1989 - One of the best years for film music (in my opinion)

My favorite year for film music is 1989, with so many memorable scores.

Ennio Morricone, Cinema Paradiso
Alan Menken, The Little Mermaid
Danny Elfman, Batman
Elmer Bernstein, My Left Foot
Maurice Jarre, Dead Poets Society
John Williams, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Born on the Fourth of July
Bill Lee, Do The Right Thing
Alan Silvestri, The Abyss and Back to the Future II
Hans Zimmer, Driving Miss Daisy
Patrick Doyle, Henry V
Jerry Goldsmith, The 'burbs and Star Trek V
James Horner, Glory and Field of Dreams

Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

This is a critically acclaimed and inspiring film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize play by Alfred Uhry. It is the story of a temperamental Southern widow (Jessica Tandy) and the relationship she has with her black chauffeur, Hoke (Morgan Freeman). At first you don't know what to make of Ms Daisy, but as the film progresses, you get to know her through how she relates with Hoke, her only true friend.

The DVD has a commentary by screenwriter Uhry, who shares his recollections about the making of this film and how his own experiences with his grandmother shaped the story. The Dan Aykroyd character (as Daisy's son) is loosely based on him. What I found interesting about both the son and Hoke is how patient they are with Daisy throughout the film.

Hans Zimmer's score is rather underrated, I feel; its a lovely piece of music (haunting at times) and really adds to the whole story. Jessica Tandy was born to play this role. I remember watching the Oscar ceremony that year, and seeing Gregory Peck hand her the trophy for Best Actress. It was a great moment; Tandy had been a film and stage star for many decades. One of the most moving scenes is toward the end of the film, when Daisy is watching Martin Luther King Jr. speak live in person. In that scene, you could feel how his words are making an impact on her.

The art directors and set decorators deserved the Oscar nomination for their detailed work. Just look how they recreated the era:



Once again, director Bruce Beresford allows the scenery to be one of the major co-stars.





1948: A theater shows "Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!" starring June Haver and Natalie Wood.