New American Era

1. New American Era

2. 1960s • artists wanted to make something “new” • films from ‘30s & ‘40s were seen as classics • new film makers wanted their films to become classics

3. The Auteur • auteur:director/artist who controlled all parts of a film (script, cinematography, music) • New Films had: • innovative plots • ambiguous morals

4. Music in New Era films • used sparingly • used to set the mood • mostly source music • used modern and popular styles over traditional styles • Used smaller ensembles (groups of instruments)

5. Marion’s story: Marion & her boyfriend, Sam, are finishing a lunchtime “meeting.” After being given $40,000 to deposit, Marion takes off with the money and drives through the night until she comes to the Bates Motel, meeting Norman. After deciding to return the money, Marion is killed in the shower by Mother. Norman’s story: Norman discovers her body, cleans up and drives her and her car into the lake. Sam and Marion’s sister, Lila go to a detective to find Marion. At the motel, Mother kills the detective and Norman gets rid of the body. Norman knocks out Sam and Lila discovers that Mother is a corpse. Norman, dressed as Mother, tries to kill Lila, but Sam subdues him. Norman is sent to an asylum.

6. Declining Traditions in the 1960s • Hollywood continued to make epic stories of ancient times, but they were weaker • Lawrence of Arabia(1962) • features popular instrumental theme • has British & Arabian sounding music

7. Instrumental Movie Themes • Inspired by the success of TV themes • wanted themes to appeal to audiences & capture the essence of the film • The Magnificent Seven • The Pink Panther

8. Vocal Theme Songs • more popular than instrumental themes • makes you eligible for an extra Oscar • most effective if the movie and song have the same title • Breakfast at Tiffany's • Born Free

9. Musicals in the 1960s -On the decline in number, still won 4 best picture Oscars in the 60s -All were stage adaptions -West Side Story, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Oliver!

10. Baby Boomers -were teens in the 60s, HW catered to them -more rock music used in films -sometimes as a star vehicle (Elvis & The Beatles) and sometimes as a main theme/score (James Bond)

11. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) - overall mood of childlike simplicity/ innocence - uses small sets of instruments • uses modern (classical) style of music • example

12. Bonnie & Clyde (1967) - defining film between old and new film eras -- little music: source or used as a transitions - used to set location & mood (banjo/fiddle)

13. The Graduate (1967) - Simon and Garfunkel composed/performed the main music - S & G’s sound was essential to the film’s success - soundtrack became a top seller

14. British Invasion 1960s - Films: many were tied to Britain - People fell in love w/ British culture

15. Crisis Years (1968-1972) • MLKjr & Robert Kennedy assassinated, Vietnam, war protests, - USSR invade Poland, France had riots and strikes, Nuclear threat from USSR

16. Planet of the Apes (1968) - Score by Jerry Goldsmith - one of the most modern scores created for a popular film - Uses strange sounds: tuned mixing bowls, ram’s horn, brass inst. with inverted mouthpieces

17. Midnight Cowboy & Easy Rider - both used pop music score - Midnight Cowboy: only X-Rated film to win Best Picture - Theme song: “Everybody’s Talkin’” -Easy Rider: music used for travel montages rock music matches use of drugs in the film - -

18. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - re-established the use of adapted score - had a score, but Stanley Kubrick got rid of it and used classical music - Kubrick left music intact & let it co-exist with the drama - used to set mood

19. Early 1970s - movies used modern music to reflect awful world -Rise in : rock in underscoring adapted scores use of synthesizers

20. Clockwork Orange (1971) - uses an adapted score -music runs counter to the mood on screen - Example: classical favorites to go with rape & murder - uses original music for a synthesizer

21. Post-Vietnam Years (1973-1976) • Racial tensions were easing, women saw more equal rights, activism turned toward the environment • Movies: • Cynicism is up: conspiracy theories, struggles against authority • Escapism: nostalgia, horror, sports & disasters • Film Scores: Eclectic, Adapted or Symphonic

22. Eclectic Scores • Eclectic: ideas and style come from a broad and diverse range of sources • One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) • Used strange sounds to imply Native American dance and an insane asylum • Chinatown (1974) • Like film noir: uses jazz & dissonance • Difference: uses strange combos of instruments and strange ways of using instruments to get new sounds

23. Adapted Scores • The Sting (1973) • Used songs from musicals and from Scott Joplin • American Graffiti (1973) • Adapted score all from classic rock music • The Exorcist (1973) • Adapted from the strangest works of the avantgarde classical movement

24. Toward the Classical Revival • Rocky (1976) • Started a trend: : rock beat for training and competition montages • Music is still sparse, but is used to support the drama • Used a combination of rock and orchestra • Jaws (1977) • Used orchestra to engage audience’s emotions • 2 Note Shark Theme • Absence of theme used to surprise

25. Psycho (1960) • Director: Alfred Hitchcock • Score: Bernard Hermann • Different because: in Black & White • First great score in the new style

26. The Score • For strings only • Used harsh, percussive sounds and pizzicato • Dissonant throughout • No gradual changes in a cue--only sudden changes from scene to scene • Cue:music for a particular scene • Themes divided into 2 sections: Marion’s story and Norman’s story

27. Marion’s Themes • Opening Chords (used in the credits-makes you think the story is about Marion) • Flight • Stolen Money • Transition Listen to Psycho Music

28. Norman’s Themes • Mother • Murder • -shower scene with and without music • Making of the Shower Scene