Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg in a publicity still for The Avengers
With Dr. Strangelove (full title: Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned How to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb), produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, Johnson delivered a calm instrumental main theme with images of nuclear bomber planes being refueled in midair. The titles suggested the sexual act. You can see the main titles below.
Dr. Strangelove's story details how a deranged U.S. military officer (Sterling Hayden) sent American nuclear bombers against the Soviet Union. However, the Soviets have a "doomsday" weapon where if the USSR is attacked, more atomic bombs will be unleashed in retaliation. The Soviets were going to announce the existence of the doomsday weapon the following week.
Much of Johnson's score is based on the song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." While the movie is a dark comedy, it is very tense and dramatic. Peter Sellers played multiple characters and Ken Adam was the movie's production designer.
Johnson also was enlisted to become the composer for the fourth season of The Avengers television series. This was when Diana Rigg joined the cast with Patrick Macnee. Johnson would provide a new theme that would remain in place for the rest of the show.
Here is Johnson's initial version of The Avengers theme.
In the 1970s, there was a revival titled The New Avengers. Patrick Macnee was back as John Steed. This time out, he had two assistants played by Gareth Hunt and Joanna Lumbley.
The start of Johnson's theme for The New Avengers evoked the beginning of his initial Avengers theme. But the composer went off in a new direction.
According to Johnson's IMDB.COM entry, Johnson had 47 composing credits starting in 1958 and extending to 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment