Cinema Century 2000

Silva Screen Records

Music Composed and Conducted by Various Artists

Release Date: 1999

Purchase At

     Silva Screen seems to be anxious to insure their title as “King of Compilations” with the release of what has to be one of the most ambitious score collections I’ve ever seen. Cinema Century contains a long list of suites and title themes covering a period between 1933 and 1998 over a four-disc set. In addition, all of the music is in Hi-Def Dolby Surround. The end result is fantastic. There are some really great suites on this set in addition to the awesome sound quality, but this compilation is severally crippled by some puzzling omissions.

     This is a great set for sampling some of the classic scores from great moments in film history. From the swashbuckling heroic scores of The Sea Hawk and The Mark of Zorro, the highly patriotic and driving themes of The Guns of Navarone and The Longest Day, on up to the moving refrains of Titanic. Along the way, there are several excellent score suites. All of the tracks on this compilation sound excellent, with performances by the more than capable City of Prague Philharmonic. By utilizing all-new digital recordings, it breathes a more energetic life into classic favorites. There isn’t a synth piece in the whole bunch (though the music from Titanic has a synth choir). While the tracks sometimes jump between movies of totally different genres this helps to keep things cohesive, though it’s still not perfect. Unfortunately, there is a major problem that keeps this collection from being the ultimate compilation ever produced. Namely, where the heck are John Williams and some other classic composers? There is only one Williams track (Hymn to the Fallen from Saving Private Ryan). The very least this collection should have is the main title to Star Wars and/or Indiana Jones on disc three and Duel of the Fates or even a Hook suite on disc four. Also, the complete lack of any of Bernard Herrmann’s work is extremely puzzling.

     This is a good compilation, but the lack of some truly classic music keeps it from getting the highest rating. With just a little more time and a bit more foresight, this could have truly been the compilation of the century. ***1/2

Track Listing

CD 1

1 - King Kong - Prelude (4:05)

2 - The Adventures of Robin Hood - Love Theme (6:25)

3 - Alexander Nevsky - Entry into Pskov (4:20)

4 - Wuthering Heights - Cathy's Theme (2:55)

5 - The Sea Hawk - Suite (6:30)

6 - The Thief of Bagdad - The Love of the Princess (4:51)

7 - The Mark of Zorro - Overture (4:42)

8 - Laura (6:20)

9 - The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (3:26)

10 - War of the Worlds - Main Title / Prelude (4:57)

11 - Prince Valient - Prelude (1:53)

12 - The Caine Mutiny - March (2:29)

13 - To Catch a Thief - Suite (5:53)

14 - The Vikings - Finale (3:36)

Total Running Time: 62:49

CD 2

1 - Breakfast at Tiffany's - Moon River (3:09)

2 - The Guns of Navarone - The Legend of Navarone (2:33)

3 - El Cid - Love Theme (4:16)

4 - Dr. No - The James Bond Theme (3:02)

5 - How the West Was Won - Prelude (3:17)

6 - Dr. Strangelove - The Bomb Run (2:13)

7 - The Longest Day - March (4:43)

8 - Hatari - Baby Elephant Walk (2:26)

9 - The Sandpiper - The Shadow of Your Smile (4:15)

10 - The Thomas Crown Affair (3:28)

11 - Romeo and Juliet - Suite (7:42)

12 - 2001: A Space Odyssey - Also Sprach Zarathustra (1:50)

13 - Once Apon a Time in the West - Man with the Harmonica (3:52)

14 - Ryan's Daughter - Suite (8:59)

Total Running Time: 56:11

CD 3

1 - Summer of '42 - The Summer Knows (3:37)

2 - Last Tango in Paris (3:28)

3 - The Godfather - The Godfather Waltz (3:43)

4 - The Godfather - Speak Softly Love (2:45)

5 - The Way We Were (3:14)

6 - Papillon - Out to Sea / Main Theme (3:55)

7 - The Deer Hunter - Cavatina (3:15)

8 - Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Finale (3:58)

9 - Body Heat (4:34)

10 - Excalibur - O Fortuna from Carmina Burana (2:46)

11 - The Right Stuff - Finale (4:45)

12 - The Cotton Club - Main Theme (2:31)

13 - Jean De Florette - Theme (3:22)

14 - Lethal Weapon - Meet Martin Riggs (3:17)

15 - Batman - Suite (13:02)

Total Running Time: 62:38

CD 4

1 - Ghost - Unchained Melody (3:41)

2 - Basic Instinct - Theme (2:32)

3 - Prince of Tides - Main Title (3:50)

4 - Last of the Mohicans - Main Theme (3:14)

5 - The Bodyguard - Love Theme (3:46)

6 - Il Postino - Theme / The Bicycle (4:36)

7 - Braveheart - End Titles (7:05)

8 - Apollo 13 - Main Title (3:02)

9 - Independence Day - Finale (9:02)

10 - The English Patient - As Far as Florence / Rupert Bear (4:06)

11 - Titanic - Take Her to Sea, Mr. Murdoch (4:24)

12 - Saving Private Ryan - Hymn to the Fallen (6:04)

13 - The Mask of Zorro - Suite (6:15)

Total Running Time: 61:53