March of the Penguins

Track Listing

01 - The Harshest Place On Earth (3:56)
02 - Walk Not Alone (0:41)
03 - The March (5:22)
04 - Found Love (3:59)
05 - The Egg Arrives (2:27)
06 - The Mother's Second Journey (2:01)
07 - Arrival At The Sea (3:12)

08 - Walk Through Darkness (6:19)
09 - First Steps (3:19)
10 - The Dangers Remain (3:15)
11 - Reunited (2:17)
12 - Going Home For The First Time (4:43)

Executive Album Producer: Jim Jarmusch

Album Mastered by Leon Zervos at Sterling Sound, New York

Released by Milan Records on July 12th, 2005

Total Running Time: 41:37

Every so often documentary films of this type get released into theatres, usually to critical appeal. Thinking about how I was going to approach this film (especially since I haven’t been able to see it yet), I was wondering about why something of this nature would so captivate a viewing audience usually held at rapt attention by violence, explosions, and sex. This is an especially interesting question when one considers that nature programs are literally a dime a dozen, thanks to the handful of cable networks that specialize in that particular line of programming. I guess the appeal lies in a film that is fun for the entire family (a buzzword I know, but the easiest explanation available), and the fact that when all is said and done, there is still something to be said for going to see a 35mm presentation on a big screen (for all those breathtaking vistas that nature documentaries possess) with a nice sound system.

And for filling out that nice sound system, Alex Wurman provides us with a score that actually works better than the other documentary scores I’ve listened to in recent memory. Wurman, whose previous credits with Anchorman, Hollywood Homicide, and Play it To the Bone, has an eclectic experience that actually serves this film well. His March of the Penguins contains far more structure to it than George Fenton’s Deep Blue (a more-or-less enjoyable score, but one that just couldn’t pull it together in the end). Wurman’s music not only manages to remain pretty consistent through the forty-seven minute running time, but also stays thematically solid. The only time that the score pulls away would be in the tension-driven cue “The Dangers Remain”. It starts off with an ethnic, driving, piece that, after a while, finally drops back into familiar territory.

But there is more to this score than just consistency and a good theme. Wurman’s work, on more than one occasion, harkens back to such great composers as John Barry and Bernard Herrmann (although to a much lesser extent than Barry). This is due more to a semblance of style than anything particular rip-off. This works well in the score’s favor, as this style is rare enough that those who can recognize it are sure to enjoy the similarities like I did.

A surprising success, March of the Penguins is a score that is worth a purchase for those inclined to something a tad off the mainstream from what is commonly found on store shelves these days, but something that is still well done and enjoyable in its own right. Do yourself a favor and let those penguins march you away!