Soundtrack Information

The Son of Kong / The Most Dangerous Game

The Son of Kong / The Most Dangerous Game

Marco Polo (8.225166)

Release Date: 2001

Conducted by William Stromberg

Performed by
The Moscow Symphony Orchestra

Format: CD

Music By

Track Listing

1. Main Title
[previewing track]
 1:50
2. Ship at Sea
[previewing track]
 0:57
3. In Dakang
[previewing track]
 1:25
4. Runaway Blues
[previewing track]
 1:39
5. Fire!
[previewing track]
 2:34
6. An Offer of Help
[previewing track]
 4:16
7. Memories
[previewing track]
 2:11
8. Chinese Chatter
[previewing track]
 4:05
9. Forgotten Island
[previewing track]
 4:14
10. Quicksand - Little Kong
[previewing track]
 3:57
11. The Styracosaur
[previewing track]
 0:46
12. The Black Bear
[previewing track]
 2:41
13. Finger Fixings
[previewing track]
 3:31
14. Campfire at Night
[previewing track]
 3:24
15. The Old Temple
[previewing track]
 2:21
16. Johny Get Your Gun
[previewing track]
 0:34
17. Finale
[previewing track]
 4:59
18. Main Title
[previewing track]
 1:34
19. The Wreck
[previewing track]
 1:17
20. The Approach
[previewing track]
 2:24
21. Russian Waltz
[previewing track]
 1:40
22. Incidental Music
[previewing track]
 0:46
23. Agitato
[previewing track]
 2:23
24. The Iron Door
[previewing track]
 2:57
25. Night
[previewing track]
 1:04
26. The Count Approaches
[previewing track]
 2:20
27. Misterioso Dramatico
[previewing track]
 3:57
28. The Chase
[previewing track]
 4:43
29. The Chase Continues
[previewing track]
 0:55
30. The Waterfall
[previewing track]
 2:23
31. The Fight
[previewing track]
 1:27
32. Escape - Finale
[previewing track]
 2:00
  Total Album Time: 77:14

Review: Son of Kong / The Most Dangerous Game, The

by Dan Goldwasser June 23, 2001
4.5 / 5 Stars

King Kong is without a doubt a classic film, with an equally classic and celebrated film score by Max Steiner.  When William Stromberg and John Morgan set out to re-record the complete score to King Kong a few years ago, the result was an excellent recording that blew me away.  So imagine my excitement when I heard that there was a new album out of their reconstruction of The Son of Kong, the not-so successful sequel to King Kong (in fact, done the same year) as well as the classic film version of The Most Dangerous Game.

The Son of Kong plays off the success of its predecessor, and the score reflects that by quoting bits and pieces from the original score.  The main three-note Kong theme is evident, as well as some new themes for his 12-foot son.   Some of the cues contain more tribal ethnic themes, such as "In Dakang" and others contain a lighter more upbeat jazzy theme, heard in the "Main Title" and "Memories" (but a bit slower).  It's thematic and smooth, and contrasts well with the more dramatic action cues that Steiner does so well.  "Fire!", "The Styracosaur" and "The Black Bear" all feature classic Steiner action cues, and the tension really heats up.  As with most of Steiner's score from King Kong, there are lots of bold brass moments interweaved with more satiny string work.  The "Finale" is a tender cue which reprises the main jazzy theme, and ends the film on a softer note, which is a relief considering the heavy action we've been put through!

Also included on this album is the score to The Most Dangerous Game, a film adaptation of the classic short story about a deranged hunter who lures shipwreck survivors to his castle, and then gives them a chance at freedom if they can survive his hunt.  Filmed just before King Kong, not only were many of the jungle sets reused in both Kong fims, but some of Steiner's action cue structure bled over in to King Kong.  The "Main Title" is dramatic, and contains the main theme from the film, a ten-note fanfare that shows up throughout the score.  This theme also showed up in the film as source music, as heard in "Russian Waltz".  It's a simple yet memorable theme, and works not for the theme itself, but for the variations and orchestrations in the score.  There are dramatic chase cues ("The Chase", "The Chase Continues") where the orchestra goes off, but keeps the main theme in mind.  While there are some short tender moments between the two leads (Fay Wray and Joel McCrea) in the film, the score never really underscores those feelings.  Instead, there is always a sense of dread, and the film comes to an exciting climax at the end, with the main theme triumphantly restated.

As with the King Kong album, a lot of time and effort went into the reconstruction of these two Steiner scores, and it truly shows.  The timing and performance by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra is dead-on.  I would rank this up there with Monstrous Movie Music as some of the best re-recording work I've heard in a long time.  While I wasn't very familiar with these two scores before getting the album, I don't think that should matter when deciding whether or not to get it.  With a running time of almost 77-minutes, and a 35-page booklet filled with valuable and insightful information, you really can't go wrong.  I can only wait with anticipation to see what Stromberg and Morgan have next on their plate.

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