"Cyrano de Bergerac" and "Batman" Have The Same Music (?)
Todd Slan Bradley
I just watched the newest version of "Cyrano de Bergerac"
last night on video (the one with de Pardieu). I had seen
the original black and white version (I assume it was the
original film version) but only now got around to viewing
this newer one.
During the scene where Cyrano is down by the wharf and
getting ready to go fight 100 men, the music turns to a
dark and ominous tone which I immediately recognized.
I thought about it for a second and realized (and said
aloud) "That's the Batman theme!" The music used in
"Cyrano" was so similar to the main theme from the recent
"Batman" film that it would surely be a copyright infringe-
ment if both pieces of music were done in the USA. I'm
not sure which film came out first so I don't know if some
French guy ripped off Danny Elfman or the other way around.
Has anyone else out there seen both of these films and
noticed the extremely marked similarity between the music
used? It was so obvious to me when I watched "Cyrano" but
the person I was with, not being a soundtrack buff or a
Batman fan, had no idea what I was so excited about.
Todd.
--
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Pentti Lajunen
>Has anyone else out there seen both of these films and
>noticed the extremely marked similarity between the music
>used? It was so obvious to me when I watched "Cyrano" but
>the person I was with, not being a soundtrack buff or a
>Batman fan, had no idea what I was so excited about.
Yeah, I noticed it when I was listening the Cyrano soundtrack.
Its the track number 5 on the CD. They're so similar pieces of music
that it CAN`T be an accident. Maybe both, Batman's and Cyrano's music
are based on some other music and Elfman and Jean-Claude Petit borrowed from
the same source.
But still, both soundtracks are very good. I like both of them very much.
Tyrell Corp. File Management (c)
Serial number: 151169-THX1138 Unit: Pentti Juhani Lajunen
Incept date: 15/11/1969 Incept place: Rovaniemi/Finland/Earth
Physical level: B Mental level: unknown
Termination date: unknown CPU made in Helsinki University of Technology
Directive: Collect property as much as possible before termination.
- end of file -
cameron shelley
> last night on video (the one with de Pardieu). I had seen
> the original black and white version (I assume it was the
> original film version) but only now got around to viewing
> this newer one.
The first english version starred Jose Ferrer; I believe
he got a best-actor Oscar for that performance. I don't know
of any other english-language versions though.
> During the scene where Cyrano is down by the wharf and
> getting ready to go fight 100 men, the music turns to a
> dark and ominous tone which I immediately recognized.
>
> I thought about it for a second and realized (and said
> aloud) "That's the Batman theme!" The music used in
> "Cyrano" was so similar to the main theme from the recent
> "Batman" film that it would surely be a copyright infringe-
> ment if both pieces of music were done in the USA. I'm
> not sure which film came out first so I don't know if some
> French guy ripped off Danny Elfman or the other way around.
When I first watched the recent _Batman_ movie, I was struck
by how closely Danny Elfman's music resembled _The New World
Symphony_ by Dvorak. At least the `title bars' were almost
the same, note-for-note. Dvorak wrote the symphony after his
visit from Prague to the New York Conservatory, around 100
years ago.
I thought it was an adroit, ironic touch by Elfman (and not
atypical of him either). I don't remember anything specific
about the music in the Depardieu version (I'll have to listen
harder next time!), but if the french film did use something
similar, I would say that they're both ripping off the same
Czech guy.
Cam
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k...@batman.austin.ibm.com
> During the scene where Cyrano is down by the wharf and
> getting ready to go fight 100 men, the music turns to a
> dark and ominous tone which I immediately recognized.
>
> I thought about it for a second and realized (and said
> aloud) "That's the Batman theme!" The music used in
> "Cyrano" was so similar to the main theme from the recent
> "Batman" film that it would surely be a copyright infringe-
> ment if both pieces of music were done in the USA.\
I noticed this too. It is so blatantly similair to Elfman's
"Batman" theme I rewound it and listened to it several times
just to make sure my ears weren't playing tricks on me.
BTW, this is the French Cyrano, not the 1950's one with Jose
Ferer (which is excellent, BTW).
THIS POSTING DOES NOT REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF MY EMPLOYERS.
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"We're just a Bob Seger cover band."
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