Sad news for movie music fans...

[ealgylden]

Elmer Bernstein has passed away at age eighty-two. He wasn't a young man, and his life was a long, successful and generally happy one, but it's a tragic loss even so (compounded by the fact that we've lost both Mr. Bernstein and Jerry Goldsmith this year). He was the Grand Old Man of American movie scoring, a true Hollywood icon. He will be missed terribly, not just as a great talent of days past, but as a great talent of days present, since he never stopped composing and indeed received an Oscar nomination as recently as two years ago, for Far From Heaven (a lushly gorgeous score and my personal pick for the award, since Two Towers wasn't nominated, in which case I would have flipped a coin). His works ranged from B-grade schlock to television to sweeping melodramas to wacky comedies (including one of my favorite movies, Ghostbusters) to one of the most popular and recognizable movie scores ever, The Magnificent Seven. He won a single Oscar, for 1967's Thoroughly Modern Millie (not his best work, IMO, but that's the Oscars for you). He will never be replaced. Fare thee well, Mr. Bernstein.



(First Julia, now Elmer Bernstein! My personal pantheon is in peril. I hope all my other heroes are healthy and happy.)

Comments

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

Aw no. That makes me terribly sad. Bernstein was one of my very favorite composers - his western scores were always so wonderful, and the Mag7 theme is brilliant.

I think I'm gonna go listen to some of his stuff now. Man, that sucks. He and Goldsmith both, so close together. These things always come in threes, so now I'm wondering who'll be next.

[ealgylden.livejournal.com]

My goal is to have answered all dangling comments by the end of the week.

... Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Oy.

But yeah, it was terribly sad, even though he wasn't young and it wasn't really unexpected. Still seems unfair somehow. He's one of my faves, too. They just don't make them like that anymore. :(

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

Whee! I'm playing catch-up as well.

They just don't make them like that anymore. :(

They really don't. I miss all the old composers :(