The Movie Quiz 2013

[Stillhomewardbound]

I've come up with a strategy and a balm that will hopefully get us through the current R3 celebration of movie mediocrity.

Yes, much better than moaning the whole time, we can have our own fun. But first ...

Some House Rules:


No 'googling'

No jumping in with the answer straightaway if you know it - allow the discussion to percolate

And ... please add your own questions to keep the ball rolling.


So, to start of this movie quiz thread ... I have in the Library (otherwise known as the book case behind the telly!) an excellent volume by one Tony Thomas which provides an excellent picture of film music in Hollywood, from the days of the european emigrees up to the amercian-born artists. It's a great read filled with genuine insight, set alongside some great Tinseltown anecdotes.

Here's an anecdote from the book that has been, as they would say, 'redacted'.

Question is: Who are the two composers talking, and for a 'clever cloggs' clap, which is the studio they both worked for?

Cryptic clue: Dyed Yellow Skyes

[johnb]

This story was quoted in one of the programmes on R3 broadcast over the last week, though no mention was made of the studio. Unfortunately I can only remember one of the composers.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I "remember" it as being Korngold talking to Steiner (Steiner getting better, Korngold worse).

[Stillhomewardbound]

Well done Ferneyhough! Yes, Erich Korngold talking to Max Steiner when they were both working at Warner Bros. Don't forget to come back with your own question!

Next teaser: who is being interviewed here. Clue: he had a musical namesake.

[Richard Tarleton]

John Williams/John Williams?

[Stillhomewardbound]

No, not John Williams. He was before John Williams. It's a very perceptive comment he's making. There was something a little magnificent about this film composer.

[Richard Tarleton]

No, not John Williams. He was before John Williams. It's a very perceptive comment he's making. There was something a little magnificent about this film composer.

Aaaahhhh!

[Richard Tarleton]

No, not John Williams. He was before John Williams. It's a very perceptive comment he's making. There was something a little magnificent about this film composer.

Ah! Thanks for generous clue! The name had "escaped" me.

[Stillhomewardbound]

Well, there's more than one way to kill a mockingbird!

Yes, currrect. Elmer Bernstein, composer of scores for The Magnificent Seven, The Man With the Golden Arm and The Great Escape amongst others.

Next question:

William Walton's score for The Battle of Britain was rejected by it's producers who then asked Ron Goodwin to give them a score along the lines of his catchy '633 Squadron' theme. So, why was a significant portion of Walton's score still retained for the final segment of the film? And it was certainly not for reasons of discernment.

[Tevot]

Well, there's more than one way to kill a mockingbird!

Yes, currrect. Elmer Bernstein, composer of scores for The Magnificent Seven, The Man With the Golden Arm and The Great Escape amongst others.

Next question:

William Walton's score for The Battle of Britain was rejected by it's producers who then asked Ron Goodwin to give them a score along the lines of his catchy '633 Squadron' theme. So, why was a significant portion of Walton's score still retained for the final segment of the film? And it was certainly not for reasons of discernment.

I think I know this. Laurence Olivier (who played Hugh Dowding in the film) was a friend of Walton. Olivier threatened to disassociate himself from the film / have his name taken off the credits unless some of Walton's score was retained...

Best Wishes,

Tevot

[Stillhomewardbound]

Very much so, Teviot. Walton had scored both Henry V and Hamlet for him and his music was very much part of the fabric of those very successful films.

As for Battle of Britain, the casting of the great Sir Laurence Olivier was a big coup for producers, United Artist, so he well had the clout to put his foot down and did indeed threaten Harry Saltzman that he would hav ehis nmae removed from the film.

NEXT QUESTION:

Who was the unknown Elliot Carpenter and who did he play for at the White House?

[Alain Maréchal]

I cheated, so I'm not going to answer that one.

But: What was Lord Byron's connection with William Hogarth? (Its a film quiz, remember!).

[Stillhomewardbound]

Is it a Charles Laughton connection?

[Alain Maréchal]

Is it a Charles Laughton connection?

No.

[Stillhomewardbound]

Leslie Howard?