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The Best Music in Film
Lewis Gilbert
(Reach for the Sky, Alfie, Educating Rita)
- S&S: What is your favourite film soundtrack music and why do you like it so much?
- "My favourite film soundtrack is almost a tie between the Preminger film Laura (1944) and the Italian film Death in Venice (1971). I have chosen two because although completely different - Death in Venice having the 2nd movement of Mahlers 'Symphony No 5' and Laura which had a romantic pop theme - I loved both these scores. However, if you were to twist my arm, I would vote for Death in Venice for reasons given below."
- S&S: In what ways does music best enhance a film?
- "Film music is another weapon in the armoury of the director. The score should inevitably have a strong theme which reflects the mood of the film either in a leading character or the action of the film. Thus any form of music from symphonies through pop to synthesiser can be used. Music is more powerful when it is used sparingly and should never be used when it is thought to enhance a poorly written or badly played scene. This is something to be avoided. Sometimes natural sounds are more effective than music."
- S&S: What is the most effective sequence of music in your own films?
- "This is a most difficult question for me to answer as I have directed some 40 films and worked with some of the greatest living composers. I can only hope that I practice what I preached earlier. If I have to choose it would be the sequence from Reach for the Sky (1956) where Douglas Bader is learning to walk after having lost both his legs in an air crash."