SILVER STREAK (REISSUE)

“This is terrific!” So exclaims angry Gene Wilder after being thrown off the train. You’ll say it as well but in joy: Henry Mancini’s great Silver Streak soundtrack is now in stereo! When Intrada first premiered the score in 2002, damaged master elements prevented much of the CD from being presented in stereo. In fact, many highlights, including the main and end titles, could only be offered in mono from the composer’s personal tape. Now, with technology today allowing considerable advances in audio restoration, and with restoration wizard Chris Malone climbing aboard, Intrada is now able to present the score in stereo… main and end titles included! (Running time is no longer padded to include cues in mono.) Arthur Hiller directs this popular 1976 comedy/romance/action-thriller, Gene Wilder, Jill Clayburgh, Richard Pryor, Patrick McGoohan star, 20th Century Fox presents and audiences have tickets to a wild ride from Los Angeles to Chicago via train, auto, airplane… even foot! Henry Mancini tackles the challenge of corralling three disparate story elements into a single cohesive score, courtesy his rhythmically infectious, melodically sweeping main “train” theme, haunting love theme and exciting action music. In between these ideas are individual cues for numerous Richard Pryor antics plus dramatic cues for suspenseful scenes. Mancini creates a score as varied and flavorful as the highly successful film it’s written for! Sensationally funny, excitingly sensational script by Colin Higgins suggest wild Alfred Hitchcock ride but Mancini avoids tipping hat to Bernard Herrmann, instead writing what he does best: richly tuneful melodies, colorful orchestrations, pulse-pounding action sequences. Lengthy, exciting “Runaway Train” music is an action highlight of the composer’s entire career. As the film’s original advertising tagline states: “By plane, by train, by the edge of your seat… It’s the most hilarious suspense ride of your life!” The movie was a runaway success for 20th Century Fox. Henry Mancini was a big part of that success. Henry Mancini, Jack Hayes orchestrate, Henry Mancini composes, conducts. Fun tidbit: Early music editing gig for Ken Hall, later famously associated with Jerry Goldsmith. Intrada INT series CD. Climb aboard!