Even the more jaded of folks will easily admit that one success at Disney’s California Adventure is the “Soaring Over California” attraction. And the contribution of Jerry Goldsmith is a major part of that success. It’s not hard to admit that most people who take the flight over the Golden State won’t recognize his name. Yet they aren’t likely to forget his music. You see, he wrote the score for the attraction and a lot of music from their favorite movies and television shows. Not bad for someone who got his start as clerk-typist at CBS back in the glory days of radio…
Jerry Goldsmith passed away on the night of Wednesday, July 14 at his home in Beverly Hills, after a long battle with cancer. His career spanned six decades in radio, television and film – as well as the theme park contribution. With a classical musical education, he got an early start at the age of six. And it paid off! There were eighteen Oscar nominations and one win for “The Omen” in 1976. Throw in five Emmy’s and nine Golden Globe nominations for good measure.
Now to those of us in the TV Generations, he’s just got us covered. Everything from “Playhouse 90” to “Have Gun – Will Travel” to “Perry Mason” to “The Twilight Zone” to “Doctor Kildare” to “The Fugitive” to “The Man (and the Girl!) From U.N.C.L.E.” to “Room 222” to “Barnaby Jones” to “The Walton’s” to Steven Spielberg’s “Amazing Stories” to music for multiple Academy Award shows. But his best-known television contributions actually have roots in his work for one of his film scores. Think you know which ones? Check in a minute or so for the answer down the page…
Films? All I can say is “Wow!” Some of my favorite film scores are his work. How about some of these just to wet your appetite?
- “In Harms Way” (1965)
- “Our Man Flint” (1966) and “In Like Flint” (1967)
- “The Sand Pebbles” (1966)
- “Planet of the Apes” (1968)
- “Patton” (1970)
- “Tora! Tora! Tora!” (1970)
- “Rio Lobo” (1970)
- “Papillion” (1973)
- “Chinatown” (1974)
- “Breakheart Pass” (1975)
- “Logan’s Run” (1976)
- “Macarthur” (1977)
- “Alien” (1979) and Aliens (1986) and “Alien Resurrection” (1997)
- “The Final Conflict” (1981)
- “The Secret of N.I.M.H.” (1982)
- “Gremlins” (1984)
- “Hoosiers” (1986)
- “Total Recall” (1990)
- “Basic Instinct” (1992)
- “Six Degrees of Separation” (1993)
- “L.A. Confidential” (1997)
- “Mulan” (1998)
- “Looney Tunes Back In Action” (2003)
Oh and that minor little piece? How about “Star Trek – The Motion Picture” (1979)? The title piece from that became the theme for television’s “Star Trek – The Next Generation” (1994). He went on to write scores for “Star Trek V – The Final Frontier” (1989), “Star Trek First Contact” (1996), “Star Trek Insurrection” (1998) and “Star Trek Nemesis” (2002). Star Trek also brought him an Emmy for the theme to “Star Trek Voyager” in 1995. His final Star Trek composition was for the Paramount Parks “Star Trek: The Experience – Borg Invasion 4D” in 2004. It that’s not a great pop-culture influence, I don’t know what is. Millions of folks worldwide know that theme by heart!
The Internet Movie Database has his full credits listed here — including on-screen appearances in three films!
The true talent, in my opinion, was his ability to work in so many different genres. Unlike some of his contemporaries, it wasn’t always easy to recognize a Jerry Goldsmith score. Look over those lists again and you see what I mean. The variety of projects is astounding. Including the animated films and theme park projects, that’s just an amazing body of work for any composer.
There is not a simple way to say “Thank You” for all of the enjoyment Jerry Goldsmith brought to millions of moviegoers and television viewers and radio listeners over the last six decades. For me, the closest thing may be enjoying many of those magical moments yet again on the CD’s and DVD’s that carry his imprint. And there will always be the chance to experience many of these in a great theater with the films enriched by his participation.
So… the next time at DCA that you take off on “Soaring Over California” or enjoy a quiet moment in the Animation Building with the “Mulan” segment in the forecourt, give thanks for Jerry Goldsmith. I know I will.
If you’re looking for copies of the many soundtrack scores from Jerry Goldsmith, be sure to visit the Amazon links below! A portion of each purchase helps support the efforts here at JHM!