Published Reviews
By Chris Stavrakis
Film Score Monthly
"In 1848, the same year he wrote the score for Don Juan, Max Steiner composed a magnificent opus for John Huston's epic tale of greed and redemption, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. After many years of suites and excerpts, this rousing masterpiece is finally available in substantially expanded form, once again thanks to the dynamic duo of John Morgan and William T. Stromberg. Along with the excellent Moscow Symphony Orchestra, they have recreated one of the greatest adventure scores ever written, with the same painstaking attention to detail that characterizes their earlier efforts.
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p>"From the thunderous brass and cymbals of the main title, to the ripe Mexican strains of 'El Desayuno,' to the jolting rhythms of 'Attack on the Train,' Steiner's versatility and flawless dramatic instincts are on full display; motifs merge into a seamless, wall-to-wall tapestry of music..."As usual, the recording is impeccable with regard to sound quality. As with their re-recording of the King Kong score, Stromberg and Morgan have taken the main title at a slower tempo than the frenetic pace of its cinematic counterpart, lending a more majestic quality to the piece. Booklet notes include Rudy Behlmer's comments upon the production of the film; interesting background information on Steiner and his orchestrator, Murray Cutter; and a cue-by-cue analysis... Long overdue, Sierra Madre is a true classic that will be treasured by many a collector. I'll proudly place this superlative disc right next to my favorite of its many descendants...Raiders of the Lost Ark."
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