TOP 100 HENRY MANCINI FILMS: #30-21

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#30-21 of the Top 100 Henry Mancini Films

From a cinematic reinterpretation of Tennessee Williams to Mancini’s Disney flick, this batch of ten films has a little bit of everything…

#30: The Glass Menagerie (1976)

Directed by Paul Newman and based on the play by Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie (1987) is a domestic drama dealing with family issues of abandoned wife Amanda Wingfield, her disillusioned, working-class son Tom, and her shy, physically challenged adult daughter Laura.  John Malkovich (“Tom’) and Karen Allen (“Laura”) deliver performances you always knew they could since there’s plenty of room to emote in this play-turned-into-a-movie. Unfortunately, it’s still as flat as a play turned into a movie. Mancini’s score, which isn’t used enough in the actual film, is wonderful, moving, and superbly crafted. 

#29: Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)

Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962) is one of three Jimmy Stewart films that Henry Mancini scored and, therefore, featured in The Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana, PA - as shown in a previous Digging Star Wars blog post. In fact, I purchased my DVD copy of the film in the museum’s gift shop. Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation has a slow start but is worth patient viewing of the entire film. Subtlety is key in the timing of the plot and laughs… and, yes, heartstrings are pulled at the right moments. This is a dad’s movie and would make a great Father’s Day gift.

#28: The Molly Maguires (1970)

The Molly Maguires (1970) is one of four films that Mancini scored that were mentioned in Jeanine Basigner and Sam Wasson’s book “Hollywood – The Oral History”. Unfortunately, all four Mancini films were mentioned in the book as box office flops. However, The Molly Maguires is true, heartfelt, gritty, and honest. The film has nice cinematography and decent performances. Unfortunately, its pace is slow and depressing which may have modern viewers going “meh.”

#27: Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978)

I received this DVD in a film gift exchange at my work’s film club – and I absolutely love it. Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978) is smart, sassy, sexy, and just plain fun. The whirlwind tour of Europe was magnifique. Jacqueline Bisset and George Segal are perfect as the hot/cold couple and Robert Morley adds the right amount of zest and zany.

#26: Hatari! (1962)

Hatari! (1962) features Mancini's ever-popular "Baby Elephant Walk."  In Hatari!, John Wayne doesn’t take himself too seriously while at the same time dialing in a believable performance. The whole cast is great. The zoo safari scenes are intense and the staged animal bits are funny and endearing. Best of all, Hatari! feels fresh and organic with little need for a three-act formula (although it’s probably still in there, it just didn’t feel like it was structured - in a good way). Honestly, I’m surprised a remake was never attempted. 

#25: Silver Streak (1976)

Pryor and Wilder catch lightning in a bottle with Silver Streak (1976). Music and cinematography are A+ for its day.

#24: The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)

Basically, The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) is a kids film made for adults. Unfortunately, the live-action majority of the movie can’t compete against its own animated opening and ending which features cartoon versions of Inspector Clouseau and the Pink Panther lampooning a variety of films including Batman: The Movie (1966), King Kong (1933), The Sound of Music (1965), Steamboat Bill Jr (1928), and Jaws (1975).

#23: The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

With Henry Mancini writing music that Vincent Price sings as the vicious villain rodent Professor Ratigan, how can The Great Mouse Detective (1986) be anything less than perfect? Ratigan being animated by the same animator that brought Ariel in The Little Mermaid (1989) and The Beast in Beauty and the Beast (1991) to life, Mr. Glen Keane, doesn't hurt either. And while Barrie Ingham, the voice of mouse Detective Basil, and Val Bettin, the voice of faithful Dr. Dawson, do an excellent job, Price steals the show. The charm of Disney's hand-drawn animation combined with what was "cutting edge" computer animation creates a surprisingly delightful, albeit nostalgic, experience that holds up today. Mancini enjoyed the experience and The Great Mouse Detective ushered him into the post-MTV pace of movies. "Everything goes so fast," Mancini said about scoring this animated feature, "the story just zips across the screen." The Great Mouse Detective remains a fun ride.

#22: Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)

I rated this movie two out of five stars. That said, if you are confused as to why this film scored so high, please 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.

#21: Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

In October of 2018, Turner Classic Movies held a contest for their TCM Backlot fan club members for programming suggestions for an event entitled “Halloween Under The Moon”. My Mancini theme write-up, including Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), won. Here’s what I wrote: 

"Before he wrote songs about fuchsia felines and breakfast at high-end jewelry stores, award-winning film and TV composer Henry Mancini toiled in terror soundtracks at Universal Studios circa 1950. As part of Universal’s music department (and often uncredited in the films he scored at the time), Mancini composed soundtracks for both horror and hilarity involving horror. Memorable titles of this era include Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), It Came From Outer Space (1953), and Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953). Of course, Mancini went on to score all kids of films and TV shows. All the while, he experimented with new instrumentation including African drums, autoharps, and synthesizers. Using the simplest of sounds, his music would cast a dark, acoustic shadow within his scarier films and create dread in moviegoers before the monster revealed itself. This year, let’s celebrate Halloween Under the Moon with the man who wrote ‘Moon River’ and set the mood for frightful (and funny) adventures for us all. Suggested Playlist: The Deadly Mantis (1952), Monster on the Campus (1953), It Came From Outer Space (1953), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Revenge of the Creature (1955), Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953), Abbott and Costello Go To Mars (1953), Tarantula (1955), Francis in the Haunted House (1956), Experiment in Terror (1962),  Touch of Evil (1958) and Lifeforce (1985)." 

To learn more about Henry Mancini's life and career, read this Henry Mancini short biography.

And that’s a wrap on #30-21! Next week, we break into the Top 20 with another Pink Panther appearance and several Jimmy Stewart appearances including a film that merited an Oscar nominee for Mancini. See you there!

• The Top 100 Henry Mancini Films: #100-91
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• The Top 100 Henry Mancini Films: #80-71
• The Top 100 Henry Mancini Films: #70-61
• The Top 100 Henry Mancini Films #60-51
• The Top 100 Henry Mancini Films #50-41
• The Top 100 Henry Mancini Films #40-31
• Henry Mancini 100 - A Celebration! - The Official Henry Mancini Website
• Henry Mancini 100 - A Celebration! - Spotify Playlist

* 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.