Vertigo | Soundtrack Suite (Bernard Herrmann)

[@SoundtrackFred]

The season of love and warmth slowly steps towards us, so what could be better than focusing on one of the greatest romances in motion picture history? “But Fred, not THIS kind of romance!” Okay, okay, I get your point, but anyway… Often called Alfred Hitchcock’s peak of movie making, the thrilling “Vertigo” certainly can be counted as one of the greatest psychological motion pictures ever done. James Stewart as the retired officer Scottie and Kim Novak as the mysterious Madeleine in splendid performances really bring everything to the screen what one could wish for; the superficial and the inner obscure. While the story slightly reminds of the plot of Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s opera “Die Tote Stadt” (The dead city), which was based on Georges Rodenbach’s novel “Bruges-la-Morte”, one of the many highlights of this cinematic centerpiece certainly is Bernard Herrmann’s musical contribution. It is full of what only Herrmann could come up with to support the rather silent but twisted plot. Eventually, as we all know, during a quiet, eternity-taking climactic camera-shot, the composer came up with one of the most lustful and longing centerpieces of cinematic history; the Scene d’Amour, which is also known as “Herrmann’s Liebestod”. This time the score was not conducted by the composer, as the famous musician’s strike happened at the time in Los Angeles. While it was set to be recorded in London and conducted by Muir Mathieson, the English musicians eventually started to strike as well, to support their American colleagues - after about half of the recording was done. Thus, the project had to be moved again and being finalized in Vienna. Requested deservingly by some of you for quite some time now, this piece of movie (music) history can (and hopefully) be enjoyed here, finally!

[@colleencupido5125]

Thanks for your amusing, informative post. Hermann in many ways got his start with Orson Welles' Citizen Kane. When Welles was still working in radio, he narrated a half-hour stand alone thriller radio episode called The Hitchhiker ( guaranteed to keep you awake all night). Welles' Mercury Theatre Player Agnes Morehead gave the most riveting performance in radio history with the debut of Sorry, Wrong Number. Both these scripts for two of the scariest radio episodes ever were written by the same woman, who would become Mrs Bernard Hermann

[@colleencupido5125]

Soundtrack Fred: Thanks for the heart! I subscribed months ago when I first discovered your channel, and have made periodic visits. Just now I looked at your channel's available music offerings. In a single stroke you just became my favorite online internet site. I have seen a Huge number of those movies, and just celebrated my 55th birthday 2 weeks ago. I truly did not believe there was anything like your channel out there. Surely fans of those kind of film scores are no longer among the living? These Are My Favorite Movie Scores. Put quite simply, are you a ghost?

[@SoundtrackFred]

@@colleencupido5125 Hello Colleen and thank you so much for these very kind words. I really appreciate them! I wouldn't say that I am ghost, nor the people, who are listening to those great scores (which makes me very happy to see!). I guess we all have some good taste in common. :-) Best to you! Fred

[@MrRbjunior83]

Absolutely brilliant! Total masterpiece!

[@morlock2086]

I'm gonna have fun with this one! Herrmann and Hitchcock at their finest in this tale of obsession. The history behind the score is interesting. Multiple listenings required! Thanks Fred, you have brightened my Friday and my whole weekend (working from home).

[@westminster860]

One of my favorite films. Favorite actors. Score really makes it.

[@juanitovaccaro692]

Best soundtrack for the best movie of all time. Two masterpieces!!!!

[@ELHIPPO]

Herrmann is a master

[@rickytoddbotelho9555]

One of the best scores ever produced to one of the greatest movies ever made ✨️

[@aimhigh6178]

I am obsessed with this movie and the soundtrack. Score by a genius and Director a genius. Kim Novak at the height of her beauty and James Stewart at his very best. What a privilege to watch this masterpiece.

[@christophersummitt850]

As I'm sitting here working for long hours transcribing photo indexes for the Boeing archives, I just want to thank you again for all the work you do in prepping and setting out these classic scores. It makes the work much less tedious! Grat music! Thanks again! Christopher Summitt

[@jamesmonroe7903]

The best film Alfred Hitchcock ever made and the best music Bernard Hermann ever composed for a film-What a winning combination! Pure genius!👌

[@arvindbaradwaj3783]

The greatest soundtrack in the entire cinematic history without a second.

[@johnharris721]

It is Bernard Hermann month on Turner Classic Movies

[@marlenemeldrum7382]

Brilliant Score!!! One of the best Films ever made with the incredible Music from Mr. Hermann...The Music Score from Psycho is just as brilliant as Vertigo.... Enjoy ✌️🕊️

[@rich-ard-style6996]

Such wonderful Music . Cannot stop it listening every single note.

[@colleencupido5125]

Surely in the running for the best film score ever-NO! Blast it, this IS the greatest film score ever, PERIOD! And I am devoted fan of the great film composers of cinema history, including the best living example, Maestro John Williams. But Bernard Hermann's scores that are even non-Hitchcock: The Day the Earth Stood Still, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Cape Fear, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Taxi Driver- this guy has LEGEND written all over him.

[@timgarrett203]

Love this! Thank you!

[@dionnegonsalves8188]

Obsessed with the obsessive undertone, stirs the imagination from toe to top! sinister somewhat too!...

[@KAH5371]

Thank you, Soundtrack Fred, for another masterpiece suite! I love all your suites, but what I love most is the background information you about the original soundtrack you give us. I love reading and learning about the making of the music and the composers. Thank you! Wishing you a Merry Christmas! Looking forward to more amazing soundtrack suites in 2021. 🥰☮️

[@SoundtrackFred]

Hello Kim and thank you so very much for this delightful comment and those you made before. They are always a pleasure to read! Next year we will continue the journey through the world of film music, of course. :-) Have some great holidays! Fred

[@ThomasMcintosh614]

Fred, I am coming here just after listening to your TIME MACHINE suite, I dont know how you do these suites but they are brilliant and give us just what we need

[@stewarthanson1293]

Masterpiece.

[@Richard-b5r9v]

Such scary music with the intrusive big brass sounds depicting the fog Horns

[@victornovaes6431]

Uma excelente trilha sonora para um filme cheio de camadas.

[@ThomasMcintosh614]

Fred, you missed out the bit Madeline plunges into the bay!!! That is the bit that makes my speakers nearly explode lol

[@SoundtrackFred]

So sorry, but maybe that was the reason for this decision (I really can't remember, but probably...). :-) Best! Fred

[@billiee376]

Fabulous thak you

[@12classics39]

This is how it’s done.

[@maxlinder5262]

Makes you want to fall in love with Death.....

[@JT-rx1eo]

Hitchcock's movie music: #1: Vertigo. #2A: North by Northwest. #2B: Diegetic music from Rear Window.

[@richardwilliams473]

Talk about SCARY music !!!!

[@CarminePrimavera65]

Assoluta meraviglia

[@miltonabbiati7598]

Seduzione, ossessione, inganno e destino fatale

[@tsf5-productions]

Along the many cinema film composer, Bernard Herrmann composed...this and "Journey to the Center of the Earth" are my top favorites. Herrmann is my top favorite composer. It's a shame that there wasn't a few more of the 1950's style Hitchcock movies in the 70's and, mostly, that Hermann died in his mid 60's ( December 1975). This original version music score of 1958 was done a lot better by The Royal Scottish National Orchestra [1995; Joel McNeely; Varese Sarabane Records] is way better in everyway. ( That same orchestra, conductor, and record company did also the update of "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and it's a lot better, too. )

[@colleencupido5125]

If you look at the booklet notes, director Brian de Palma was counting on Bernard Hermann to compose a score for his movie The Fury...unfortunately, he couldn't get Hermann back from the Other Side. So he turned to John Williams, who composed his greatest score that is not well known. Even famous movie critic Pauline Kael, who usually didn't write much about film music, flatly stated the Williams' score for The Fury was outstanding ( too bad the same can't be said of the film) Listen to it in a dark room with a single candle 🕯️ burning and scare yourself silly!

[@nicolasaccotelli5083]

Capolavoro assoluto

[@benbo250]

bad audio starting at 10:27

[@Fanfanbalibar]

THERE IS A PROBLEM: THE WHOLE VERTIGO SOUNDTRACK LASTS ONE HOUR SO WHY 15 MINUTES?????????

[@grahamwilson1000]

Soundtrack Suite.

[@williamdunphy352]

A Paramount Release. In. VistaVision. Motion Picture High Fidelity.