JAWS and the 10 best John Williams movie scores of all time
Hello, Islanders,
I was born in 1960, so the majority of my music purchases were actual vinyl records and CDs, not like the digital content of today. I have over 600 albums in my record collection and another 250 or so on CD. The Beatles. The Rolling Stones. Rick Springfield (don’t laugh). But the one artist whose work makes up most of my music collection is the Maestro himself, John Williams.
There are many great film score composers out there. I also have collections of soundtracks by such talented people like James Horner, Bernard Herrman, Jerry Goldsmith, John Barry and many more. But in my opinion, Mr. Williams finds a way to paint a picture with his music. I can listen to many of his compositions and tell you exactly what is happening on screen at that particular time based on the music. To me, that is an amazing achievement.
So, without further ado, here are, in my opinion, John Williams’ 10 Best Film Scores:
1. JAWS – of course. While I had bought the occasional 45 rpm single as a young boy, the soundtrack to JAWS was the very first album I ever purchased. From the ominous notes signaling the shark to the emotional highs inspired by “One Barrel Chase,” this is an album I listened to constantly after I purchased it in September 1975.
2. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND – Williams was Oscar nominated for this score, competing against himself for his work on Star Wars, which won him his third Academy Award. Not only is this an amazing soundtrack but Williams’ music is an integral part of the story, most notably with the “conversation” between the scientists and the alien mothership.
3. ET: THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL - Williams took home his fourth Academy Award for this film about an alien who finds himself on Earth with a desire to go home. If you don’t shed a tear as the music swells and ET tells Elliot, “I’ll be right here,” you may be a robot!
4. SUPERMAN THE MOVIE – The curtains open. The narration begins and then the glowing letters of the opening credits fly at you from the screen. But is the music, especially the main theme, that sets the tone for the amazing adventure we are about to embark on.
5. THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE/THE TOWERING INFERNO – I’m combining these two together because as films they stand out as among the best of the popular “disaster” phase of the early 1970s. Here Williams’ music matched and surpassed the spectacular effects taking place on screen.
6. SCHINDLER’S LIST – A most serious piece of music for a most serious film. Music sets the tone of any art it accompanies, and the music here blended in perfectly with the way director Steven Spielberg presented the story. For his work here Mr.Williams earned his fifth Academy Award. I would have loved to hear what he would have composed for Spielberg’s The Color Purple.
7. STAR WARS – Like Jaws, Williams’ Star Wars theme is recognized the world over as soon as the first few notes are played. Like many of the films he has scored, Williams work becomes an integral part of the story, taking the audience on an emotional roller coaster ride. He went on to compose the scores for all nine main films in the series.
8. JFK – If ever a film needed a great score, it is Oliver Stone’s look at the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the only trial ever brought against an accused conspirator. Full of long monologues and quick editing, the music keeps the film moving at a pace that makes it easy to take in and absorb everything being presented.
9. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK – I’m old, but not old enough to have seen the popular movie serials that played on Saturdays at the local cinema. This is a score full of adventure. And if adventure has a name, it IS Indiana Jones!
10. 1941 – A World War II comedy that many people dismiss as a flop only because it followed Jaws and CE3K and didn’t make the money those two films did. Williams captures the flavor of the music from this period and combines it with a touch of a military march to create one of his very best scores.
If you recall in my bit on Schindler’s List, I note that Mr. Williams has only received four Academy Awards, one for his work on the sound score for Fiddler on the Roof and four for his original compositions (Jaws, Star Wars, ET andSchindler’s List). You might look at this total and think, “if he’s so great, why does he only have five Oscars?” Simple. Since is first nomination in 1968, Mr. Williams has been nominated for an Academy Award an astonishing FIFTY-FOUR TIMES! In that time he was often competing against himself for the award, no doubt splitting the vote.
Did I leave any of your favorites off the list? Empire of the Sun? Jurassic Park?Home Alone? Saving Private Ryan? The Patriot? Let us know in the comments which of Mr. Williams’ scores you enjoy the most.
Words by Michael A Smith. Michael is co-author of Jaws 2: The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel. You can order the book by contacting Michael at OsFanMike@aol.com.
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