eastwood movie music

[davytriumph]

I have always enjoyed listening to the background music in all films.  The film soundtracks of Clint Eastwood movies have been very important to me.  I was wondering what Eastwood movie music would be your favourites.  I am sorry to say that I am not very keen on Mr. Niehaus scores.
My overall favourite score would have to be "Magnum Force", what a great main theme and music throughout. Lalo Schifrins Eastwood scores are brilliant, as are Ennio`s.
Let me know what your favourite theme is and what your favourite score is.

[KC]

Unforgiven, by Eastwood and Niehaus, without a doubt.

I don't often enjoy films very much when I find myself listening to the background music ... it usually means there's too much music and not enough film. Case in point: Last summer's Road to Perdition, which I just caught up with this weekend: If the score had let up for one moment, maybe I could have been given a chance to become absorbed in the story.

KC

[philo]

I agree KC , you can sometimes feel drowned by the score . I felt the last Indiana Jones films had far too much John Williams , and Spielberg I think is one of the bigger culprits . To me it shows a lack of confidence in letting the scene play on its own . We don't need to be reminded by someone's theme coming up everytime they apprear .

On the Eastwod side of Soundtracks , it has to be the excellent Jerry Fielding and The Outlaw Josey Wales . Lalo's scores on Beguiled and especially Dirty Harry is also top drawer .
Ennio.... take your pic , I think Two mules is underrated and deserves a full listen to anybody new to the film .

Philo .

[Christopher]

I like the music to Dirty Harry about the best.

Unforgiven has a great score too.

And I can't forget High Plains Drifter either.

There is a lot of good music in Eastwood's movies, indeed.

[Brendan]

No doubt about this, Dirty Harry has my favourite Eastwood movie soundtrack..

Amazing!! Lalo, is brilliant!!

[DirtyDuffy45]

In the begining of Any Which Way you can.  Ray Charles and Clint singing Beers to you.  Love that song

[Red]

As a complete film score I would have to go with Ennio Morricone's music for The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. For me it complements the film while having many memorable moments itself.

Having said that I do enjoy most of the of the music from his films. I have a number of the soundtracks and can find something to like in all of them. I even enjoy 'I talk to the trees'!

[Lilly]

I find it hard to pick a favourite because there is so much great music in Clint's films.  Jerry Fielding, Ennio Morricone and Lennie Niehaus are all brilliant.  I agree with Red that the music for GBU is one of the best as a complete film score, and the "wah wah wah wah waah...wah wah waah" is an immortal classic.  But other films have some great individual numbers.  Among others, I like the brilliant The first time ever I saw your face by Roberta Flack in Play Misty, and Doe Eyes and the singing of Johnny Hartman and Irene Kral in Bridges.  When I'm in another mood I also like Beers To You, and I have to admit ( ) to even liking some of the cheesy tunes from Every Which Way But Loose (for some reason that line from Coca-cola Cowboy "she walked across my heart like it was Texas" makes me smile!)  Another song I really like is Clint himself singing Accentuate the positive from Midnight in the Garden; it always makes me feel happy, and I think Clint's voice sounds great.  

[Christopher]

I like the Paul Williams song, "Where do I Go From Here," from Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, and the music from Honkytonk Man, and yes, I also like the music in Paint Your Wagon.

[Brendan]

The 'Unforgiven' soundtrack was quite amazing as well. Claudias theme was great, I listen to it quite a few times a week.

Also, I enjoyed the theme to Kellys Heroes, 'Burning Bridges'. What a great cheesy song.

[ajay]

nothing comes near to eastwood speghetti westerns but music in joe kidd and coogans bluff was good as well. how come people have not spoken about coogans bluff on this board. eastwood looked great in this one.

[Hemlock]

how come people have not spoken about coogans bluff on this board. eastwood looked great in this one.

I`m sure there has been conversation or two about Googan`s Bluff but it just been a while since somebody mentioned it. ???Googan`s Bluff is great but I prefer the music in the Dirty Harry.Schiffrin did a great job.I have to confess I like his music in McQueen film Bullit even better.

[Holden Pike]

Who in the Hell is "Googan"?  Is he that Arizona bloke who gomes to New York Gity?

[badguy]

Yeah Googan's a gop who went to NY Gity to pick up a griminal...

Back to the topic though...for me it would have to be the music from Magnum Force and GBU, although I like many others.

[Hemlock]

Yeah Googan's a gop who went to NY Gity to pick up a griminal...
/quote]
Very funny
Just watched the Coogan`s Bluff(did I get it right this time?)and I still think that the film`s music is not very good.

[ajay]

well comprande! its a personal choice.music when coogan gets off the jeep and checks out the boot with navajo reservation marked is good, also the music is good at the place where people are dancing with flash lights.

[Joey]

I really like Niehaus' approach to composing music for film. Whereas some composers beat you over the head with a score that paints the emotional impact of a scene in black and white, Niehaus seems to have a more complex understanding of his craft. There's such subtlety to his compositions that you don't really notice it, it kind of blends in with the emotion of the scene.

And there's an economy to his work that really works alongside Clint's direction. You sense that Niehaus only places music in pivotal moments, where the movie would benefit from a musical accomplice to the themes/emotion on screen.

My favourite scores of Niehaus really add to the rich ambiguity of the films in which they reside: Unforgiven, Madison County, True Crime. Claudia's Theme is pure genius!

[Walt]

Fave Eastwood themes ....................

Magnum Force

Where Eagles Dare

The Gauntlet ( The WHOLE score )

Coogans Bluff

Joe Kidd

Dirty Harry

Every Which Way But Loose ( Catchy as hell )

I could go on and on , oh , and as for the worst .....anything by that 3rd grade music teacher Lennie somebody or other  

[Gant]

Man... there's just too many to choose from... off the top of my head.

All the Leone westerns

Coogans Bluff... The pidgeon toed orange peel is my kinda night spot

Dirty Harry

The Gauntlet ... That opening blues is pure class

Every Which Way.. that damn song goes through my head nearly ever day, especialy when I'm driving

Honky Tonk Man.. theres some great stuff in this...I love the whole album

Bird.. obviously


I've always been an Eastwood fan but it's only been in recent years that I've come to realise what an important part music plays in all his films.