This talk will analyze several classic movies from two entertaining and thought-provoking perspectives. The first will unravel the powerful psychological subtexts and serious social themes that all truly ambitious film directors feel compelled to smuggle into their work. The second will decipher the crucial role the musical composer plays in aiding the filmmaker in successfully accomplishing the above task. A great film score must move the story forward while establishing and articulating the emotional mood and tone throughout the unreeling of the narrative. Using melody, harmony, rhythm and orchestration, a great movie soundtrack enhances the director’s vision in an indelibly memorable way.

REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
Directed by Nicholas Ray
Music Composed by Leonard Rosenman

PSYCHO (1960)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Music Composed by Bernard Herrmann

CHINATOWN (1974)
Directed by Roman Polanski
Music Composed by Jerry Goldsmith

2001:  A SPACE ODYSSEY
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Music Composed by Richard Strauss, Johann Strauss and György Ligeti,

THE GODFATHER 1 & 2 (1972 and 1974)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Music Composed by Nino Rota

JAWS (1975)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Music Composed by John Williams