My earliest memory of a classic cowboy movie is from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. For the longest time, the star cast or storyline seemed inconsequential as I only recognised the movie by its signature tune that played every time a gunfight was around the corner. Created by legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone, this tune has gone down in history for its association with a good ol' spaghetti Western. Have a listen below as the orchestra led by Morricone recreates this unforgettable tune...
Another instantly recognisable tune is that from the Bond series. While the actor playing Bond has been changed several times over, the Bond tune has remained the same over decades, barring some modernisation. The tune was first composed by John Barry for the film From Russia with Love and has made reappearances in several Bond movies that followed.
How could I possibly leave out the Indiana Jones theme tune in a list of classics? John Williams is credited with composing this tune and it made its appearance in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Williams is a multi award-winning composer who is also responsible for memorable soundtracks such as those from ET, Star Wars and more recently, Harry Potter. Needless to say, this theme is now part of popular film culture.
Quentin Tarantino is responsible for several blockbuster films and his soundtracks have also become a part of popular culture. Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bill series all had tracks that added to Tarantino's visual imagery. Bang Bang from Kill bill (originally by Nancy Sinatra) and Jungle Boogie from Pulp Fiction are the more famous tunes from his films. Apart from the songs per se, this track seems stuck in my head as being part of Pulp Fiction.
Closer to recent times, the main theme from Mission Impossible was the most downloaded ring tone showing mass appeal. The single from Limp Bizkit was a hit worldwide and being part of a movie blockbuster only added to its popularity. This super spy flick raked in the box office and the theme only added to its uber cool effect. Of course, having Tom Cruise in the film has its own added benefits!
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