Here is Poledouris in his more intimate, romantic mode in music for a film which
has yet to be seen in America and the UK. It is about a boy and his rehabilitating
relationship with a huge, beautiful Shire horse, Amanda, after the boy who lives
with his father on a Montana ranch, looses his confidence following a riding accident
that threatens his sight.
There is something of the quality and magic of Poledouris Emmy-winning score for
Lonesome Dove here. Amanda gives Poledouris the opportunity of writing a quite varied score.
There is the heroic material for the stories of knights of old that the enigmatic stranger,
Seven (owner of Amanda) tells the young boy, Biddle. There is grand sweeping music for the
grandeur and beauty of the Montana landscape. And there is lighter material for the
Biddle's joy and optimism that contrasts with sadder figures for cues such as "The Glasses"
and "Biddle to Barn". Yet there is also conveyed a real sense of accomplishment and
triumph as Biddle experiences his return to the saddle.
As usual, Poledouris's writing is sensitive and assured with many imaginative harmonic
twists and interesting and colourful orchestral colourings. Well worth investigating.
Ian Lace
Paul Tonks adds:-
Horsy tales sure seem to offer a composer something. The scores to Black Beauty
(any version), The Horse Whisperer, and Running Free have all elicited something
special in their music. Poledouris hasn't broken the trend. This is a warm and
affecting piece that can only hint at the quality of a movie we're unlikely to see.
The theme for the young boy of the tale is the gentle heart of the score. There are pleasingly
diverse variations presented (nicely highlighted in the liner notes), but as memorable as it might be,
the album has a bigger Ace in the hole.
Split into 4 "Parts" is "The Story" told by the enigmatic blacksmith Seven.
Each of these segments is defined by an exciting stylistic departure into the sort of medieval
frolicking Poledouris is renowned for courtesy of Conan The Barbarian. Brass and percussion
whip up the swirling adventure also characterised in The Hunt For Red October. After its fourth
and last "Part", you'd be forgiven for momentarily thinking the following
"To The Rodeo / Biddle Accepts" had segued into some Golden Age Western.
An almost lost treasure, Prometheus are to be congratulated on their care and savvy in rescuing it.
Paul Tonks
OST
