Search - Jerry Fielding, Johnny Alfred Mandel, Johnny Mandel :: Point Blank [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

Two composers

William R. Nicholas | Mahwah, NJ USA | 03/26/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Film scores are a tricky business: How do you write music that is compelling without having it overwhelm the story. This CD has the scores of two film, Point Blank and Outfit, by Johnny Mandel and Jerry Fielding, respectively.



Of the two, Fielding is with no doubt the more agressive. His score here is funky and propulsive, where Mandel uses a more atmospheric approach.



I saw Point Blank, a pretty good action film from 1968, and bought Mandel's score based on what I heard. I found that what works as film music-made to enhance visuals-doesn't always translate well to a night of listening, no pictures, at 50 watts per channel. The music is simply too incidental to resonate.



This is a pitfal I often encounter with many film scores. I am not citizising Mandel's work. This music was made to be subtle, and he did his job. (I am sure no one in 1968 thought there would be a nitche market for this material 40 years later.)





Fielding's score does work on its own, with lots of early 70s flutes and percussion, and tention and release. There are also some vocal numbers that are smualtzy, but do have a late 60s, early 70s AM charm.



Interesting but not essental.

"