Max Steiner's THE LETTER soundtrack now on CD

[Ray Faiola]

Just a quick note to let you know that the BYU / Chelsea Rialto Studios / Screen Archives production of Max Steiner's THE LETTER is now available through Screen Archives Entertainment. This exotic, evocative score is presented in comprehensive fashion, nearly complete, and is produced using composer acetate and nitrate optical sound recordings.

To order, please visit Screen Archives at:

http://www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm?ID=7872

Thank you!

Ray Faiola / Chelsea Rialto Studios

[Moraldo Rubini]

It's great to see these Max Steiner scores of Bette Davis movies coming out. I know you recently released Dark Victory too. Any chance that Jezebel is in the future?

[Ray Faiola]

Thanks Moraldo. I don't imagine that JEZEBEL would happen in the near future. We have FIGHTER SQUADRON waiting in the wings and then hopefully some 50's scores such as SO BIG and perhaps a westerns album. But there's quite a bit of JEZEBEL that survives so it is definitely on the list of candidates.

[MissGoddess]

Thanks Moraldo. I don't imagine that JEZEBEL would happen in the near future. We have FIGHTER SQUADRON waiting in the wings and then hopefully some 50's scores such as SO BIG and perhaps a westerns album. But there's quite a bit of JEZEBEL that survives so it is definitely on the list of candidates.

Ray--is there any chance that The Searchers original soundtrack will ever get released on cd?

[mongoII]

My favorite Steiner score for a Bette Davis film is "Now, Voyager".
And she had the nerve to complain about his music.

[ken123]

I can't believe that John Ford didn't care for the music Steiner provided for THE SEARCHERS.

[MissGoddess]

I can't believe that John Ford didn't care for the music Steiner provided for THE SEARCHERS.

It surprises me too. Maybe he was in a bad mood that day.

[Ray Faiola]

Ray--is there any chance that The Searchers original soundtrack will ever get released on cd?

Screen Archives and BYU released THE SEARCHERS several years ago. In fact, it was their first soundtrack release. It was after that project that I joined the team. THE SEARCHERS has been out of print for quite a while but we're working on a remastered reissue. So stay tuned.

As for Ford's reaction to the score, I think he was just being cranky. Max did very well by Ford early on (THE LOST PATROL and THE INFORMER). Steiner was also an old friend of Executive Producer Merian Cooper. I'm sure all concerned were well aware of the type of score Steiner would provide and I'm sure the use of "Lorena" was at Ford's suggestion. David Buttolph revived the tune for "THE HORSE SOLDIERS".