TOP 100 HENRY MANCINI FILMS: #90-81
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#90-81 of the Top 100 Henry Mancini FilmsThis portion of the list also has the very last screening of mine in the Top 100 Henry Mancini movies. Buckle up: this group has some doozies. #90: The Great Imposter (1960)The Great Imposter (1960) is a surprisingly great film. Tony Curtis is fantastic. #89: Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) |
While Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) falls flat most of the time, it does have moments of silliness that are mildly funny. Confused as to why this film scored the way it did? Check out The System we used to rank the Henry Mancini films. I did my best to combine critics and fans' opinions on the films for their mathematical placement on the list.
#88: Destry (1954)
Destry (1954) is a stereotypical 1950s Western that spends too much time on a limited number of studio sets and not enough time outside in the wild. However, the concept and script are decent and the cast features Audie Murphy – one of America’s most decorated World War II heroes who found a career as an actor in several films that Mancini scored.
#87: Gaily, Gaily (1969)
I’m stunned this film scored so highly in the Top 100; I did not expect Gaily, Gaily (1969) to break into the 100 at all. On the surface, this is a sex comedy set in 1910 America. The filmmakers were also trying to make a statement on many things ranging from the United States government to marriage to the purpose of art in the face of religion. All that, however, gets lost in repeating cleavage jokes. The video above is a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s production.
#86: Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops (1955)
Squirrel! Honestly, the squirrel steals the show and is the best part of this movie. Oh, there are a few good gags – but the premise is weak and just can’t pull the average viewer through to the end with glee. This was another film scored during Mancini’s self-proclaimed graduate school years at Universal. Read more about it in his bio written by yours truly.
#85: Little Miss Marker (1980)
A great cast that gels well together. Matthua does not disappoint. The music was great – Hank clearly just let loose and had fun with Little Miss Marker (1980).
#84: Fear (1990)
Fear (1990) is a well-constructed, Hitchcockian thriller with a fading 80s flavor. Mancini’s score is very good. The most impressive aspect of this movie is the art direction and camera movement and how they reveal clues or support character development. Thrillers aren’t my cup of tea, but I do like this one.
#83: Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992)
It has been said that in the initial theatrical run of Star Wars (1977), fans would, on repeat viewing, close their eyes, and simply listen to the movie. Now, I’m not saying you can only enjoy Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992) with your eyes closed, but Mancini’s score is certainly worth giving its due attention. The first 12 minutes are absolute Mancini bliss. And while songs with lyricist Leslie Bricusse are okay, it’s Hank’s score and cues that are truly enjoyable. The kitchen fight scene calls upon Henry’s expansive genre experience as he transitions the music thematically matching the various international foods in the battle. This film even has multiple comedic references to Mancini’s birthplace of Cleveland. Bravo!
#82: Meet Danny Wilson (1952)
Ironically, Meet Danny Wilson (1952) was Mancini’s first feature film as a scorer and the last Mancini film I screened out of all 100 films on this list. Mancini’s boss at the time Joseph Gershenson, who handled music direction on Meet Danny Wilson (1952), hired Hank to compose both background and transitional music between the Sinatra hits such as “All of Me” and “That Old Black Magic.” The film is extremely entertaining. Sinatra is young, charismatic, and one heckuva an actor. The supporting cast around him – Alex Nicol, Shelley Winters, and a dangerously svelte Raymond Burr – add the right amount of pizzazz and playful banter for Sinatra to play off of and shine like a star. And, of course, the music is top-notch all the way around.
#81: The Hawaiians (1952)
The Hawaiians (1970) is a film that is ambitious, gratuitous, shocking, and stirring…and just a wee bit too long. The theme, however, is as lush as the landscape in the picture.
That’s it for #91-80.
The next batch is ALL OVER THE PLACE. In my opinion, it has one of the worst films Mancini ever scored (no fault of his own) and a title with the best use of Mancini music realized on film. And, yes, they both reside between #80-71.
More Mancini:
* Thanks to David P. Ramos for that impressive sketch of Hank hard at work, Scott Derby for the iconic Digging Star Wars logo, and Josh Taback for the much-needed art direction of the overall Top 100 “square art” layout.
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