Search - Dave Grusin :: Yakuza

Finally, after thirty years of waiting!

Wayne C. Rogers | Las Vegas, Nevada United States | 01/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I saw the movie, The Yakuza, at the theater in 1975, it became my all-time favorite film. Robert Mitchum and Ken Takakura brought life to their characters in a way that combined the best of American and Japanese cultures, showing us what the true essence of friendship and obligation really means. Dave Grusin, who composed and conducted the musical score, created a blend of Western and Eastern melodies (using the oboe, brass flute, piano, guitar, and strings) that captures the atmosphere of the movie in each dramatic scene, yet manages to stand by itself with its sense of romance and nostaglia. It's taken me over thirty years to finally find the soundtrack and the wait was well worth it. In all, there's seventy minutes of music from the movie on the CD, and it brings back the wonderful memories and magic that the film has held for me for over half of my life. Few people are able to say that they have one true friend that they can depend on in life and death. The Yakuza explores that theme in both film and music. Highly recommended to fans of the movie."