Search - John Williams :: Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

John Williams' score for Last Crusade is lighthearted, fun

Alex Diaz-Granados | Miami, FL United States | 11/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade's soundtrack recording, like most albums of the genre, has its virtues and vices. Even keeping in mind that it was released originally in 1989 in records, cassettes, and the still-new CD format, it is still an album that offers John Williams' score for the third film in the Indy series, but not enough of it.Having veered by design into dark thematic and musical territory in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, director Steven Spielberg, producer George Lucas and composer Williams decided to revisit the more fun and thrilling tones of Raiders of the Lost Ark, adding depth to Indy's character by including his father, Professor Henry Jones, Sr. and new themes reflecting the father-son dynamic and the quest for the Holy Grail.Keeping in mind the limitations of this album, the music here is enjoyable. Listen to "Indy's Very First Adventure" (track 1) and you can almost see young Indiana Jones (as incarnated by the late River Phoenix) as he goes after the Cross of Coronado in a Utah cave, then is chased as he rides first a horse, then a circus train, to get the relic to the sheriff before a band of thugs catches him. It's a very 1930s-style action key in the vein of Erich Korngold, but (and here's the rub) it is missing the segue to the conclusion of the sequence as seen in the final scene, when the rogue archaeologist places his fedora on young Indy's head, then with the appearance of the Raiders March Phoenix's face is obscured, to be replaced by Harrison Ford's as Spielberg flashes 26 years forward to 1938 and a storm-tossed freighter off the Portuguese coast.The music of The Last Crusade veers from the rollicking "Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra" (track 3 and one of the most clever cue titles), which has a recurring motif heard as underscore during Henry and Indy's adventures as they evade their Nazi pursuers. Williams intercuts that lively theme with a darker musical idea for the Nazis, which evokes an evil militaristic order (in the style of his Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back) with its minor keys and jeering brass notes. The short cue "No Ticket" (track 6), heard when Indy, dressed as a German airship crewman, punches out SS Col. Vogel (Michael Byrne) and sends him flying from the Zeppelin's window, is wryly humorous, while "The Belly of the Steel Beast" (track 10), with its suspenseful atmosphere and rising crescendos recalls Indy's attempts to rescue his dad and Marcus Brody from an enemy tank in the desert of Hatay.The famous Raiders' March is seldom heard on this CD, being briefly stated in tracks 3 and 10 and only coming to the fore in track 13, "End Credits (Raiders' March)," where it is married to the "Scherzo" and the sentimental theme for Henry. Nevertheless, for Williams' aficionados, this CD is an enjoyable one."

Williams' ULTIMATE Masterpiece

Alex Diaz-Granados | 07/14/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Legendary music composer and conductor John Williams created a magnificent and invigorating score for Last Crusade. The soundtrack is thematically rich with some of the best instrumental, spiritual and exhilarating pieces that have ever been recorded."The outstanding virtue of John Williams' gifts has always been John's selfless ability to create unprecedented sounds," Spielberg wrote after directing Amistad."The Keeper Of The Grail" theme is beautifully written as it captures the religious and saintly qualities of the sacred Holy Grail. Williams produced complex orchestrations for the dramatic high-speed chases, which included the boat and motorcycle scenes. Perhaps the best piece he wrote for Last Crusade was the compelling "Belly Of The Steel Beast" track, which was featured in the tank scene toward the conclusion of the movie. This composition was reminiscent of the prodigious "Desert Chase" in Raiders. Both music pieces represent two of the greatest action sequences in motionpicture history. In Last Crusade, Henry Jones' ankle is hanging on for dear life to Indy's whip on the edge of the tank's tread while SS Colonel Volgel Oberst is stabbing Indy. Luckily, Sallah arrived and transported Henry from the tank onto his camel. Meanwhile, Indy and Vogel were tangled together in Vogel's chain as the tank rapidly advanced to the cliff. Reluctantly, Indy wriggled out of the chain and managed to grab a hold of a protruding rock on his way down to save himself. During this whole breathtaking scene, Williams does a perfect job of painting the images onto the screen with his sensational and thrilling music."

As good as Raiders

scottie | Sintra, Portugal | 10/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"That's right! It's difficult to me to say which soundtrack is better, this captures the essence of the mov, spite not having all music. Perhaps this one could even be better than raiders having great music like scenes from the beginning or the castle. "Indy's Very first Adventure" has a mysterious beginning, but then changes to an exciting, adventure tone as the young Indy escapes with the cross of Coronado(which has a little theme too)
"X Marks The Spot" begins with a wonderful little cue for the trip to Italy by plane. Then the tone rises from mysterious notes to a bang as Indy say the title of the track.
"Sherzo For Motorcycle and Orchestra" is the scene when the Joneses escape from the Castle, being an exciting track, which introduce that cool Nazi cue (actually in the mov it appeared before!)
"Ah, Rats!!!" has a fine variation of the Grail's theme (so archeologic part!) and a big explosion in the end.
"Escape From Venice" is a nice action music, that adds a kind of greek guitars for Kazim.
"No Ticket" is one of the most adored cues, covering the part of Indy taking care of Colonel Vogel.
"The Keeper Of the Grail" has a little theme for the knight and the notes get darker as Donovan makes his choice.
"Keeping Up With The Joneses" is a mix of variations of the father/son relationship appearing some parts in the mov.
"Brother of The Cruciform Sword" has a full rendition of the nazis theme.
"Belly Of The Steel Beast" is probaby the most adored, and I agree since it's powerful music for an action scene with a lot of marches for the fight with nazis. A true gem!
"The Canyon Of the Crescent Moon" contains some arabic touches and "The Penitent Man Will Pass" has the grail's theme at his maximum with choirs.
The soundtrack comes to an end with "End Credits"."Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade" has an excellent score for the last(not exactly) mov of the saga. I'm waiting ansiously for John Williams return for Indy 4."