Supergirl

Silva Screen Records

Music Composed and Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith

Orchestrations by Arthur Morton

Produced by Jerry Goldsmith

Release Date: 2000

     Following on the heels of Rhino's excellent release of the original soundtrack to Superman, Silva Screen releases this much desired vintage Goldsmith score. I've always been struck at how Goldsmith always seems to be on the scene to score films that try to play off the success of blockbusters that were scored by John Williams. There is this score, of course, as well as Star Trek: The Motion Picture (say what you will but it was the success of Star Wars that made it a reality) and King Solomon's Mines. 

     This being a classic Goldsmith score, all of his touches we've come to know and love are all here. The broad romantic themes, the tense action cues, and the electronic effects. While I have generally enjoyed Goldsmith's use of electronics in other scores, I was rather annoyed with them here. He uses an electronic flourish quite often to, as I take it, accompany Supergirl's flights. Some of the better electronic moments sound like they were taken straight from Star Trek: The Motion Picture (most notably in track five). After a while, the electronic flourishes started to grow on me, but I much prefer the synth style of The Mummy and Star Trek: Insurrection to what is present here. The main theme is great and sounds like a "distant cousin" to William's famous theme. Thankfully, it gets a lot of playing throughout the run of the score.

     I was disappointed in the way the CD was sequenced. Unlike Rhino's set for the Superman score, the alternate versions of some of the cues are placed right after the film version instead of having them arranged at the end of the CD. There is also a nice suite that comprises the first track that I really feel should have been placed at the end of the disc. Sequencing problems aside, the sound quality is excellent and it is a great release overall. While it may not be up to the same level as William's masterpiece, it is still a terrific Goldsmith score and a very nice release by Silva Screen. ****     

Track Listing

1 - Overture (6:07)

2 - Main Title & Argo City (3:15)

3 - Argo City Mall (0:56)

4 - The Butterfly (1:36)

5 - The Journey Begins (1:12)

6 - Arrival on Earth / Flying Ballet (5:36)

7 - Chicago Lights / Street Attack (2:23)

8 - The Superman Poster (0:52)

9 - A New School (2:13)

10 - The Map (1:10)

11 - Ethan Spellbound (2:13)

12 - The Monster Tractor (7:34)

13 - Flying Ballet  - Alternate Version (2:13)

14 - The Map - Alternate Version (1:13)

15 - The Bracelet (1:44)

16 - First Kiss / The Monster Storm (4:35)

17 - "Where is She" / The Monster Bumper Cars (2:57)

18 - The Flying Bumper Car (2:57)

19 - "Where's Linda?" (1:21)

20 - Black Magic (4:08)

21 - The Phantom Zone (3:42)

22 - The Vortex / The End of Zaltar (5:49)

23 - The Final Showdown & Victory / End Title - Short Version (12:10)

Total Running Time: 77:50