HAWAII (DELUXE EDITION)

Label: Varese Sarabande CD Club VCL 0403 1017
Date: 1966
Tracks: 49
Time = 110:48

2 CD set

World premiere release of original soundtrack from George Roy Hill's ambitious filming of James A. Michener novel. Bernstein ties episodic tale together with sweeping, ascending main theme. In between are passages capturing magnificent outdoor settings, clashes between natives and sailors, storms, idol worship, incest, you name it. Superb highlight: powerful minor chords herald Max Von Sydow's violent destruction of the sacred Temple of the Gods ("The Old Gods and the New"). Substantially complete score (74:56) presented in mono from only surviving master elements available. 2 CD set also features complete original United Artists LP from stereo masters (containing 11 highlights recorded for album at time of movie's original release). Slight aging of master elements for actual soundtrack compensated for by importance of content. Bullseye!