Search - Deutsch, Stromberg, Moscow Symphony Orchestra :: Maltese Falcon

A Feast For Film Fanatics!

William F. Flanigan Jr. | North Potomac, MD USA | 03/17/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the latest offering by the distinguished duo of
Messrs. Morgan (master of classic-film score restoration and
orchestration) and Stromberg (master of symphonic conducting) on
the Marco Polo label. I recommend you collect all of them
including this one (many are still in print and available from
this Web site). While few may know the name of film-score
composer Adolph Deutsch, I venture that virtually none have not
seen (many times!) or, at least, heard of THE MALTESE FALCON
(TMF). There are samples of five Deutsch film scores on this CD
with subtle variations/reflections on the music from TMF in two
other compositions. When heard without it's visual counterpart,
the music from TMF is surprisingly minimalistic in both
composition and orchestration (but after all, TMF was a Warner
Bros. low-budget programmer). Deutsch, however, has
unquestionably proven that less is much, much more. Listening to
the cues instantly evokes in the mind's eye matching scenes,
indelible scenes, from the film (and, of course, makes one want
to run the film yet again!). You probably never heard of the
other four films covered here (with the possible exception of
HIGH SIERRA, another programmer). Regrettably, these scores do
not hold up very well (while definitely pleasing to the ear, they
are just about as forgettable as the films), and certainly not as
stand-alone "concert" pieces with two notable exceptions. The
main-title cue from GEORGE WASHINGTON SLEPT HERE is one of the
most, well, arresting introductions to a film comedy ever
composed. Music from NORTHERN PURSUIT (Never seen it? Me
neither!) is Korngoldian in that it is close to a film symphony,
and an exciting one at that. Restorations/orchestrations,
conducting, performances, sound engineering, and the CD booklet
are, as usual in this superb series of CDs, first rate. Buy it!"