Not only was his score for 1977's Star Wars named the number one Greatest Film Score of all time by the list-happy folks at the American Film Institute, but the music he wrote for 1975's Jaws and 1982's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial also made the cut, coming in at number six and 14 respectively.

A jury of over 500 film artists, composers, musicians, critics and historians were tapped to determine which of the most memorable scores would be chosen for The Big Picture—AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores, a new list commissioned by the famed institute in association with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.

The Top Ten:
Star Wars (1977); John Williams
Gone with the Wind (1939); Max Steiner
Lawrence of Arabia (1962); Maurice Jarre
Psycho (1960); Bernard Herrmann
The Godfather (1972); Nino Rota
Jaws (1975); John Williams
Laura (1944); David Raskin
The Magnificent Seven (1960); Elmer Bernstein
Chinatown (1975); Jerry Goldsmith
High Noon (1952); Dimitri Tiomkin

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Posted by Lawren at September 27, 2005 08:18 AM | Trackbacks (0)

You Said

North by Northwest is also top notch in my opinion.

Says: Lynne at September 27, 2005 09:30 AM

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Don't think it made the list. But, as far as other Hitchcock-Hermann couplings, "Vertigo" made the top 25.

Says: Lawren at September 27, 2005 09:45 AM

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John Williams is so prolific that when he's on his game he makes great music. I'm not surprised he has 3 scores in the top 20.

But when he's off his game he scores are listless: see Jurassic Park and Always.

Says: Brian D. at September 27, 2005 11:39 AM

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Vertigo also has a good one. They were a great team.

Says: Lynne at September 27, 2005 06:42 PM

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