. I wish all my favourite movies of this era (or any era for that matter) were given this sort of attention.



You may also notice on this 2-CD set that it is a limited edition of only a few thousand copies, making it a genuine collectors item. But if you miss out, fear not. works this great always find their way pack into reprinting. I think that will be the case with this glorious soundtrack to one of the greatest films of this genre."