The Duke

MovieScore Media and Quartet Records presents: The Duke by George Fenton. Original score from the 2020 drama comedy feature film directed by Roger Michell, starring Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren and Matthew Goode, produced and released by Pathe UK, released by Sony Pictures Classics (USA) and Pathé (France).

MovieScore Media and Quartet Records presents: The Duke by George Fenton.

Original score from the 2020 drama comedy feature film directed by Roger Michell, starring Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren and Matthew Goode, produced and released by Pathe UK, released by Sony Pictures Classics (USA) and Pathé (France).

The Story: In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60 year old taxi driver, steals Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London.

The Score: “I was a child when the story told in The Duke actually happened, even though I can’t remember it. However, working on the film I frequently thought ‘there aren’t enough Kempton Buntons around now’ in any walk of life including my own – music. The wonderful eccentricity of the man against the backdrop of sixties Britain – so beautifully drawn in Roger Michell’s film. I tried to reflect that as well as the period and the social context in the sound of the score. It feels like an era of comparative simplicity and innocence. The story though is shot through with its own regrets about things unresolved and it’s that which finally lies at the heart of the film. I hope that comes through in the music too. We definitely need more Kempton Buntons and hopefully for me more films like The Duke.” – George Fenton

The Composer: The five time Academy Award-nominated composer George Fenton has been writing for the cinema for more than 40 years. For some, he is known for his powerful political biopics, such as Gandhi and Cry Freedom; for others, he is the man behind the spirited music of comedies like Groundhog Day and You’ve Got Mail, or the sensually charged Dangerous Liaisons and Final Analysis. Over his career, his list of regular collaborators include Richard Attenborough, Neil Jordan, Ken Loach, Terry Gilliam, Stephen Frears and Andy Tennant. In the field of television, Fenton had scored most of the classic David Attenborough documentaries, such as Blue Planet and Planet Earth, which had also been turned into successful concert series. MovieScore Media released Fenton’s score for Trevor Nunn’s Red Joan (2019) starring Dame Judi Dench and Sophie Cookson.

MMS22001 The Duke (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Music Composed by George Fenton
Release date (digital and CD from Quartet Records): February 25, 2022

“George Fenton’s cheerful score bubbles with playfulness” (The Hollywood Reporter)

“George Fenton’s jaunty score along with a groovy split-screen credit sequence have established the 1960s mood.” (Screen Daily)

( - MovieScore Media - )

Quartet Records, in collaboration with MovieScore Media, presents the original soundtrack album from the comedy The Duke directed by Roger Michell, composed by George Fenton and featuring Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren and Matthew Goode.

Quartet Records, in collaboration with MovieScore Media, presents the original soundtrack album from the comedy The Duke directed by Roger Michell, composed by George Fenton and featuring Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren and Matthew Goode.

In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60 year old taxi driver, steals Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London.

The five time Academy Award-nominated composer George Fenton has been writing for the cinema for more than 40 years. For some, he is known for his powerful political biopics, such as Gandhi and Cry Freedom; for others, he is the man behind the spirited music of comedies like Groundhog Day and You’ve Got Mail, or the sensually charged Dangerous Liaisons and Final Analysis.
Over his career, his list of regular collaborators include Richard Attenborough, Neil Jordan, Ken Loach, Terry Gilliam, Stephen Frears and Andy Tennant. In the field of television, Fenton had scored most of the classic David Attenborough documentaries, such as Blue Planet and Planet Earth, which had also been turned into successful concert series. MovieScore Media released Fenton’s score for Trevor Nunn’s Red Joan (2019) starring Dame Judi Dench and Sophie Cookson.

In words of the composer “I was a child when the story told in The Duke actually happened, even though I can’t remember it. However, working on the film I frequently thought ‘there aren’t enough Kempton Buntons around now’ in any walk of life including my own – music.
The wonderful eccentricity of the man against the backdrop of sixties Britain – so beautifully drawn in Roger Michell’s film.
I tried to reflect that as well as the period and the social context in the sound of the score. It feels like an era of comparative simplicity and innocence. The story though is shot through with its own regrets about things unresolved and it’s that which finally lies at the heart of the film. I hope that comes through in the music too. We definitely need more Kempton Buntons and hopefully for me more films like The Duke.”

( - Quartet Records - )

More info at: Official Web Site Pathé

More info at: Official Web Site Quartet Records