Herbert Stothart scores - WATERLOO BRIDGE (1940)

Although his style of scoring is rather lightly dismissed by some critics in comparison to that of some later MGM composers and orchestrators, Hebert Stothart's (1885-1949) adaptation and scoring of the background music in THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939), much of which he actually composed, is still considered a masterpiece. It won Stothart his only Oscar.
This is only a clip of his Oscar-nominated score to WATERLOO BRIDGE (1940), containing the opening titles music and first incidental music cue of the film's score.
www.imdb.com/name/nm0006307/

[@ruthiehenshallfan99]

I saw this movie early this morning (1/12/14). I was moved to tears by this beautiful movie! Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor were fantastic! The score was moving! Thank you for posting this!

[@maryhooper786]

This is a masterpiece. My tears fall

[@MTknitter22]

MGM made some of the BEST films and this was one of them

[@robertomangione1596]

Uno dei film più belli di tutti i tempi...bellissimi robert taylor e vivien leigh....coppia perfetta❤😂

[@willielee47]

it's absolutely wonderful to hear a bit of his score...I maybe somewhat biased...Herbert Stothart was my father...

[@tianzhang1294]

I'm so glad that there are still people like you who recall the old days :)

[@jpowell9830]

constance bongi your dad was amazing. I found out about him when he co-scored with Ernesto Lecuona Cubas notable composer on a 1932 MGM movie. The Hollywood Bowl featured Lecuona when a guest in the audience came onto the stage It was George Gershwin. His first trip to California to do a movie. While I was in Havana doing research I was given a Lecuona letter dated 1932 about the Hollywood experience. I presented it to John Mauceri. The conductor for the Millenium program at the bowl. I was a consultant for that event.

[@josephcarlbreil5380]

Why be biased? He was still a 'hack' composer. Sorry.

[@uniculCSM]

@@josephcarlbreil5380 If you make statements like this, you should come with proofs. Too bad that you don't have any, neither they exist...

[@josephcarlbreil5380]

@@uniculCSM Contact The Harry Fox Agency to request cue-sheets for the film. These will prove that other composers 'ghosted' for Stothart.

[@user-fx7nq9jc1i]

Que filme inesquecível era filme preferido do meu pai.😘🙏

[@astralagosto]

I wish MGM would release a soundtrack of his scores. They are very beautiful. I love his orchestration to the Wizard of Oz and his score to Mrs. Miniver.

[@mtoscani]

One of his best scores!

[@tianzhang1294]

This is very amazing, thank you for this

[@duanelarue6292]

Great movie

[@rosebud8175]

You can hear part of this in ‘Homecoming’ 1948 Clark Gable and Lana Turner

[@whatevs3882]

One of my favourite parts of the Waterloo Bridge is the choir music when Roy and Myra visit the vicar- anyone know if this was a Stothart composition or an exisiting hymn?

[@janebailey2264]

Wonderful score...love it

[@johnruffner6409]

Wonderful movie / score

[@adititida]

Does anybody know the song that plays when Myra hugs Kitty and then goes to the bridge at around 1 hour 8 mins into the movie? I've been trying to look for it everywhere but to no avail :( it's a hauntingly beautiful tune and I've heard it somewhere else too

[@user-qm7mu4hj2i]

this is reallove

[@Lincoln2000]

At 3:53 a part of the soundtrack begins who is repeaten sometimes throughout the movie. I know that there is a non-english version of this melody with some text sung over it. Is there any full recording of that melody (with or without singer)?

[@HassoBenSoba]

Herbert Stothart managed to capture something unique and magical in his music, whether he was using another composer's basic material (as in "The Wizard of Oz") or writing his own. The "lucky charm" cue beginning at 3:53 in the scene above is PURE Stothart at his very best. Check the church choir rehearsal scene with Halliwell Hobbs in this same film, when the young lovers go to be married; Stohart's upbringing in the church serves him well. Unbelievable gorgeous, moving music.

[@RossCompose]

Here he briefly borrows a theme from the Tchaikovsky's ballet, Swan Lake, a film music technique often used during this period. (Also very appropriate here). Stothart had a unique personal sound, somehow always very poignant. I love his work and can always recognize it. I love the Main Title to National Velvet.

[@lindamussa8894]

Do you know the name of the song when he's holding the good luck charm?

[@astralagosto]

It could be that he scored every Greer Garson film at MGM since she was at MGM most of her career.

[@riversidefan2]

Herbert Stothart continues to be a favorite of mine. I know his music is considered corny by today's standards but his music delivered more emotion to the audience than a thousand Max Steiners. I've heard he was Louis B Mayer's favorite composer and he was given all the big MGM films. I'm glad. National Velvet, Mrs Miniver, Wizard of Oz were all great but Waterloo Bridge may have been his best. There isn't much in the script where the two leads fall in love, but the music playing while they dance in an ever darkening nightclub puts it across. Nobody ever had sweeter violins at his control than Herbert Stothart. I think he lived on Mesa Rd. in Santa Monica canyon.

[@josephcarlbreil5380]

A hack composer, who could not read music. Other composers 'ghosted" for him.

[@pikkukari]

I love AULD LANG SYNE Forever.

[@lindacornetti7890]

The woodwinds in this arrangement are just outstanding. I've never heard an arrangement I found more moving.

[@562392]

Auld lang syne

[@562392]

Auld lang syne

[@ritacolledani6641]

In italiano prego

[@josephcarlbreil5380]

Stothart was a hack, who could hardly read music. He engaged 'ghost' composers to contribute to those scores credited to him. A case in point is that for "Mrs Miniver", much of which was composed by Daniele Amfitheatrof [uncredited].

[@uniculCSM]

Can you put some sources? Where do you have this info?

[@uniculCSM]

@Barbara Mulvaney strange thing is, I saw other people say this about him on youtube, which logically appears inexact, because he had quite an unique style, that coulndn't be developed by copying other compositions, or hiring other composers to do his work, as some say! Therefore, this kind of comments are only fake news, and also bad intention!