Search - Carli Elinor, Erno Rapee, Hugo Riesenfeld :: Sunrise (1995 Score To 1927 Film)

SUNRISE a surprise

Ken Campbell | Dodge City, KS United States | 07/07/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I saw the film by F. W. Murnau a few years ago with the original score by Hugo Riesenfeld and enjoyed it greatly. On a whim I bought this new version (first performed in 1990) of the soundtrack by T. Brock and it's not bad - I just wish I could see the film with the music attached to get its full effect. The recording is bright and clear with only one or two musical stumbles by the Olympia Chamber Orchestra. As I listen to it again I find a few more things to like about it. The music was commissioned by the Olympia Film Society. Brock seems to specialize in new music for classic films: Pandora's Box (no recording available), Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Berlin-Symphonie of a Great City, and Largo From Three Cinematic Scenes From The Last Laugh. Perhaps someday new DVD versions of the films will be released with both the older soundtrack (if there is one) and Mr.Brock's version. Silent movies were never silent, just a bit less vociferous than today's movies. When talkies first appeared on the Hollywood scene, one mogul rejected the new technology with the statement: "Who wants to hear actors talk?" No talking is necessary with Murnau's SUNRISE."