Scoring Rare Silent films for Grapevine Video

[gagman66]

Very excited to say that I am getting the unexpected opportunity to compile new musical scores for Rex Ingram's THE CONQUERING POWER (1921), with Rudolph Valentino and Alice Terry, as well a few other rare Silent films for Jack Hardy's Grapevine Video. I am most grateful for this generous chance. These will be released on DVD-R eventually. That is assuming the music is cleared for use, and providing I ever get the projects completed. Hopefully, they bare with me on these. I believe the melodies to be Public-Domain.

Here is a glimpse at a sequence from THE CONQUERING POWER with my scoring selections. Please comment on this footage, and the musical accompaniment. Thank you for you help with this matter. Your opinions are much appreciated. Click on the direct link to TCM CFU to view this clip.


fan.tcm.com/_Conquering-Power-Demo-unreleased/video/1428064/66470.html

[Midge]

Jeffrey, congratulations on the scoring gig! That must be very exciting. Unfortunately when I clicked on your link, I got a "404 File Not Found" message.

[gagman66]

Midge,

I 'm sorry. I have repaired the original link. But here it is again. Should work fine this time. Anyway, please let me know. Thanks.


fan.tcm.com/_Conquering-Power-Demo-unreleased/video/1428064/66470.html

[Hedvig]

Gosh that sounds like fun! It's probably very hard work if you want to do it properly. I always wondered what it might be like - I'd like to try it one day. You've got to tell us how you're doing.

[Midge]

Jeffrey, I finally got to see the video and I think you did a very nice job. I recognized two of the melodies: "Andante Cantabile" by Tchaikovsky, and a theme from Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6.

[gagman66]

Midge, Hedvig, Everyone,

Yeah, those are the melodies. Performed by Paul Whiteman's Orchestra. My thanks to for viewing the footage and voicing your opinions. The early music is pretty crackly sounding. Not much can be done about that. And the editing isn't very good either. I am not very happy with it. Certainly far from seamless. I tried out about three dozen melodies for the main-title theme. Have eventually narrowed them down to maybe a couple pieces. However, neither is exactly what I was looking for, and both are rather scratchy.

The Demo disc that Grapevine sent me of the movie is very good quality. It looks virtually identical to the print that TCM has broadcast in the past. Grapevine is free to release this film since despite being a Metro Silent, it is still considered to be a Public-Domain feature. That is, the movie is not tied up in copy-rights to Warner's or any other studio. Also was sent a a Lillian Gish film, and a Johnny Hines comedy feature called CONDUCTOR 1492.

[Hedvig]

... Which Lillian Gish film was that?

Great clip! The music is very appropriate to the scenes, and also very nostalgic. It sounds oldish, when was it recorded? The transitions between the different pieces are very well done!

I must say, this movie seems quite daring for its day with its skimpy costumes. I love how this is all set in France "as we picture her". Indeed.