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Hammett1982CD: Prometheus PCR 506
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The MovieDashell Hammett had been a gumshoe before tuberculosis forced him to change careers--whereupon he became one of the most famous american writers of the 20th century. He's most famous as one of the pioneers and masters of "hardboiled" fiction--a genre typically about tough characters on both sides of the law. This isn't one of his stories--it's a fictional story designed as if Hammett (Frederick Forest) were still a detective. A friend (Peter Boyle) asks for his help in locating a missing prostitute in San Francisco's Chinatown. I never cared much for hard-boiled private-eye stuff. It the movie ever comes on tv or is carried by Netflix, I'll give it a shot. |
The MusicI was expecting something along the lines of Body Heat--the hackneyed heavy sax jazz/blues wail that appears whenever anyone in the movies puts on trenchcoat and a snap-brimmed hat. Barry went with the small jazz combo sound, but more heavily on piano, evocative of late nights in smoky bars, talking through a booze-induced haze. The piano is evident throughout--sometimes lively and tinkly, sometimes dark and menacing. This is one of his better scores, and it's surprising to me that it took so long to be released. |
Release NotesThe soundtrack release until around 2000, when Prometheus released it as a limited edition, numbered CD. |
LinksPrometheus Records: www.soundtrackmag.com/Super Collector: www.supercollector.com/ |