This is a beautifully produced album that nicely compliments the modern reconstruction recordings of King Kong made by Gerhardt, Fred Steiner and the Morgan/Stromberg/Marco Polo team. It comprises 11 tracks devoted to a radio play-like version of King Kong with dialogue and sound effects as well as the Steiner score demonstrating the remarkable ground-breaking effectiveness of Max's creation. No other film or score from that era seems to have made such a lasting impression. The remaining 9 tracks take in music for the approach to the Forgotten Island, the Jungle Dance, the pursuit into the Jungle, fights with prehistoric monsters and the final music as Kong is killed atop of the Empire State Building. In a message at the beginning of the lavishly produced booklet which is part of the slim-line board-backed presentation (the CD slips rather too tightly into a pocket on the inside front cover), Danny Elfman aptly considers Steiner's King Kong score to be the first real film score. Elfman goes on to remark: "…the entire concept of a full-blown, synchronised film score was really defined with King Kong…it also happens to be a truly great score…It is by turns, rhythmic and hypnotic; propulsive and whimsical; moody and evocative. Most importantly, it clearly defines the personality of Kong, and his world, bringing the audience into an alternative reality…I think it is important to remember that when Steiner sat down to score King Kong, there were no references. He was practically starting from a clean slate - uncharted territory. So many things that Steiner did, along with Waxman and Korngold and other incredibly gifted early explorers, we take for granted now that the language has been defined. I personally owe Max Steiner and the score to King Kong a great personal debt, I have often quoted from it and used it for inspiration. Steiner really is the granddaddy, the godfather of this wonderful, maddening, crazy art that so many of us are still fans of today." The 20-page booklet also contains many movie stills and star photographs, storyboard illustrations, drawings and poster illustrations. Of particular interest are: the pre-première advertisement listing attending celebrities, plus another listing of the fabulous special effects the audience would see; the programme of the on-stage, pre-film entertainment; and an unauthorised published account of behind-the-scenes techniques (with inaccuracies) from the May 1933 edition of Screen Book Magazine. Detailed essays on the production of the film and Max Steiner's music are included together with full cast and production credits. For King Kong and Max Steiner fans this is a compulsory purchase Reviewer Ian Lace	Reviewer Ian Lace Reviews from previous months Reviews carry sales links but you can also purchase from:
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