Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Intrada Special Collection Volume ISC 488

Intrada presents a completely restored and expanded edition of Denny Zeitlin's score to the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Intrada presents a completely restored and expanded edition of Denny Zeitlin's score to the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Zeitlin was an interesting choice to score Invasion, seeing as he had not scored films previously (or after), but his acquaintanceship with director Philip Kaufman led to the assignment. Zeitlin had a unique perspective on the project, and not just as a jazz artist—he was also a trained psychiatrist.

While the main character played by Donald Sutherland was originally going to play saxophone with a jazz-styled score to complement, this was eventually abandoned in favor of a '20th-century electronic/acoustic score' for both symphony orchestra and electronics.
While adept at jazz and electronics, Zeitlin had never composed for orchestra before. He ultimately composed a score bristling with avant-garde dissonances and effects, as well as a nod to 1950s horror in an alarming four-note “sting” for the pods, and a jazz/blues love theme.

For this new release, Intrada features the expanded program on disc 1, remixed, assembled and mastered from the 8-track session masters by Chris Malone, with Zeitlin's unique presentation of the original LP master on disc 2.

The film comes at the end of the paranoia genre of films common in the '70s. As the folks of San Francisco sleep, they are one by one replaced by identical aliens—exact duplicates in appearance, but completely lacking personality.
Donald Sutherland plays Matthew Bennell, a San Francisco health inspector; Brooke Adams is Elizabeth Driscoll, a co-worker with whom Matthew is falling in love.
Oddballs Jeff Goldblum and Veronica Cartwright are Jack and Nancy Bellicec, proprietors of a New Age massage parlor where an alien pod grows into a disgusting double of Jack. Leonard Nimoy plays a trendy psychiatrist, Dr. David Kibner, who at first seems to try to soothe the growing paranoia of Matthew, Elizabeth and the Bellicecs, but who ultimately reveals himself as a ringleader of the invaders—so stoic that it’s hard to tell the difference between pod-possessed Kibner and normal Kibner.

Intrada ISC 488

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World premiere expanded 2-CD release of groundbreaking score for Philip Kaufman’s terrifying 1978 remake of the 1956 sci-fi masterpiece. Leonard Nimoy, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright, Brooke Adams all fight (and succumb) to the pod people invasion. Oft-filmed story of people resisting sleep lest their bodies are taken over during their slumber finds its best treatment in this modernized telling, set in San Francisco. Michael Chapmen photographs, W.D. Richter scripts, United Artists releases.

Scoring duties were given to first-time (and last-time) musician Denny Zeitlin, American jazz pianist and composer. Zeitlin’s lone foray into film scoring found him writing in an idiom that melded symphonic orchestra with jazz.
United Artists released a strong 39-minute album of highlights in 1978 but this new Intrada 2-CD release premieres the hour-long score plus a variety of “extras”.

The original 1978 album is also included. Chris Malone works from the 1’’ 8-track scoring session masters for the best sounding audio this important score has ever had.
The score has numerous highlights but a spotlight goes to the climactic cues for Matt, particularly “Matt’s Last Flight”. Here, as Jeff Goldblum sacrifices himself and runs straight into a crowd of pod people, Zeitlin fashions one of the score’s genuine emotional highlights for orchestra.
Zeitlin’s unique harmonic vernacular is another stand out feature in the cues scored for trumpet with jazz orchestra accompaniment. Original album artwork plus new artwork are featured in Kay Marshall’s exciting package design. Informative booklet notes by Jeff Bond. Greig McRitchie orchestrates, Roger Kellaway conducts. Intrada Special Collection 2-CD release available while quantities and interest remain!

( - Intrada Records - )

More info at: Official Web Site Intrada Records

More info at: Composer Denny Zeitlin Official Site