Herrmann said that this was his personal favorite of all of the scores he did. A story is told by members of the film crew, that Genevieve Bujold complained Cliff Robertson was cold, and it was hard to play passionate scenes with him in this film. She then told Herrmann that his music, on the other hand, made her feel that she was loved. Herrmann is said to have burst into tears upon hearing this. Herrmann's wife, upon his death, found a photo of Genevieve Bujold in his wallet.
That's really excellent information. Makes me sad. I wonder what Herrmann piece was used in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood when Cliff Booth was in George Spahn's cottage, with creepy Squeaky watching tele.
This might sound strange, but my grandparents, my parents and siblings were altogether for the holidays one year, and we wanted to go out to the movies together. I believe it was either Christmas or Thanksgiving. We searched for one of those "cheap seat" type theaters" which do not really exist much anymore in our area. We found a double feature, "Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Obsession"--naturally the first film was THE main feature. Of course none of us were UFO aficionados and we thought this movie was pretty stupid. However, "Obsession" came on a few minutes behind it--and we were simply enthralled! The music, the plot, the acting, and the actors were just breath taking, and of course the scenery, entire picture. Well over the years this film was later aired on television locally. If it was at holiday time, we made it a family tradition to watch both this film AND " It's a wonderful life." Call us crazy, but we just fell in love with this film, memorizing the lines, and calling them out, and having fun. Later, after our grandparents passed away, we siblings still got together two more times to watch this film on TV until they quit broadcasting it. I have had a terrible time trying to find it on DVD. ONE time I found it advertised in a movie magazine, and that was it. This is the ONE film I would like to own just for old times sake. Cannot figure out why a person has to pay just to see it one line. Must be made of gold or something. Wow! Anyway, thanks for the music, it still haunts me, and thanks for the memories. All Good! Have always enjoyed these two actors, and they make great chemistry on screen! So young when this film was made!! Well, Genevieve Buljould was anyway. I guess Cliff Robertson was starting to age a bit, still our whole family was moved by this film!! Thanks for posting the music. Maybe someone will post the movie. I am a die hard fan of the film. I am only 56.
Michelle Read: Thanks for posting that wonderful memory. The movie "Close Encounters...well, the less said about that film, the better. But John Williams' score was gorgeous, from it's atonal, eerie beginning ( I have it on CD) to the unabashed romanticism of the score's end. In an interview, Maestro Williams said it was his most difficult score to compose, especially that riot of tones at the end of the film. As for Obsession, this is my first time hearing it- I only recently knew it existed. Dazzling. And a welcome surprise-like when money is tight, and you find a $20 bill in one of your pockets while doing the laundry, that you forgot was there.
Michelle: Great story. Not here to plug Jeff Bezos' company. In fact, wish we could escape from its clutches. Congratulations to the union organizers in Staten Island! However, you can rent the film from that company with a subscription to its Prime service for $3.99. You can buy it for $12.99 and enjoy it to your heart's content, acting, music, cinematography and all..
One of the very best (film) composers of all time! His contribution to break free from traditional dramatic film music scoring as used up to the 1940s, to create truly haunting and emotionally deep, rich, fresh textures was immense! Thank you for posting! Thank you Bennie for being part of our lives!
Versus Kid Turn off the nostalgia. There is still great music coming out of movies. Probably one of the only things in the world of film that is still great.
@@marshallzane7735 Much as i love Herrmann's oeuvre, i must agree we'll all likely be singing similar praises of Mr. Greenwood's work some 50 years hence... Am really glad so much of Jonny's film work is available on Spotify; were it not i might not be aware of it beyond his great "There Will Be Blood" score. (Incidentally, that TWBB score is quite similar to Mr. Herrmann's "Psycho" in that they're both scored primarily for strings.)
@@marshallzane7735 People are always rather hyperbolic about Greenwood. With certain exceptions "Phantom Thread" and some cuts of "Inherent Vice" for example, Greenwood dabbles way to much in the atonal "horror/thriller esque orchestra texture" world of Penderecki and others, which frankly isnt that exciting since Goldenthall and others have been romaging around in that box since the mid 70's. Now, the guy is young and a creative force to be reckon with, but I think alot of people judge his film scoring on basis of what he did/does in Radiohead. I hope he pulls out something that will blow my mind one day, but has yet to do so.
I spent one summer hiking and driving all over Sequoia Park playing Herrmann soundtracks. To be amongst those trees and scenic views with his music, I recommend it. I was fittingly 'obsessed' by him at that time. Read his biography that summer, too.
I "visit" areas of Europe and America in the '50-'60s through Hermann's music. The "techniques" utilized vary with the individual, but to overwhelm the "senses" with all things period is amazing, using his music as a kind of "springboard"!
I remember walking the streets of Sydney going from record store to record store; (when they still existed); until I found a copy of "Obsession" on vinyl. (Pre-CD). Why don't movies have music like this anymore? It all sounds the same; 3 notes with noise.
In addition to it being reminiscent of Vertigo, it also has many echoes of his fabulous, dream-like score for the greatest episode of Rod Serling's 'Twilight Zone' TV series. That episode is 'Walking Distance', the story of a man who goes back in time, and meets himself as a child, as well as seeking out his parents as they once were, way back in time. Seek it out, it's magnificent.
I agree. Walking Distance is my favorite Twilight Zone and I can still see in my mind Martin Sloan whimsically jumping onto the carousel with Bernard a Herrmann soundtrack in the background. ( I think I have commented to you before -- somewhere).
I read somewhere that Rod Serling was so impressed by the score that he personally wrote to Herrmann thanking him for his composing such a moving score for this episode.
The quality of Herrmann's music never faded with time. His work was as good at the end of his career as it was in the beginning. (Citizen Kane - Taxi Driver)
Remember seeing it in the theater and going back again to watch and listen to how the music was such a great part of the movie. I have a LP Record version of the soundtrack still !
One of Herrmann's finest scores, and really, one of THE best film scores of all time. The Music Box CD of this score is magnificent. By the way Soundtrack Fred, nice editing to show off the score's highlights.
i totally agree. my favourite cue being "Valse Lente". A waltz like piece with a menacing underscore. I really do need to make up my mind as to which of the 2 recent release of this to get!
Spannende Interpretation dieses perfekt komponierten Meisterwerks mit farbenprächtigen und perfekt synchronisierten Töne aller Instrumente. Der unvergleichliche Komponist/Dirigent leitet das ausgezeichnete Orchester im inspirierenden Tempo mit dramatischer Dynamik. Einfach wunderschön!
Loved Herrmann's music as early as Psycho. This film was fantastic but the score was the icing on the cake. DE Palma was a huge fan of Hitchcock's and loved Vertigo in particular. He wanted to make a film as homage to it and made Obsession. It was just fitting he used Herrmann to score it, since he did the original Vertigo. magic
Hi Elise, I got into Herrmann starting with Vertigo & Psycho as well. He did a bunch of other films with Hitchcock prior to those: The Trouble with Harry, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Wrong Man, and North by Northwest, IIRC. I recommend checking out his Twilight Zone scores too. There are an awful lot of cues he did for CBS scoring libraries (et al) that were used on a bunch of TV shows from the 40's ~ 80's maybe, but they are a bit harder to track down. Most of his TV work i found about via RU-vid! :)
Even later in his career Bernard Herrmann was producing very interesting scores that rivaled those from his past. Obsession is a haunting and beautiful score. Both collaborations with Brian DiPalma are worth owning for any fan of the composer. Sadly we were denied a third collaboration as he was supposed to do the score for DePalma's next film, Carrie.
As you`re probably aware he was also contracted to write the score for Hitchcock`s ``Torn Curtain`` and in fact did so only to have it replaced by a vastly inferior one because some dickhead at Universal wanted something ``more up to date`` - lol. Yeah sure! Hermann`s score would have at least turned a 3rd rate film into a 2nd rate one being one of the few redeeming features of this failure of a movie.
That "dickhead" was actually Hitchcock who ordered Herrmann to compose a certain type of score, he ignored Hitch, and was fired on the spot by the director. I wish they could have mended their differences. I've always thought Frenzy could have benefited from a Herrmann score. The one that exists now is so bland and forgettable that I cannot summon a memory of it. But his scores stick in your mind and live beyond the films. The mark of a good piece of music is if it can survive without the image that it had created to support. Mosy scores don't. The only score I dislike is Marnie. It sounds like overblown soap opera and it gets very repetitious. But I didn't care much for the film either.
@@madahad9 The film was definitely overblown, Hitchcock's rape scene with Grace Kelly on his mind? Just my humble opinion. Herrmann's score was composed at a time he was having marital difficulties. It shows and it had some sadness to it. Had Benny not scored it, the film would have been not worthy of mention. So convoluted even Jay Presson Allen's valiant attempt to make something of it didn't work.
The second to the last film Herrmann scored for a picture. This composition fits very well the narrative of the movie. I haven't seen "Obsession" as far as I remember, but will. I am a lover of Hitchcock's "Vertigo", and after reading some detailed info via Wikipedia on the Net, "Obsession" is one to catch. Thanks, Fred for presenting this interesting score.
Have you seen it yet? I haven't seen it in 20 years. I remember it was a strong film with some weird overtones that probably today would have been more explicit.
Tom Foster: I enjoyed your perceptive remarks just now. As a lover of the film Vertigo here's is a comment from a book on Hitchcock's films: "The first time I saw Vertigo was in 1958, it's first run. I was in prep school, and it so moved, disturbed and overwhelmed me by the impact of it's images that it altered my perception of life, of art and of myself. The twenty-six times I have seen the film since have deepened those reactions." The author of this quote, who goes on about Vertigo's "hypnotic loveliness" and that he sees it as Hitchcock's "greatest masterpiece" wrote this book on Hitchcock in 1976 and had logged more than 2,000 hours at his films since his discovery of him at age 10. Hitchcock himself commented "This is a marvelous book." And the author is...Donald Spoto!⚠️ WARNING!- avoid like the plague Spoto's revision of his book The Art of Alfred Hitchcock. For unknown reasons, while writing a second book on the famous director, a biography, his assessments grew lethal, opinionated and without proof, that damaged the reputation of possibly filmdom's greatest director for decades after. The ORIGINAL book, published in 1976- as of just 10 years ago, it couldn't be begged, borrowed or stolen, even online- only the lethal " revised" version was available. Track down the original 1976 edition ( Abe's Books is one outlet) and you will read the finest book written about Hitchcock, who himself said "I am gratified by what Dr.Spoto says about my work, and I am impressed by the wit and grace of his writing. He is an excellent writer, and this is a great book."
I have this CD. Its great! A 2 CD set that came out in early 2015 . One CD is the complete score and the second CD is the Original Soundtrack album remastered. He began working on the score for Taxi Driver soon after and died the day he completed it. He received Oscar nominations posthumously for both scores but lost to Jerry Goldsmiths score for The Omen.
Goldsmith should have won two years before for "Chinatown," no doubt about it. I would be OK with Herrmann's having won an Oscar for either "Obsession" or "Taxi Driver." I can't decide.
The Omen OST was not good at all. Hermann should had have won for both OST to Obsession and Taxi Driver. That would have been great. 2 academy awards one for each OST. History in the making (from 976-CREOLEMAN).
@@marcelmischeaux7256 Golsmith's avant guard score was legendary and presented an insurmountable challenge that year. I am grateful the academy members had the courage to do the right thing. The award ceremony presentation of "Ave Santani" (best original song) was laughable... the producers did not know how t visualize it.
@@rolandh4947 He really should have won for Patton but that lousy score for Love Story won instead. Shows you how Hollywood SUCKS (from 976-CREOLEMAN)!
@@yaffayafo82 If Bernard is part of your name...I must agree. James Bernard was so wonderful. But James is James and Benny is Benny. Each is wonderful.
I just love this guy. James Bernard was a great composer for many Hammer Horror films. His best was Dracula 1958 Christopher Lee / Peter Cushing. He too was a powerful writer and died early though.
Beautiful movie and music.the story of the loss of an immense Love, of loved ones through a terrible tragedy with double edged which leaves you a deep unease and a sadness for the characters of this particular drama. A beautiful film carried by a musician exceptional that shows us every time all the love he has brought to his art and cinema.
A wonderful soundtrack from the most iconic and prolific composer of the 20th century. The late Bernard Herrmann will always be my favorite composer; closely followed by John Williams. Obsession and Taxi Driver were sadly his last work.
I heard recently that John Williams was mentored by Herrmann. It's well known that Williams borrows heavily from the old masters, and some people remark that Herrmann did the same.
With each new movie's score, my admiration for Herrmann grew more and more. He continues to be my favourite composer ever since I watched "North by Northwest" in the late 'fifties and became acquainted with his splendid work.
Herrmann's last great score. Yes, "Taxi Driver" was compelling and gritty, yet his work for DePalma was the old Herrmann, sweeping and Hitchockian and utterly moving. His finale.
It resembles Vertigo in spots but is still better than anything many other musical score composers put out. As a film Vertigo seems a bit overrated if not the score.
Great score, some reminiscences of North by Northwest and Vertigo. The latter in fact appeared to be a major source of inspiration for Brian de Palma in directing Obsession
Just saw the film. Loved Herrmann's composition. However, as much as I admire De Palma's work, I thought Cliff Robertson was the wrong casting choice. I can understand why Bujold's feeling of working with him was hard and cold.
What is the point in playing only a small part of the main title? Play the full score. Alfred Hitchcock was very stupid in the way he fired Benny while making "Torn Curtain". There was a disagreement about how the music should be used. Benny was right, Hichcock was wrong.
Oscar nom 'Citizen Kane' 1941 Oscar nom 'Devil n Daniel Webster' winner 1941 (beating Kane) Oscar nom 'Anna and King Siam 1946 Oscar nom 'Obsession' 1976 Oscar nom 'Taxi Driver 1976 Nothing in between for 30 years..bookended his career with double oscar noms for a single year..never done before
But... there are sadly many similarities to his score for "Vertigo," and since this is a rip on that film and its themes... it doesn't work as well as it should. It's far too good for a bad "remake," it's out of place while watching... doesn't belong relegated to a forgotten film. I remember seeing this in a theatre and being so disappointed. I went out and bought the LP, however.
The film score is a great ride but the movie is sort of typical Brian de Palma he loves other directors..this is good and normal but all of his stuff is just cloned....all of it copied......I mean how did he become a director I have felt this way from the get go with Brian de Palma