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Title: 'The Best Years of Our Lives' & Friedhofer's Landmark Score
Review: Hugo W Friedhofer's landmark score for Wyler's film has often been lauded as 'the finest American film score' in any mumber of scholarly publications; moreover, it is the most discussed score of the sound era.Perhaps, I am being a bit biased, having known the late composer, as well as having produced the LP and 2 CD versions of the original score, recorded by the London Philharmonic in 1978.Friedhofer's music is such an integral part of this film that it is not possible to imagine 'BYOOL' without it. Listen, for example, as to how the composer treats several disperate scenes with his bittersweet 'Americana'-imbued score [influences of Copland (naturally), Gershwin, and the second-movement of Elliott Carter's First Symphony (1942), the latter of which was known to Friedhofer].If this great score does not move you, then absolutely nothing will. John Lasher, producer, Fifth Continent Australia P/L.
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