The Bravados   (Limited Edition CD Soundtrack)

 

Sound: B-     Music: B-

 

 

Alfred Newman and Hugo Friedhofer collaborated on the soundtrack for the more “adult” Western The Bravados, a 1958 CinemaScope romp that offers Friedhofer causing the usually bombastic (meant in a good way) Newman to sound more pensive than usual.  Lionel Newman also helped, but got full screen credit for all the music.  He had traveled around to get the music recorded by several orchestras as a strike occurred in the U.S. and that probably furthered the music’s character.

 

Alfred Newman and Friedhofer had collaborated before and would again, so the mix was not a problem.  In most cases, they each worked on different tracks, but there are a few where it is both of them.  This is covered in the CD’s initial 15 tracks, but the disc offers 31 tracks in all.  After some digetic music, where tracks 16 and 17 offer guitars, while 18 – 21 offer church songs, we get a damaged stereo piece on track 22.  That leaves us with monophonic versions of the stereo material for purists, plus for others to compare in that endless argument of which sounds better.  There will always be people who want mono, but this film was a stereo release, so the stereo tracks are closer to that experience.

 

With that said, the sound on this CD shows its age, with some distortion apparent on the mono tracks, and even a moment or two on previous tracks.  This has survived in better than average shape, but shows its age.  It also comes form the magnetic 35mm masters, which helps.

 

The CD has only 3,000 pressings, so those who really want it should visit www.filmscoremonthly.com to purchase a copy.  They also offer dozens of other soundtrack exclusives, many of which you can read about on FulvueDrive-In.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo