Favourite film soundtracks from Schindler’s List to E.T
The score for Schindler’s List has been voted the nation’s favourite film music according to a poll by Classic FM and Radio Times.
Thousands of listeners took part in the poll to vote for their favourite movie themes, and more than 21,000 votes were cast.
Steven Spielberg’s 1993 film features a haunting violin solo and several other orchestral pieces underscoring the story of German businessman Oskar Schindler - played by Liam Neeson - who saved more than 1,000 Jewish people during the Holocaust.
Not long after its release, the American composer John Williams won an Oscar for his work on the film, and it appears the overwhelmingly positive opinion on his work remains unchanged nearly 30 years on.
Williams’ work features in the top 20 a total of five times for themes on Schindler’s List, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and E.T. the Extra Terrestrial.
Howard Shore’s accompaniment for the fantasy film Lord Of The Rings came in second meanwhile the work of German-born composer, Hans Zimmer, in the film Gladiator, came third in the public poll.
“Williams doubted he could pull it off ”
When Williams, now 88, first viewed Schindler’s List, he is said to have humbly told Spielberg “You need a better composer than I am for this film.”
The director allegedly retorted “I know. But they’re all dead!”
Andrew Collins, Classic FM presenter and Radio Times film editor, seemed to support this story, saying “Williams doubted he could pull it off. He was wrong.”
Collins described the full list of the UK’s favourite movie soundtracks as “as moving and mournful as any winner.”
Also appearing on the top 20 list a total of three times, is Italian composer Ennio Morricone, for his work on Cinema Paradiso, The Mission and The Good, The Bad And The Ugly.
Morricone died in July this year at the age of 91.
Here is the UK’s top 20 movie soundtracks ...
1 Schindler’s List – John Williams
2 The Lord Of The Rings – Howard Shore
3 Gladiator – Hans Zimmer
4 Out Of Africa – John Barry
5 Dances With Wolves – John Barry
6 The Mission – Ennio Morricone
7 Star Wars – John Williams
8 Chariots Of Fire – Vangelis
9 The Good, The Bad And The Ugly – Ennio Morricone
10 Jurassic Park – John Williams
11 Doctor Zhivago – Maurice Jarre
12 Cinema Paradiso – Ennio Morricone
13 Ladies in Lavender – Nigel Hess
14 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – John Williams
15 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – John Williams
16 The Magnificent Seven – Elmer Bernstein
17 633 Squadron – Ron Goodwin 18 Amelie – Yann Tiersen 19 Blade Runner – Vangelis
20 Braveheart – James Horner