I remember looking forward to seeing Capricorn One, way back in 1978, because I thought it was going to be about a rescue mission to retrieve astronauts that had crashed on Mars. When I learned that the astronauts never got off of terra firma, my interest cratered and I did not see the film until it made its television debut.
It comes as no surprise that the very first thing I noticed about the movie was its score, which Jeff Bond's liner notes describe as opening with a "vivid, percussive anthem for orchestra."
For far too long I had to make do with the truncated 35 minute re-recorded soundtrack album, which smoothed and softened the score's tough, astringent, and avant-garde touches into a more retail market friendly symphonic sound.
Listening to the actual film music now, I agree with Bond's closing observation that Goldsmith's "score is more complicated, uncompromising and experimental than its re-recorded album indicated."
A fact that also explains why Goldsmith would continue to mine and explore the themes he created for Capricorn One, leading him to craft the memorable 5/8 musical powerhouses for the Rambo films and so many others.
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