CHAPLIN
Rating: 
Original Review: Sublime and gentle, Chaplin is one of the best scores that John Barry has composed during the 1990s. The score is built around four different, but equally good themes. The Chaplin Main Theme is quiet and introspective, played mainly on a solo piano with accompaniments by violin, which at times feels as though it is about to break out into the John Dunbar theme from Dances with Wolves - this is also heard in the cues Charlie Proposes, News of Hetty's Death and Remembering Hetty; the amusing 'Chase' theme with leaping flutes and a oompah tuba, which is first heard in The Wedding Chase; The Roll Dance theme, a jaunty, comedic jazz-style jig; and the music from the classic song 'Smile (Though Your Heart Is Aching)', which was written by Chaplin and appears at various times during the album. The other cues of note are Early Days in London, which contains a rather sad set of tunes around a rendition of Penn and Fitz's whimsical song score for The Honeysuckle and the Bee; To California, a hopeful trumpet-fanfare cue; The Salt Lake City Episode, which contains music that Chaplin himself wrote for his film City Lights. Overall, the score presents an excellent ambience and is perfect easy listening - although I must add that the concluding track, a 1990s updated version of Smile performed by Robert Downey Jr, is absolutely atrocious.
Track Listing:
- Chaplin Main Theme (3:06)
- Early Days in London (4:17)
- Charlie Proposes (3:01)
- To California/The Cutting Room (3:45)
- Discovering the Tramp/The Wedding Chase (4:01)
- Chaplin's Studio Opening (1:58)
- Salt Lake City Episode (2:11)
- The Roll Dance (2:34)
- News of Hetty's Death/Smile (3:42)
- From London to L.A. (3:20)
- Joan Barry Trouble/Oona Arrives (2:15)
- Remembering Hetty (2:57)
- Smile (2:05)
- The Roll Dance (1:47)
- Chaplin Main Theme/Smile (3:38)
- Smile (performed by Robert Downey Jr.) (3:38)
Running Time: 46 minutes 45 seconds
Epic Soundtrax (1992)
Music composed and conducted by John Barry. Performed by The English Chamber Orchestra. Includes extracts from "Smile" written by Charles Chaplin, John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons, "The Honeysuckle and The Bee" written by William Penn and Albert H. Fitz and "City Lights", composed by Charles Chaplin. Recorded and mixed by Shawn Murphy. Album produced by John Barry.
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These web pages were designed and maintained by Jonathan Broxton copyright 1997. All opinions and views expressed on these pages are my own and are in no way intended to reflect those of my employer, the Trent Institute for Health Services Research, or those of the University of Sheffield.