Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

John Williams is THE MAN!!

One of the best scores written by one of the most talented film composers EVER!! October 4, 2007

John Williams' score for Last Crusade is lighthearted, fun

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade's soundtrack recording, like most albums of the genre, has its virtues and vices. Even keeping in mind that it was released originally in 1989 in records, cassettes, and the still-new CD format, it is still an album that offers John Williams' score for the third film in the Indy series, but not enough of it.

Having veered by design into dark thematic and musical territory in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, director Steven Spielberg, producer George Lucas and composer Williams decided to revisit the more fun and thrilling tones of Raiders of the Lost Ark, adding depth to Indy's character by including his father, Professor Henry Jones, Sr. and new themes reflecting the father-son dynamic and the quest for the Holy Grail.

Keeping in mind the limitations of this album, the music here is enjoyable. Listen to "Indy's Very First Adventure" (track 1) and you can almost see young Indiana Jones (as incarnated by the late River Phoenix) as he goes after the Cross of Coronado in a Utah cave, then is chased as he rides first a horse, then a circus train, to get the relic to the sheriff before a band of thugs catches him. It's a very 1930s-style action key in the vein of Erich Korngold, but (and here's the rub) it is missing the segue to the conclusion of the sequence as seen in the final scene, when the rogue archaeologist places his fedora on young Indy's head, then with the appearance of the Raiders March Phoenix's face is obscured, to be replaced by Harrison Ford's as Spielberg flashes 26 years forward to 1938 and a storm-tossed freighter off the Portuguese coast.

The music of The Last Crusade veers from the rollicking "Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra" (track 3 and one of the most clever cue titles), which has a recurring motif heard as underscore during Henry and Indy's adventures as they evade their Nazi pursuers. Williams intercuts that lively theme with a darker musical idea for the Nazis, which evokes an evil militaristic order (in the style of his Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back) with its minor keys and jeering brass notes. The short cue "No Ticket" (track 6), heard when Indy, dressed as a German airship crewman, punches out SS Col. Vogel (Michael Byrne) and sends him flying from the Zeppelin's window, is wryly humorous, while "The Belly of the Steel Beast" (track 10), with its suspenseful atmosphere and rising crescendos recalls Indy's attempts to rescue his dad and Marcus Brody from an enemy tank in the desert of Hatay.

The famous Raiders' March is seldom heard on this CD, being briefly stated in tracks 3 and 10 and only coming to the fore in track 13, "End Credits (Raiders' March)," where it is married to the "Scherzo" and the sentimental theme for Henry. Nevertheless, for Williams' aficionados, this CD is an enjoyable one. November 29, 2003

Not the last crusade for John Williams

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a solid action score that is worthy of a 5 star rating. John Williams excels once again in this next adventure of Indiana Jones. The Raiders March is largely underused in this score, instead giving room for some new themes. "Indy's Very First Adventure" starts out suspensefully and then explodes into some powerful action music. One of the new themes is found in "X Marks the Spot" and "Ah, Rats!!!" which is a beautiful string and brass motif. Another theme occurs in almost all of the action cues which is a theme for the Nazis played mainly on brass, especially on trumpet. "Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra" is an exciting action cue with bouncy woodwinds and bold brass fanfares. "Escape From Venice" is another solid action cue with lots of brass and snare drums with some Italian instruments thrown in to represent the setting. Most of the remainder of the music is of the action type with all of the themes, including the Raiders March getting a full rendition in the final track "End Credits". This is an overall great action score that I think you will really enjoy, especially if you liked Raiders of the Lost Ark. Just don't expect to hear much of the Raiders March until the final track. January 5, 2003

Best Williams Soundtrack

If you're a John Williams fan, you can pick out, either on movie trailers, radio stations or shuffled CDs, which songs are written by him. He has a very distinct style. If you are big John Williams fan, not only do you perk up when you hear his music, but you can name what movie it's from. And, if you're an obsessed John Williams fan, you can not only name the movie, but the exact part in the movie, what the character is doing, and the key that the music is in. I'm not to that point yet. But when it comes to "The Last Crusade Sountrack", you could say that I am an obsessed John Williams fan. This one, I think, is undoubtedly his best.

One of the greatest things about Mr. Williams is that he has strong melodies that are quite memorable. (Just think of how often you hear "Jaws" in parodies and otherwise). "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" has distinct melodies on nearly every track. That's why I think this soundtrack is the best he's ever composed.

The best track, by far, is track 3--"Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra". Goofy name. You don't actually hear a motorcycle in the music, just pizzicato strings, pic and other instruments to form quite a song. (This is the part in the movie where he's being chased on motorcycle.) It's driving and intense ...and very cool. I think it's probably the most underrated Williams song in all of history. Any my favorite.

There are two other tracks that are bright as well. "Escape from Venice", track 5, is an adventurously played mandolin/full symphony orchestra piece. It's very intense, but also has a few whimsical parts with a mandolin that keep it light. The other track, "In the Belly of the Steel Beast", track 10, is slower and heavier, featuring mostly low instruments. This, of course, is the tank part in the movie. Although it's slower, it still has some quickly tempo-ed parts that'll keep your blood moving. And, best of all, all of these themes are starkly different from each other.

In fact, that's the best thing about the whole soundtrack. You find, on nearly every track, that the melodies differ quite a bit from one another. From "No Ticket", which is a whimsical piece, to "The Grail Theme", that features a somber, pretty and sober melody, to "Keeping up with the Joneses", a sometimes bright and sometimes sad melody, you can find a nearly new, memorable song on each track. That was a run-on sentence, wasn't it.

Nearly every track on this CD is worth mentioning. Track 13, the last track, features not only the grail theme, but "Raider's March" and "Scherzo for Motorcycle & Orchestra". The first track, "Indy's First Adventure", is also good. In short, every single track on this whole CD is worth its weight in gold.

If I could recommend any CD to anyone, this would be it. It's on my list of the top 5 CDs of all time. And I guarantee, if you get it, you won't regret it. December 10, 2002

As good as Raiders

That's right! It's difficult to me to say which soundtrack is better, this captures the essence of the mov, spite not having all music. Perhaps this one could even be better than raiders having great music like scenes from the beginning or the castle.

"Indy's Very first Adventure" has a mysterious beginning, but then changes to an exciting, adventure tone as the young Indy escapes with the cross of Coronado(which has a little theme too)
"X Marks The Spot" begins with a wonderful little cue for the trip to Italy by plane. Then the tone rises from mysterious notes to a bang as Indy say the title of the track.
"Sherzo For Motorcycle and Orchestra" is the scene when the Joneses escape from the Castle, being an exciting track, which introduce that cool Nazi cue (actually in the mov it appeared before!)
"Ah, Rats!!!" has a fine variation of the Grail's theme (so archeologic part!) and a big explosion in the end.
"Escape From Venice" is a nice action music, that adds a kind of greek guitars for Kazim.
"No Ticket" is one of the most adored cues, covering the part of Indy taking care of Colonel Vogel.
"The Keeper Of the Grail" has a little theme for the knight and the notes get darker as Donovan makes his choice.
"Keeping Up With The Joneses" is a mix of variations of the father/son relationship appearing some parts in the mov.
"Brother of The Cruciform Sword" has a full rendition of the nazis theme.
"Belly Of The Steel Beast" is probaby the most adored, and I agree since it's powerful music for an action scene with a lot of marches for the fight with nazis. A true gem!
"The Canyon Of the Crescent Moon" contains some arabic touches and "The Penitent Man Will Pass" has the grail's theme at his maximum with choirs.
The soundtrack comes to an end with "End Credits".

"Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade" has an excellent score for the last(not exactly) mov of the saga. I'm waiting ansiously for John Williams return for Indy 4. October 16, 2002

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