Search - Elmer Bernstein :: Desire Under the Elms

The 1958 Paramount Picture, Desire Under the Elms tells the story of Ephraim Cabot (Burl Ives) as an incredibly vigorous old farmer. His mistreated sons hate him especially the youngest, Eben (Anthony Perkins), who fears that he may not inherit the highly desirable farm. Ephraim takes a young beautiful wife, Anna (Sophia Loren), who also covets the farm and puts Eben s inheritance in jeopardy. Plotting to get the farm, Anna begins her descent into treachery and, ultimately, madness. As composer Elmer Bernstein remarks in his original album liner notes, Desire Under the Elms presented him with certain intriguing and formidable problems. He had to capture not only the period feeling, but also the passion and violence inherent in the story...to draw the viewer into the deceit and treachery. Bernstein succeeded dramatically, delivering a score that was both passionate, violent, and often exciting. As Bernstein notes: If, listening to this album, one can sense some of the passion of the loves and struggles that are told in O Neill s stirring drama, then the music has accomplished its purpose. This premiere release of Elmer Bernstein's score presents the original LP program as released by Dot, in mono as recorded and is limited to 3000 copies.