Prince Valiant

Prince Valiant (1954) is one of Franz Waxman's greatest scores: a stirring knights-and-adventure work in the classic symphonic tradition of The Adventures of Robin Hood and Star Wars. It features a dynamic set of themes and variations: a brash, heroic melody for Prince Valiant (Robert Wagner), swelling love music for Princess Aleta (Janet Leigh), a noble theme for Sir Gawain (Sterling Hayden), malevolent material for Sir Brack (James Mason), and many other motives and melodies for the settings and ideas.

Prince Valiant (1954) is one of Franz Waxman's greatest scores: a stirring knights-and-adventure work in the classic symphonic tradition of The Adventures of Robin Hood and Star Wars. It features a dynamic set of themes and variations: a brash, heroic melody for Prince Valiant (Robert Wagner), swelling love music for Princess Aleta (Janet Leigh), a noble theme for Sir Gawain (Sterling Hayden), malevolent material for Sir Brack (James Mason), and many other motives and melodies for the settings and ideas.

Charles Gerhardt (to whom this album is dedicated) recorded a suite from Prince Valiant to open his Classic Film Scores of Franz Waxman volume in the early 1970s. This CD presents the premiere release of the original soundtrack as conducted by Waxman for the film. It has been remixed in stereo from the original 35mm magnetic film elements and carries forth the crisp, energetic playing of the 20th Century Fox studio orchestra.

Fortunately, almost all of the score has survived in excellent condition, particularly the exciting and action-filled material for the movie's third act, when Valiant is captured and must escape to fight his enemies. Sadly, certain incidental fanfares have been lost, and an eight-minute swath of music was afflicted with noticeable mag wow--this has been included at the end of the disc as a bonus track.

Prince Valiant has long been one of the most requested scores from the Fox archives—at one time Varese Sarabande had announced it, but only temporarily—and finally, here it is! The 16-page booklet features stills from the Fox archives, rare photographs of the composer, and liner notes by Doug Adams.

About the Composer

Franz Waxman (1906-1967) was one of the greatest composers of Hollywood's Golden Age, having fled his native Germany to escape the Nazis. Jerry Goldsmith—no slouch himself—admired Waxman for the great versatility of his accomplishments; for example, Waxman created lasting efforts for horror (The Bride of Frankenstein), biblical epics (Demetrius and the Gladiators), Americana (Peyton Place), biopics (The Nun's Story) and westerns (Cimarron)—to say nothing of his back-to-back Oscar wins for Sunset Boulevard and A Place in the Sun. He was a master dramatist and a distinguished, modern composer who pushed the envelope of the symphonic score. IMDB

Line: Golden Age
CD Release: May 1999
Catalog #: Vol. 2, No. 3
# of Discs: 1