Composer

:

Elmer Bernstein

Genre

:

Film

Style

:

Film Score

Compose Date

:

1980

'Airplane!' is a 1980 American satirical comedy film directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. The film premiered on July 2, 1980, and quickly became a cult classic. The film is known for its absurd humor, slapstick comedy, and clever wordplay. The film's soundtrack was composed by Elmer Bernstein, a renowned composer who had previously worked on films such as 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' The 'Airplane!' soundtrack is a collection of orchestral pieces that perfectly complement the film's comedic tone. The soundtrack features a total of 14 tracks, each of which is named after a specific scene or moment in the film. The first track, "Main Title," sets the tone for the film with its upbeat and playful melody. The second track, "Meeting Striker," features a more subdued and serious tone, as it accompanies a scene in which the film's protagonist, Ted Striker, meets with his former girlfriend. The third track, "Take Me to the Hospital," is a fast-paced and frenetic piece that accompanies a scene in which a passenger on the plane becomes ill. The fourth track, "Love Theme from Airplane," is a romantic and sentimental piece that accompanies a flashback scene in which Ted and his former girlfriend reminisce about their past relationship. The fifth track, "Jive Talk," is a lively and upbeat piece that accompanies a scene in which two African American passengers speak in jive. The sixth track, "The Landing," is a tense and dramatic piece that accompanies the film's climactic scene, in which Ted must land the plane safely. The seventh track, "Airport Source," is a more subdued and atmospheric piece that accompanies scenes set in the airport. The eighth track, "Getting the Clearance," is a fast-paced and urgent piece that accompanies a scene in which Ted must obtain clearance to land the plane. The ninth track, "The Taxi," is a playful and lighthearted piece that accompanies a scene in which Ted takes a taxi to the airport. The tenth track, "The Runway," is a tense and dramatic piece that accompanies a scene in which Ted must navigate the plane down the runway. The eleventh track, "The Takeoff," is a fast-paced and exciting piece that accompanies a scene in which the plane takes off. The twelfth track, "Inflight Entertainment," is a playful and humorous piece that accompanies a scene in which the passengers are entertained by a variety of absurd and ridiculous activities. The thirteenth track, "The Dinner," is a more subdued and atmospheric piece that accompanies a scene in which the passengers are served dinner. The final track, "End Title," is a reprise of the film's main theme, and serves as a fitting conclusion to the film. Overall, the 'Airplane!' soundtrack is a perfect complement to the film's absurd humor and clever wordplay. Elmer Bernstein's orchestral pieces perfectly capture the film's comedic tone, and serve as a reminder of the film's enduring popularity and cult status.

More....