30 replies to this topic

[Call Billy Bob]

While the main musical cue of the series shall always be the James Bond Theme, I have a soft spot in my heart for the alternate 007 Theme: first utilized in FRWL's gypsy camp fight and last heard during Moonraker's Amazon boat chase. I find it to be a grand theme and sadly forgotten. Would anyone else like to hear it pop up again in a future film?
 
Here it is in YOLT:

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uANFxx_4jDU

[FlemingBond]

i surely would. I'm surprised David Arnold didn't bring it back.

[AMC Hornet]

I think (and this is just IMCO) John Barry wrote '007' as his own signature tune to compensate for Monty Norman getting sole credit after their collaboration on the JB theme. So far it has only appeared in films scored by Barry, and perhaps that's fitting (again, IMCO).

[Call Billy Bob]

I think (and this is just IMCO) John Barry wrote '007' as his own signature tune to compensate for Monty Norman getting sole credit after their collaboration on the JB theme. So far it has only appeared in films scored by Barry, and perhaps that's fitting (again, IMCO).

That would make sense. I just miss the theme - but I would totally understand if it never showed up again.

[Guy Haines]

I'd like to hear it in a future Bond film one more time, but I doubt it will be used again. It was only heard in five out of the twenty three official Bond films, all scored by John Barry. If other composers had wanted to incorporate it into their scores I imagine they would have found a way, legally, to do it, just as The James Bond Theme or parts thereof finds its way in. I suppose it just didn't catch on, not even in most of the John Barry Bond scores. Pity, really.

 

My favourite version was the one used in Thunderball for the junkanoo and the underwater battles, when it changes key again and again. A version finally obtainable on the renowned 1992 "James Bond 30th Anniversary Limited Edition" two CD - at least in part - and in full on the 2003 re-issue of the Thunderball soundtrack. A long time to wait, but worth it. I also liked the jaunty version used in You Only Live Twice - again only released in 2003 on the re-issued soundtrack.

[Call Billy Bob]

Good call on the Thunderball version. I prefer the cues heard in YOLT and Moonraker. The first, to me, captures the fun spirit of riding around in Little Nellie while the second is slowed down and leisurely (which plays in stark contrast to the boat chase taking place, a move that I feel works).

[Double Naught spy]

I'd love to hear it again too.   Unfortunately, it appears to have been long forgotten.  Heck, even the marketing folks who constantly tease us by exploiting the original theme and gun barrel logo in the films' ad campaigns seem to have forgotten it. 

 

The question is though - in the current Craig era, where would it fit?    I'm fast-forwarding CR, QOS and SF in my mind and can't come up with good spot (i.e. scene) in any of the three films where it would have worked.

[Call Billy Bob]

Off the top of my head, I can picture a travel scene. Sort of a transition from one locale to another.

[Guy Haines]

It would fit into an action scene, I think, possibly some big final battle, or a chase. As I say though, whether another composer would be inclined to use it - quite apart from any legal issues - is another matter altogether. I hope one day another composer will. (After all, Thomas Newman not only used Monty Norman's James Bond Theme for the track "Breadcrumbs" in SF, but David Arnold's arrangement of it.) I think SF would have been an appropriate film to have incorporated a piece written by John Barry, or at least based on one. Pity it didn't happen.

 

I'll give you a non-Bond example of recycling a piece of music from one film to another, by Barry himself. I have never seen the film, but I have the CD of Barry's soundtrack of  "Cry The Beloved Country", a story set in South Africa. On first listening to it, the CD reached track three, and the piece sounded strangely familiar - a slow, wistful symphonic tune, almost certainly based on Barry's theme for the 1964 film "Zulu". This arrangement crops up several times on the CD. I imagine it was the composer taking the opportunity to revisit an early backdrop, in music. Whatever the reason, it's a haunting use of a piece of music used very differently in its earlier arrangement.

[Mr_Wint]

I'd love to hear it again too.   Unfortunately, it appears to have been long forgotten.  Heck, even the marketing folks who constantly tease us by exploiting the original theme and gun barrel logo in the films' ad campaigns seem to have forgotten it. 
 
The question is though - in the current Craig era, where would it fit?    I'm fast-forwarding CR, QOS and SF in my mind and can't come up with good spot (i.e. scene) in any of the three films where it would have worked.

 
It could work as background music in chase scenes that gradually builds up.
Like the Miami Airport scene in CR. Or the chase after Silva in London underground.

[Walecs]

I'd rather have the OHMSS theme back. I understand that it was composed exclusively for that movie, whereas 007 was a recurring motif and all, but I can't say I'm too fond of the 007 theme. It works in FRWL and TB, but today it'd be - in my opinion - updated.

 

The OHMSS theme, on the other hand, is the most beautiful piece of action music ever written for a Bond movie, therefore I can't see why an updated version of it couldn't appear in a future Bond movie.

[Guy Haines]

To answer Walecs I'd say the OHMSS theme already has re-appeared, once before, in AVTAK. The track Snow Job appears to be inspired by the OHMSS theme, and versions of it appear throughout the AVTAK soundtrack. Not an exact match or replay it's true, but I'd say it's inspired by it.

[Walecs]

To answer Walecs I'd say the OHMSS theme already has re-appeared, once before, in AVTAK. The track Snow Job appears to be inspired by the OHMSS theme, and versions of it appear throughout the AVTAK soundtrack. Not an exact match or replay it's true, but I'd say it's inspired by it.

 

You're right, the "He's dangerous" theme from AVTAK does bear some resemblance with the OHMSS theme, (that's why both themes were played in the same track in the "The Essential James Bond" album) but I meant something more obvious rather than something which sounds like it.

[Call Billy Bob]

I think OHMSS would suit Craig well. A car chase or fight scene featuring it would be nice.

[Monsieur Scaramanga]

To be honest, I don't miss this theme at all.

[AMC Hornet]

I thought 'Iced, Inc' on the DAD soundtrack sounded even more like OHMSS than 'Snow Job' did. In a movie packed with nods, tributes and reworkings, I found this was one of the most welcome.

[sharpshooter]

To be honest, I don't miss this theme at all.

I enjoy the theme, but indeed, it's been gone so long I'm over the idea of bringing it back.

[SecretAgentFan]

There is only one Bond theme as most audience members are concerned, I guess.

 

The other one is one for hard core fans.  Also, it is quite a happy melody and did fit in the particular movies.  Right now, I can´t imagine it working within the current mood. 

[Call Billy Bob]

There is only one Bond theme as most audience members are concerned, I guess.

 

The other one is one for hard core fans.  Also, it is quite a happy melody and did fit in the particular movies.  Right now, I can´t imagine it working within the current mood. 

You're probably right there, SAF. Watching FRWL last week got me feeling nostalgic for that particular bit of music.

[Leo R.]

I thought 'Iced, Inc' on the DAD soundtrack sounded even more like OHMSS than 'Snow Job' did. In a movie packed with nods, tributes and reworkings, I found this was one of the most welcome.

 

In fact, according to IMDB this is supposed to be a reworking of the 007 theme. Let's just say, I can't hear it.

 

I remember,however, an early review of DAD mentions the use of 007 (possibly a 2002 re-edition of 'The Bond Files' by Lane and Simpson). Maybe it was dropped before the premiere release.

[Trip_Aces]

I was never really a big fan of the 007 Theme - it always sounded like something out of, I don't know, a cowboy film a la Magnificent Seven...BUT I wouldn't be opposed to a "reworking" of it so that it doesn't sound as hokey and so upbeat.

[tdalton]

I don't think that they should bring it back.  The franchise needs to continue looking forward, not backward.  They need to come up with something new rather than trying to bring back elements from the older films.

[SecretAgentFan]

I don't think that they should bring it back.  The franchise needs to continue looking forward, not backward.  They need to come up with something new rather than trying to bring back elements from the older films.

 

I think so, too.  Pastiche is nice and okay for an anniversary - but to be stuck in the past won´t help the franchise.

 

It probably depends on who is scoring the next films and whether that composer will stay on and develop a new theme.  However, the Norman/Barry main 007-theme will always be the most important musical element, and probably one expects it to remain so.

[Call Billy Bob]

To each his own, I guess. I'm such a sucker for nostalgia that the DB5 and M's office were my favorite aspects of Skyfall! I really do love the Craig films, but I'm afraid they're distancing themselves from the series a bit too much. Then again, I first dismissed the Nolan Batman films because they didn't use Danny Elfman's theme... so what do I know?! Haha

[Bond of Steele]

 

I thought 'Iced, Inc' on the DAD soundtrack sounded even more like OHMSS than 'Snow Job' did. In a movie packed with nods, tributes and reworkings, I found this was one of the most welcome.

 

In fact, according to IMDB this is supposed to be a reworking of the 007 theme. Let's just say, I can't hear it.

 

I remember,however, an early review of DAD mentions the use of 007 (possibly a 2002 re-edition of 'The Bond Files' by Lane and Simpson). Maybe it was dropped before the premiere release.

 

Actually, it's on the track Antonov.  Around the 7:30 mark.  It's fairly brief, but it's there.

[AMC Hornet]

I had to listen twice but I caught it - just a brief riff on the tympanies.

[tdalton]

 

I don't think that they should bring it back.  The franchise needs to continue looking forward, not backward.  They need to come up with something new rather than trying to bring back elements from the older films.

 

I think so, too.  Pastiche is nice and okay for an anniversary - but to be stuck in the past won´t help the franchise.

 

It probably depends on who is scoring the next films and whether that composer will stay on and develop a new theme.  However, the Norman/Barry main 007-theme will always be the most important musical element, and probably one expects it to remain so.

 

 

I don't even think that they should do it on an anniversary film.  IMO, the best way to make a great anniversary film is to just go out and make a great film.  The references in both Skyfall and Die Another Day were just a bit tiresome, I thought.  Best way to celebrate a milestone is to show that the franchise is still viable on its own merits and can still make its own iconic moments, instead of having to refer back to Goldfinger and GoldenEye and whatever the other popular films in the franchise are with the general public.

[Mr_Wint]

I was never really a big fan of the 007 Theme - it always sounded like something out of, I don't know, a cowboy film a la Magnificent Seven...BUT I wouldn't be opposed to a "reworking" of it so that it doesn't sound as hokey and so upbeat.

If they do bring the 007-theme back... please be faithful to the original tone and composition that the theme had. Otherwise, it is just pointless.

Michael Giacchino has been very successful with Shifrin's "Plot" theme in the last two MI movies. I'm thinking that the 007-theme could be used in the same way. Hell, why not hire Michael Giacchino to do it. His MI-4 score was one of the best things that happened in 2011!

[Call Billy Bob]

 

I was never really a big fan of the 007 Theme - it always sounded like something out of, I don't know, a cowboy film a la Magnificent Seven...BUT I wouldn't be opposed to a "reworking" of it so that it doesn't sound as hokey and so upbeat.

If they do bring the 007-theme back... please be faithful to the original tone and composition that the theme had. Otherwise, it is just pointless.

Michael Giacchino has been very successful with Shifrin's "Plot" theme in the last two MI movies. I'm thinking that the 007-theme could be used in the same way. Hell, why not hire Michael Giacchino to do it. His MI-4 score was one of the best things that happened in 2011!

 

Agreed! I'd love for Giacchino to score a Bond film.

[glidrose]

Actually, it's on the track Antonov.  Around the 7:30 mark.  It's fairly brief, but it's there.

The track is only 6:22?