Matrix Games Forums

We often see sometimes-spirited discussions about great war movies (or even non-war military-based movies), but if there's been a discussion of the scores in those films it's long enough ago that I don't remember it. So, just for the sake of something else to argue about (as if we need that), what are your favorite scores from war/military movies?

I'll start my nominating "Hunt for Red October." I'm a musician myself, and I can't watch this one without sitting on the sofa and directing the music as it unfolds (and I love the dominant minor 7th chord at the very end -- it even inspired me to work a similar ending into one of my own pieces).

From my money nothing beats Ennio Morricone either The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (civil war) or Once Upon a time in the West (big rail road vs little guy, not a war flick) for film scores...

side note, I think OUaTitW was the only film Fonda played a bad guy...and he played it exceptionally well.

Kevin

Star Wars

One of my favourites : Band of Brothers Suite 2 [&o]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZOJ0_sRznM

ORIGINAL: CaptDave

We often see sometimes-spirited discussions about great war movies (or even non-war military-based movies), but if there's been a discussion of the scores in those films it's long enough ago that I don't remember it. So, just for the sake of something else to argue about (as if we need that), what are your favorite scores from war/military movies?

I'll start my nominating "Hunt for Red October." I'm a musician myself, and I can't watch this one without sitting on the sofa and directing the music as it unfolds (and I love the dominant minor 7th chord at the very end -- it even inspired me to work a similar ending into one of my own pieces).

Where to start?

Col. Bogey - Bridge on the River Kwai
RAF March - Battle of Britain
Theme from "The Guns of Navarone"

Last of the Mohicans

Not sure if this meets the movie criteria: Victory at Sea

This is a very good and tight competition for inspiration.
I'll be an olde' stick in the mud, and submit this from 1415:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L38pCPk ... Pka5LQ#t=6

And I invite all who are unfamiliar with this - to watch this 5 minute prelude - Shakespeare at his best:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-yZNMWFqvM

Others have posted greatest 'scores' of war films. By body count, LoTR: Return of the King has got 'em beat hands down. That's the top scorer. It also has some pretty good music.

Of course, Warspite1's favorite war movie that also has a pretty high score is Hot Shots Part Deux. It claims to be the top scoring of all time.

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Others have posted greatest 'scores' of war films. By body count, LoTR: Return of the King has got 'em beat hands down. That's the top scorer. It also has some pretty good music.

Of course, Warspite1's favorite war movie that also has a pretty high score is Hot Shots Part Deux. It claims to be the top scoring of all time.

warspite1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVESMxs4rbA

ORIGINAL: CaptDave

....what are your favorite scores from war/military movies?

warspite1

To my mind there are two categories. One is a good resounding, memorable score that is totally in place when watching the movie - but is not something that one would listen to outside of that. Examples I would offer up in this category include the title themes from those hardy perennials of the war movie genre: Guns of Navarone, The Great Escape and 633 Squadron. Wonderful tracks that go with the films (and evoke memories from childhood) but I can't imagine listening to on the train into work.....

The second category is for pieces of music that are so damn good that one would listen to them on their ipod (or whatever one's choice of music delivery is) anytime.

Personally it is this latter category that interests me - although putting them in to some kind of order is almost impossible. So I will nominate my favourites over the coming days based on that second category.

To start with here is a track that ticks all the boxes for me. The segment of the film this piece comes from is beautifully enriched by these heartbreaking strings. Just beautiful.

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis - Ralph Vaughan Williams from Master and Commander

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5ATqp1_AF0

My next offering goes to prove that there is a place for the big title music score in the old record collection! [:)]

This wonderfully militaristic marching band piece starts the film perfectly - all those shiny He-111's!

The Luftwaffe March - Ron Goodwin(?) from Battle of Britain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1teoC2aMVtY

Ok this is the one that started this wargame :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We9RxitT_cs&t=33s

I think most of Clint's spaghetti western themes were adapted from 50's surf tunes.

Love the Great Escape! My top might be Patton.

If you have not seen it, I really enjoyed the BBCs "Our World War" three part series. Not sure of the score, I was engaged.

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Love the Great Escape! My top might be Patton.

+1 on both!
The theme from the Ken Burns Civil War series and Band Of Brothers.
633 Squadron also gets my nod, as does Twelve O'Clock High.

Great Escape for me.

Also, kbfchicago - Fonda (opposite Jimmy Stewart) in Firecreek and There was a Crooked Man (opposite kirk Douglas) played a bad guy.

Patton +1

Gallipoli Spoiler Alert

We've had sea and air - so now its time for a little land action and....

...another total tear-jerker (although not the tear-jerker - that is still to come).

The film may have had Mel Gibson in it and a juvenile anti-British slant courtesy of Rupert Murdoch, but that doesn't stop this from being a great film and a piece of music that makes a stonkingly apposite anti-war argument just by being allied to this story.

Adagio in G Minor - Tomaso Albinoni from Gallipoli

Okay, Kleenex at the ready:

Jack: What are your legs?
Archy Hamilton: Springs. Steel springs.
Jack: What are they going to do?
Archy Hamilton: Hurl me down the track.
Jack: How fast can you run?
Archy Hamilton: As fast as a leopard.
Jack: How fast are you going to run?
Archy Hamilton: As fast as a leopard!
Jack: Then let's see you do it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN5BFIHXs_I

But this isn't the only great piece of music from the film - as will be featured again, electronic music and war films can go well [:)]

Oxygene II - Jean-Michel Jarre from Gallipoli

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jCJ_iyszx8