UNDER FIRE

JERRY GOLDSMITH

Rating:

Original Review: Despite being written for a fairly successful film and being nominated for an Original Score Oscar in 1983, Jerry Goldsmith's Under Fire was only ever released in Japan on the obscure Pioneer label, and has since gone on to become a soundtrack hot property, fetching up to and over $100 on the secondary market. Having finally procured a copy of it for myself, it's not difficult to see why it is one of the most celebrated and critically acclaimed Goldsmith scores of the last fifteen years.

The film stars Nick Nolte, Ed Harris and Gene Hackman, and tells the story of the Nicaraguan Sandanista revolution from the viewpoint of an American photo-journalist who just happens to be in Managua when the political upheaval begins in earnest, and who slowly becomes drawn deeper and deeper into the increasingly violent conflict. As one would expect, Goldsmith's score is full of passion and Latin temperament, but to his credit he never simply bends to the will of the usual exotic clichés. In a bold move, Goldsmith enhances the orchestra with copious amounts of synthesiser music throughout the score, but the mixture of ethnic instruments and expressive electronics never seems forced or anachronistic, instead seeming totally natural and appropriate.

There are enough themes and motifs in this score to amply satisfy at least four or five other films, and they weave their way in and out of the music so naturally and with such deceptive simplicity that the utter brilliance of it all leaves you speechless. In short, this score is sheer perfection. In a way, Under Fire is the precursor of the music Goldsmith would later utilise in similarly-themed scores such as Medicine Man, but it sounds much, much better here. The very first cue, 'Bajo Fuego', sets the standard for the rest of the album by mixing a driving string melody and a lively synth counter with the first of several refreshing acoustic guitar solos by Pat Metheny and many ethnic chimes and rattles.

Cues such as the surprisingly light-hearted 'Sniper' and the rhythmic, celebratory '19 De Julio' and 'Rafael' offer a true musical taste of Central America through Goldsmith's clever amalgamation of orchestra, bouncy synthesiser tunes and ethnic flutes, while the social and political turmoil is effectively depicted by the tragedy-laden 'Betrayal', the militaristic 'Fall of Managua', and the poignant 'Alex's Theme', written for the ultimately doomed reporter portrayed by Hackman. My own personal favourite tracks are the yearning 'House of Hammocks', the fabulous finale in 'Nicaragua', and the beautiful 'A New Love' which contains one of those glorious moments where the love theme is taken up by the full string section with such a sweep that it sends a shiver down your spine.

Anyone fortunate enough to find a copy of this score would do well to snap it up immediately. Outside of Japan and mainland Europe, Under Fire is albeit impossible to come across, which is a real shame. It means that the vast majority of soundtrack fans will never have the good fortune to experience this impressive, engrossing, beautiful score. Undoubtedly, this is one of Jerry's best ever.

Track Listing: Running Time: 44 minutes 50 seconds

Warner/Pioneer WPCP-4936 (1983)

Music composed and conducted by Jerry Goldsmith. Orchestrations by Arthur Morton. Guitar solos by Pat Metheny. Album produced by Jerry Goldsmith.


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