Search - Michael Weiner :: Man of the Century (1999 Film)

Great Jazz-Age Retro Score!

Renee C. Mulhare | MA United States | 08/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the things I loved the most about "Man of the Century", aside from the clever writing and the excellent performances turned out by the cast, was the excellent soundtrack, mostly composed of Jazz Age period music, with some Jazz Age inspired original music composed by Michael Weiner, excellently reflecting the spirit of that era and the innocent, exuberent nature of the film's hero. A lot of the cuts are fairly short, but some are used several times in the film (which was only 80 minutes long, in effect you get the entire score on this one disk). Sound quality is top notch, and the CD booklet includes an excellent essay about the film and its music.*Overture (Main Title)/Rising in the Morning -- Scored for solo organ, it harks back to the silent film era and the in-house organ players in movie theatres of that age.*Newspaperman in Manhatten -- Johnny Twennies's theme (a jazz-band version of the "Overture").*The Library Opening -- the music you hear playing over the menu on the DVD, the real theme to this movie: Vibrant and upbeat. Great to dance to!*Aria di Biciclette -- Virginia's theme, simple but sweet, like the damsel in distress it portrays.*"Dancing in the Dark" and "Mississippi Mud" -- two period songs performed in the film by Lester Lanin and his society band (The songs also appear on the record "Lester Lanin at the Mardi Gras Ball"; a copy of this very record is visible in one of the record store scenes in the movie!).*"Once I Loved" -- A 1960s-era jazz piece, modern enough to serve as a love theme for the very modern Samantha.*Sad and Dejected -- Johnny's theme, slower and rescored for clarinet and piano.*Bedtime for Johnny -- A tender, innocent piece, one part lullaby, one part serenade.*The Return of Tyrus and Squibb -- A theme for the two hare-brained thugs on Johnny's tail.*Egyptian Corridor -- This underscores the first of Johnny's two "Walter Mitty"-like dream sequences, where he sees himself skulking through a dusty passageway in a pyramid.*"You Were Meant for Me" -- An impromptu period number for Johnny and the gang in the music shop, featuring Gibson Frazier (granted, his voice is a bit novocaine-jawed and he strains a little at the high notes, but he makes up for it with energy and expression.).*"Diga Diga Doo" -- (My favorite cut) A period recording with The Mills Brothers backed by Duke Ellington's orchestra, underscoring the staircase-climbing montage.*Only When I Cry -- The most modern-sounding piece of all, generic piano-solo movie music, but it works well for the scene after Johnny rescues Virginia from a dirty old man.*Look Who's Stalking -- Reminiscent of Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing", Johnny on the hunt for the mysterious Elijah Pitt .*"Juanita" -- Another period song, from the "opium den" portion of the second "Walter Mitty" sequence.*The Streets of Shanghai -- Underscores the second of the daydream sequences, with Johnny confronting Chinese thugs in an alleyway.*"Merry Widow Waltz" -- another cut with Lester Lanin's orchestra.*"Nagasaki" -- a "wicky-wacky" period song, performed in the film by the legendary Bobby Short*Modern Day Johnny -- A highly expanded and ornamented version of Johnny's theme, and a great end piece for a great film.*The Twenties are Here to Stay -- Not a period piece, but it sure sounds like one, and the simulated slightly tished-up 78 record sound heightens the effect."