Film Score

[ladenso1]

During July, the British Film Institute in London is running a retrospective of the Japanese director, Mikio Naruse. The film they're highlighting above all the others is "When A Women Ascends the Stairs."

As I watched that film last night, during many interludes I could have sworn I was hearing Bags and John Lewis. Shades of "Odds Against Tomorrow." The music credit goes to Toshiro Mayuzumi, who, according to various sites was a classical composer but who was also involved in many film scores.

I haven't seen anything on the Web that notes, what to me has to be, the strong influence of the score of "Odds Against Tomorrow" on this film's soundtrack. Anyone know of any discussion of this topic anywhere?

[Teasing the Korean]

Not familiar with this film. But, on a related note, I was surprised to find out that there was an actual soundtrack release of "Odds Against Tomorrow" in a addition to the MJQ album. The actual soundtrack came out on CD on Sony in the early 90s and has much more music and a larger group. Overall, I like it better than the MJQ album, although I like MJQ's "Skating in Central Park" more than the film version. They are both worth hearing.

"Odds Against Tomorrow" had the potential of being a decent B noir film, but unfortunately the film COMPLETELY unravels in the final few minutes. The audience was laughing out loud at the end. Too bad.

[Kalo]

"Odds Against Tomorrow" had the potential of being a decent B noir film, but unfortunately the film COMPLETELY unravels in the final few minutes. The audience was laughing out loud at the end. Too bad.

Not a bad film at all, with an excellent cast. I agree that the ending "message" is laughably heavyhanded by today's standards, but it doesn't ruin the film for me.

[Teasing the Korean]

I agree that the ending "message" is laughably heavyhanded by today's standards, but it doesn't ruin the film for me.

I felt that the ending went beyond heavy-handed into the realm of unbelievable. Survival instinct kicks in at a certain point and trumps whatever biases a person has. Still, it was good up until that point.

[etherbored]

i enjoy naruse so much that i own 'when a woman ascends the stairs'. i competely agree with the original post about the score (which is under utilized, imho). the first time i saw the film i swore it was mjq as well. of course during that era, and still to this day to varying degrees, japan has musicians that follow paths set down by the archetypes of jazz. great film nonetheless...