The Best Music in Film

Simon Fisher Turner

(Composed the music for many Derek Jarman films, including Caravaggio, The Last of England and The Garden, and recently Mike Hodges' Croupier and I'll Sleep When I'm Dead)

S&S: What is your favourite film soundtrack music and why do you like it so much?
"Favourite soundtrack at the moment The Jungle Book (1967). Wonderful story/great musicians/wonderful songs/beautiful score."
S&S: In what ways does music best enhance a film?
"I think if you come out of the cinema and say to yourself, "that was a wonderful film", then hopefully we've done a good job. Music for me these days should enhance invisibly. I'm a fan of the simple tune, or a memorable sound, i.e. The Third Man (1949) score, the zither is the film, and Mr Welles' character. On the other hand I love György Ligeti score for 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), and was even today listening to Pola X (1999)."
S&S: Which film either has music that you wished you'd written or is one you would like to rescore and why?
"a. Punch-drunk Love (2002). b. Elephant (2003)."
Last Updated: 29 Sep 2008