My recent viewing of Paul Verhoeven's movie Benedetta (review to come later) reminded me that the score was written and conducted by Anne Dudley. I think I first realised that she was such a talented composer and arranger when I went to see the second Mamma Mia film. Her musical interpretations was why I went to see the film twice, now have it on permanent record on Sky. and then posted on this blog "Mamma Mia - Here We Go again - The Songs and Instrumentals in Order" on 28th January 2019. I also found that Anne wrote the score for the uncomfortable but brilliant movie Elle, also written and directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Isabelle Huppert.
So I was interested to learn more about Anne's work on films and found this Mathew Sweet podcast from 2017. It starts with the theme from Poldark, why would it not when Anne composed the score for all 42 episodes from 2015 to 2019. These five series have been a firm favourite of ours. After a short conversation about Elle (more to come later), we are on to another Verhoeven film Black Book from 2006. (I now find I have seen the last nine movies made by this director). There is also a mention of Anne playing keyboards for A-ha, although Wikipedia only mentions some string arrangements.
However, the next movie was a big hit Buster from 1988. Amongst the familiar songs, many with Anne's orchestral introductions, we have Phil Collin's Groovy Kind Of Love that we were told was given a helping hand with a trademark Dudley arrangement. We hear about the score for Robbie Coltrane's The Pope Must Die from 1991 and then 1992's Knight Moves. This dark thriller got the appropriate score. On to The Crying Game from the same year The Grotesque from 1995.
But it's Anne's Oscar up next. Winning the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score for the 1997 movie The Full Monty.
Apparently it needed a motley collection of instruments for that motley crew alongside the familiar songs. (Steve Harley's Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) is one of my favourite uses of a pop song in a movie). When American History X is discussed, we hear that almost religious ending called Benedictus. Also played was a clip from the score for the 2001 animated film Monkey Bone.
Amongst the many scores Anne has written for TV, there was mentioned Poldark (obviously), Kavanagh QC and The Tenth Kingdom. In 2006 cane Tristan + Isolde with an electronic based score. I loved the excerpt that was played and went back to hear it again. (Now bought the CD). We are briefly reminded of Anne's time with The Art Of Noise. She then gets to choose the classic score of the week and we hear John Barry's music from Midnight Cowboy. My post of 31st January ("John Barry RIP) starts with "John Barry was always one of my heroes... " from the John Barry seven onwards. My favourite was his theme from Out Of Africa.
Lastly we get to Elle from 2016. Anne tells us she is quite chuffed because Paul Verhoeven originally wanted to start the film with that scene of violence, and instead when he heard Anne's main theme started with that instead with some titles over a black screen, and then that attack. The track played was "Primal Scream" which still made me jump. All the music played in this programme is listed on the podcast. There are many films and tv programmes that Anne scored that were not mentioned, and obviously those that came after 2017 including Mamma Mia - Here We Go Again and Benedetta.
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