Veröffentlichung Kritzerland präsentiert Bernard Herrmanns WHITE WITCH DOCTOR

[Bastet]

Kritzerland is proud to present a new limited edition soundtrack release – a classic score from the Golden Age and the score’s first standalone release:

 

WHITE WITCH DOCTOR

 

Music Composed and Conducted by Bernard Herrmann

 

White Witch Doctor, based on the 1950 novel by Louise A. Stinetorf, was a Technicolor adventure film filled with action and romance, and two stars, Robert Mitchum and Susan Hayward who were not only wonderful actors, but who exuded sex appeal.   Director Henry Hathaway shot the film both on location and the Fox backlot – the beautiful photography was by ace cameraman Leon Shamroy.  But what really sets the film apart from other African-set films of that era (and there were a lot of them) is the incredible score by Bernard Herrmann.

By 1953, Herrmann was already a Fox regular and both Alfred Newman and Zanuck were huge fans of his.  For White Witch Doctor he delivered one of his greatest scores, yet not one that is known much these days.  The film begins with the kind of main title that just propels you into the movie – pervasive percussion and drums over exciting strings and brass, clanging bells, and winds run amok – no one did this kind of main title better than Herrmann.  Much of the score is breathtakingly beautiful with Herrmann’s amazing orchestral textures and colors.  It also includes several appearances by the weird and ominous-sounding instrument the serpent to underscore suspenseful moments – an instrument he would also make great use of several years later for Journey to the Center of the Earth.  Every cue is infused with Herrmann’s unique and brilliant harmonic character – in fact, much of the score plays like a preview of scores he would do for Hitchcock and the fantasy films that came later.  There was no one who did it like Herrmann and this is one of his all-time great scores.

White Witch Doctor’s first release on CD was part of the big Bernard Herrmann at Fox box on Varese Sarabande.  That set was a quick sellout and many fans missed out on its myriad pleasures, White Witch Doctor being among the best of them.  It’s presented in that wonderful Fox push-pull stereo and the score sounds absolutely splendid.

White Witch Doctor is limited to 1000 copies only and is priced at $19.98, plus shipping.   CDs will ship by the second week of July.  However, never fear – on average we usually ship two to four weeks ahead of the official ship date.

 

Und wenn Ihr dem Link folgt, dann dürft Ihr auch ein bisschen Probehören http://www.kritzerland.com/white_witch.htm

 

 

 

 

 

OOOOOhhhhhhhhhh  Yeeeeeaaaaaahhhh; schickes Cover!

[Sebastian Schwittay]

Bin zwar stolzer Besitzer der Varèse-Herrmann-Box - aber der Score ist so geil, den kauf ich mir nochmal einzeln.

[Bastet]

Bin zwar stolzer Besitzer der Varèse-Herrmann-Box - aber der Score ist so geil, den kauf ich mir nochmal einzeln.

 

Sebastian, sei ehrlich, das Cover törnt Dich an!?

[Sebastian Schwittay]

Das natürlich auch, ja. Wie schon im Falle von JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH.

[Osthunter]

Atemberaubende Musik. Ich lehne mich mal weit aus dem Fenster und behaupte: Der beste Score der 50 er Jahre... Zumindest von Herrmann!

[Stempel]

Wird gekauft.

[Osthunter]

Jetzt noch Cape Fear und Endless Night und zumindest ich wäre happy!

[Dakota]

Ja Cape fear wäre fein!!!!

Wobei die Neueinspielung von Bernstein ja auch ganz nett ist:)

[Markus Wippel]

NATÜRLICH sofort gekauft - hab ja leider die Herrmann Box versäumt (keine Ahnung wie das damals passieren konnte) - die 1000 werde gut weggehen denke ich!

 

Um einen Freund von mir zu zitieren - a wööldscore

[Luke]

Ohh das klingt fein.

 

Nur mal zwischendurch: Gibt es eigentlich eine deutsche Alternative zu Chris Soundtrack Corner?

[peter-anselm]

Es gibt den Soundtrack-Club, es gibt die Tarantel.  Von beiden bin ich bislang gut bedient worden wobei mein Herz für das Spinnenbein schlägt, die guten Zeiten am Pilatuspool rufen wehmütige Erinnerungen wach: mit Hubert (Bastet) konnte man schon mal ein Schwätzchen halten, bei Ingo Curth war das weniger möglich. Aber mit dem Nachfolger (Klein) kommt man auch gut klar.