Patton / The Flight of the Phoenix

This two-on-one CD from the 20th Century Fox archives features the first-ever release of one of Jerry Goldsmith's most famous soundtracks, plus a little-known gem by the underrated Frank DeVol—all in stereo.

This two-on-one CD from the 20th Century Fox archives features the first-ever release of one of Jerry Goldsmith's most famous soundtracks, plus a little-known gem by the underrated Frank DeVol—all in stereo.

Jerry Goldsmith's Patton (1970) is, by any standard, one of the most moving, effective and memorable film scores ever written. A model of economy and judicious spotting, the score clocks in at little more than a half hour in length, yet its brilliant musical definition of General Patton and stunning evocations of both the glories and horrors of warfare give it the stature of an epic work. From the jaunty Patton march to the echoplexed trumpet triplets that conjure up the ghosts of an ancient, martial past, to eerie depictions of the film's desolate battlefields, this is an unforgettable effort. Previous LP and CD releases have all been re-recordings; this release presents Goldsmith's original score as recorded for the film, with the original echoplexed trumpets fully intact.

The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) is a superbly acted adventure film from Robert Aldrich, director of The Dirty Dozen, about a cargo plane that crashes in the Sahara desert, and the desperate efforts of its passengers (led by pilot Jimmy Stewart and an eccentric German engineer played by Hardy Krueger) to construct a flyable aircraft out of the plane's wreckage. Veteran composer Frank DeVol's rousing, kinetic score launches the action with a thrilling, staccato main title, afterwards supplying music which carefully delineates the film's sharply drawn conflicts and the characters' unified struggle against the encroaching threat of the desert. Everything leads to a nail-biting climax that marks a high point for both the composer and director Aldrich.

A classic Jerry Goldsmith treasure (complete score: 35:53) plus an obscure, highly enjoyable Frank DeVol adventure work (40:31)—both remixed from the Fox vaults and lovingly presented on one CD. The 16-page booklet features stills from the Fox archives and liner notes by Jeff Bond.

About the Composer

Frank De Vol (1911-1999) was a bandleader, songwriter, composer and arranger who regularly scored the films of director Robert Aldrich; two of their collaborations, The Flight of the Phoenix and The Dirty Dozen, have been released by FSM. He also wrote a great deal of music for television (including the The Brady Bunch theme) and appeared on film and TV as a character actor, such as in the 1977 series Fernwood 2 Night. IMDB

About the Composer

What to say about Jerry Goldsmith (1929-2004), the reason so many of us are soundtrack collectors in the first place? The Los Angeles native knew early on he wanted to write music for the movies, had an extensive training in television in the 1950s (starting at CBS), and went on to an unparalleled career in the movies—capable of brilliance in every genre, and beloved by his peers and fans. FSM has released as many of his scores as we could get our hands on, from classic TV work like The Man From U.N.C.L.E. to famous features (Patton) and obscure gems like The Illustrated Man and 100 Rifles...heck, make that all of them. Jerry, we love you and miss you! IMDB