The Untouchables (C4, Sun 12:10am) serves as a reminder of the diversity and breadth of the work of Ennio Morricone (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The Mission, The Hateful Eight). The score was nominated for the Best Original Score Oscar in 1988, but Morricone lost out that year to The Last Emperor.
The main theme of "The Untouchables," known as "The Strength of the Righteous," is a powerful and memorable piece. Its driving percussion and brass sections contribute to the tension and action of the film. This theme became synonymous with the heroic struggle against corruption.
The Nanny McPhee (ITV1, Sun 12:45pm) score was composed by Patrick Doyle (Murder on the Orient Express, Sense and Sensibility, Brave). Doyle frequently collaborates with director Kenneth Branagh who was previously married to Nanny McPhee star and screenwriter, Emma Thompson.
Star Trek: First Contact (5 Action, Sun 6:45pm) features a score by Jerry Goldsmith (Alien, Total Recall Basic Instinct). In this interview, Goldsmith talks about working on the film
Western Silverado (Great Action, Mon 1:00pm) features a score by Bruce Broughton (The Accidental Tourist, Presumed Innocent, Tombstone). Broughton received an Oscar nomination but lost out to John Barry’s Out of Africa that year (1986). There is a great wide-ranging in-depth interview with Broughton from 2023 here.
Tremors (Comedy Central, Tue 9:00pm) features an energetic score composed by Ernest Troost (One Man’s Hero, Tiger Warsaw, Miracle in the Woods) and Robert Folk (Police Academy, Toy Soldiers, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls).
The School of Rock (Film4, Wed 6:45pm) sees Jack Black tutor a secondary school class in the art of rock. The film was inspired by the legacy of The Langley Schools Music Project, an acclaimed collection featuring children’s choirs from the 70s singing covers of songs from McCartney, Bowie and the Beach Boys.
Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them (ITV2, Thu 6:25pm) opens up a new world of adventure as a Harry Potter spin-off. The score was created by James Newton Howard (The Hunger Games, Maleficent, The Sixth Sense).
Fantastic Beasts is set in the Wizarding World but in a different time and location (1920s New York), Howard incorporates familiar motifs from the original “Harry Potter” film series composed by John Williams which helps maintain a connection between the two film series.
The Invisible Man (ITV2, Fri 9:00pm) score was created by UK composer, Benjamin Wallfisch (King of Thieves, Hellboy, Mortal Kombat).
In this interview Wallfisch says he drew inspiration for the score from Hitchcock's Pyscho score composed by Bernard Herrmann.