Star Wars voted best theme on the planet

IT has thrilled fans for decades with the promise of action and adventure.

But the story is not over – now the opening tune to Star Wars: A New Hope has been named the best film theme of all time, more than 40 years since it won the Oscar for best original score.

The song, written by John Williams, received over 20 per cent of the 2,000 public votes cast in a Radio Times and BBC Music Magazine poll. The composer had written six of the top ten entries.

Howard Shore’s theme tune for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring came second while 2001 film Harry Potter The Philosopher’s Stone – also penned by Williams – placed third.

Tim Glanfield, Radio Times’s online editor, said: ‘Immediately recognisable, full of drama, excitement and hope, the original Star Wars theme is as seminal in film music terms as Star Wars: A New Hope was cinematically.’