THE RIVER (EXPANDED)

Expanded release of long out-of-print John Williams classic! Mel Gibson, Sissy Spacek, Scott Glenn star, Vilmos Zsigmond photographs, John Williams composes Oscar-nominated Americana score for Mark Rydell’s dramatic farming crisis film from Universal. Williams reunites with director Rydell, who successfully teamed on earlier pictures The Reivers, The Cowboys and Cinderella Liberty, each offering different musical takes on the subject of Americana. Williams provides beautifully languid yet sadly-toned main theme, typically featuring solo trumpet, to anchor tale of economic collapse of family farming industry in Tennessee during the early 1980’s that saw many farmers forced to seek employment in steel factories, pitting them in opposition to striking mill workers. Williams keeps overall grim realism in focus but finds ample opportunity to fashion bright, energetic ideas encapsulating spirit of determination that Rydell spotlights through struggles to survive of Tom and Mae Garvey’s farming family, played by Gibson and Spacek. Williams highlights several key sequences depicting the challenges portrayed but towering above all is surging, powerful “The Ancestral Home” sequence underlining and in many ways carrying climactic scene of desperate families uniting to fashion large dam built from sandbags to stem tide of rapidly rising flood waters of the titular river. Here, Williams begins with major-key motif that gradually builds thematically into massive orchestral crescendo, much in mannerism of his legendary “Leaving Home” music from 1978’s Superman The Movie. Hearing the epic peroration of this four-and-a-half minute piece, landing at its peak with Williams’ signature leading tone cadence, is a scoring highlight! MCA Records released a strong 37-minute album in 1984 of musical highlights featuring meld of original soundtrack recordings and newly recorded adaptations by Williams of his film cues. Special Intrada presentation includes re-mastered release of that classic album, plus world premiere release of full original soundtrack recording, boasting some 20 minutes of previously unreleased material. Entire project, courtesy Universal Pictures and Geffen Records/UMG Recordings, was produced by Mike Matessino from pristine masters. Matessino also contributes literate notes for dramatic booklet designed by Kay Marshall. Score recorded in August and September 1984 by Dan Wallin. John Williams composes, conducts. Intrada Special Collection CD available while quantities and interest remain!