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MAY 18, 2004
From Cinemedia Promotions
Expanded reissues of WEST SIDE STORY and A
STAR IS BORN to include previously unreleased material.
(April 8, 2004) - New York, NY – On May 18, 2004, Columbia/Legacy/Sony Music
Soundtrax will release the expanded, re-mixed, and re-mastered classic movie
soundtracks from A STAR IS BORN and WEST SIDE STORY, which together earned 17
Academy Award™ nominations.
Next to THE WIZARD OF OZ, A STAR IS BORN is Judy Garland’s most celebrated film
role, featuring the classic song “The Man that Got Away”. The musical retelling
of a 1937 drama, A STAR IS BORN was a triumphant comeback for Judy Garland,
whose career had been put on hold after her 15-year tenure at MGM, and marked
the first time she worked for a different studio. Garland and then husband
producer Sid Luft, tapped director George Cukor, composer Harold Arlen, lyricist
Ira Gershwin, and score composer Ray Heindorf for this production.
Studio heads deemed the film too long, at just over 3 hours, and demanded that
it be recut. In the process, three musical numbers performed by Garland were
deleted. Even in this truncated form, A STAR IS BORN earned 6 Academy Award™
nominations including Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, Best Song, and Judy
Garland’s only nomination as Best Actress. In 1983 historian/archivist Ron Haver
edited the film close to its original length—which is the version now available
on DVD and VHS. Today it is one of the few musicals earmarked for protection and
preservation by the Library of Congress and the National Film Registry.
Though the soundtrack has never been out of print since 1954, Sony Legacy’s new
version of A STAR IS BORN-Original Soundtrack is the first time it is presented
in an expanded format with three never-before-released vocal outtakes and a
dozen tracks of previously unreleased score music. It also features liner notes
by John Fricke, author of Judy Garland/World’s Greatest Entertainer and Judy
Garland/A Portrait in Art.
By the time the film version of WEST SIDE STORY was released in the fall of
1961, it was already a worldwide hit musical on stage. The film starred Natalie
Wood and Richard Beymer as the star-crossed lovers in this retelling of
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, set in modern-day New York City. It was both a
critical and box-office success, eventually earning 10 Academy Awards™,
including Best Picture, Director, Scoring of a Musical Picture, Supporting
Actress (Rita Moreno) and Supporting Actor (George Chakiris).
As was the common practice in Hollywood, the singing voices of the four lead
actors were dubbed. Jim Bryant offered vocals for Richard Beymer, Betty Wand for
Rita Moreno, and Tucker Smith some of the vocals for Russ Tamblyn (father of
Joan of Arcadia’s Amber Tamblyn). Marni Nixon, best known for providing the
vocals for Deborah Kerr in THE KING AND I and Audrey Hepburn in MY FAIR LADY,
did the singing for Natalie Wood.
This reissue of WEST SIDE STORY—Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the most
complete version of the music from the film. It contains the “Intermission
Music", which has never been released on CD. As an added bonus, Richard Ridge,
the host of the weekly television show Broadway Beat, wrote extensive liner
notes for this recording, which is part of the Columbia Broadway Masterworks
series.
The original motion picture soundtracks A STAR IS BORN and WEST SIDE STORY will
be in stores on May 18, 2004.
MAY 13, 2004
From Cinemedia Promotions
ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE
SOUNDTRACK FOR VAN HELSING
COMPOSED AND CONDUCTED BY ALAN SILVESTRI TO BE RELEASED ON DECCA/UMG SOUNDTRACKS
MAY 4, 2004
(New York, NY- April 28, 2004) The soundtrack for this summer’s epic
action-adventure, Van Helsing, starring Hugh Jackman, is slated for release May
4th on Decca/ UMG Soundtracks. Conducting and composing the epic original score
is Grammy-winner, Golden Globe and Oscar® nominee Alan Silvestri, whose credits
include The Mummy Returns, Forrest Gump and What Lies Beneath. The package also
includes a mini-poster and a special enhanced CD containing a photo gallery,
preview of the Van Helsing comic book, interactive game trailer and clues to
unlock the secrets behind the Van Helsing video game.
Orchestrating the score is Mark McKenzie, who has worked on several films with
Silvestri including: Lara Croft - Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, Lilo and
Stitch and The Mummy Returns. McKenzie was quoted as saying, “the themes, the
level of raw energy, color and percussion in this score are electrifying. Alan
is composing a classic thriller / action score that I believe is going to be
temped in movies for years to come." An exhilarating listen, the score captures
the excitement and suspense of the film from start to finish.
Alan Silvestri’s amazing career spans over three decades boasting over 70 film
scores since its inception. He attended Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of
Music before dropping out to join a Las Vegas band as a guitarist. He soon
relocated to Los Angeles where he where he landed a job writing music for the
television show, Chips. This led to his first major film score, Romancing the
Stone, and the rest is history. As an accomplished film composer whose credits
include some of the best-known movies in recent years, Silvestri has received
Grammy nominations for Back To The Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Forrest
Gump and won a Grammy for his Cast Away score as best instrumental composition
in 2001.
Stephen Sommers, the innovative filmmaker behind the worldwide successes of The
Mummy and The Mummy Returns, now takes audiences to an action-filled,
fantastical world, where the iconic monsters of cinema legend meet the famed
monster hunter Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman). Charged by a secret organization to
seek out and defeat evil the world over, Van Helsing is dispatched to the
shadowy world of Transylvania to terminate the seductive and undefeatable
vampire, Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh). Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale), one
of the last of a powerful royal family, is bent on avenging her ancestors and
ending an ancient curse by killing the vampire.
Joined by a common foe, Van Helsing and Anna set out to destroy Dracula along
with his empire of fear. But in challenging an enemy who never dies, Van Helsing
uncovers a secret he never imagined and comes face-to-face with the unresolved
mysteries of his own enshrouded past. Universal Pictures will release Van
Helsing on May 7th in theatres everywhere.
Also look for the perfect companion to the original soundtrack album- Van
Helsing: The London Assignment on Decca June 8th, featuring original music
composed and conducted by John Van Tongeren. The all new animated film will be
released straight to DVD May 11th.
MAY 4, 2004
From Top Dollar Publicity Services
Los Angeles - May 4th, 2004 - Inon Zur (www.inonzur.com), the award-winning composer whose game credits include SOCOM II: U.S. Navy Seals and Shadow Ops: Red Mercury, has recorded the original music soundtrack for MEN OF VALOR™, the upcoming historical first-person shooter developed by 2015 and published by Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games), on the Eastwood Scoring Stage, Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.
John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer are just a few of
the world famous composers that have scored blockbuster films including The
Matrix, Batman, Harry Potter, The Exorcist and Jaws
at this world famous studio named after Clint Eastwood. And now, perennial award
nominated composer Inon Zur has conducted and recorded his score for the
MEN OF VALOR videogame on one of Hollywood’s biggest scoring
stages.
VU Games Director of Sound Christian Johnson said, "This outstanding orchestra
and auspicious soundstage was the perfect complement to Inon’s
thoughtful, moving score."
Debbie Datz-Pyle, Music Contractor for Danny Elfman and Inon Zur,
attested, "It is a great pleasure to work with a quality composer such as
Inon Zur. This is a very exciting opportunity to bring the great Los Angeles
musicians working on major feature films into the gaming world."
MEN OF VALOR is an historical action experience that portrays
infantry combat during the Vietnam War. Combining the latest Unreal
technology with the gameplay expertise of 2015 (developers of the award-winning
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault), the game immerses the player in the
humid jungles of Southeast Asia in the most controversial conflict of the modern
era. MEN OF VALOR will ship to stores in North America in October
2004.
MEN OF VALOR Executive Producer Stephen Wickes added; "I was blown
away by the performance and can’t wait to share this music with the world when
MEN OF VALOR ships this October."
Inon Zur composes and produces award-winning dramatic music for film,
television and video games. In February 2004, Zur’s main theme for
SOCOM II: U.S. Navy Seals was honored as finalist for Best Original
Instrumental Song in the Annual Game Audio Network Guild Awards. As well,
his epic score for Icewind Dale II was nominated for 2002 Music of
the Year Award by The Game Audio Network Guild and 2002 Soundtrack of the Year
Award by Game Industry News. GameSpot described his music as "a stirring,
impressive symphonic soundtrack filled with soaring strings...Inon Zur
does a truly fantastic job," while IGN praised his talent for composing "movie
quality music." Zur has also been honored by G4 TV for excellence in
cinematic music for games and his anthemic orchestral score for Baldur’s Gate
II: Throne of Bhaal was recognized in GameSpy's Best Music Awards. Inon
Zur is managed by Bob Rice of Four Bars Intertainment.
JANUARY 20, 2004
From Costa Communications
JOHN DEBNEY SCORES
MEL GIBSON'S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FILM
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
(Hollywood, CA) Award winning composer/conductor John Debney scores for
director, producer and co-writer Mel Gibson, Newmarket Films' "The Passion of
the Christ" opening Ash Wednesday - February 25, 2004 (Soundtrack release date:
February 24, 2004 from Sony Classical). The highly anticipated and most powerful
biblical film of the 21st century stars Jim Caviezel in the title role and
Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene. "The Passion of the Christ" is a vivid
depiction of the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus of Nazareth on earth,
including his dramatic trial and death. It was adapted from a composite account
of The Passion assembled from the four biblical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John. The movie will be shown with
dialogue in Latin and Aramaic (the languages in use at the time) with English
subtitles.
John Debney conducted and recorded his beautiful and moving
score in London, with a full orchestra and choir, which captured the powerful
emotions of the epic film. The choir performed in Aramaic, with Gibson lending
his own voice to the singing and chanting.
With a full plate of scoring projects, award-winning composer John Debney is one of the busiest and most capable musicians in Hollywood. To his success, Debney utilizes both his classical training and a strong knowledge of contemporary sounds in order to easily adapt to any assignment. His most recent projects include New Line Cinema's "Elf" starring Will Ferrell and Universal's "Raising Helen" starring Kate Hudson and produced by Garry Marshall. Debney additionally scored the popular "Bruce Almighty" directed by Tom Shadyak ("Liar, Liar").
Other recent projects include last year's motion picture blockbuster "The Tuxedo" starring Jackie Chan and "The Scorpion King" starring The Rock and Kelly Hu. Debney's other projects include "Spy Kids II: Island of Lost Dreams," "The Princess Diaries," Disney's "Snow Dogs" and "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius."
In addition to his composing projects, Debney has embarked on a series of recordings of classic film scores for Varese Sarabande records, conducting works like "Superman," "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad," "Titanic" and "Back to the Future" with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.