he Omega Man, loosely based on Richard Matheson's celebrated novel I Am Legend, is one of the most memorable science fiction films of the early 1970s. Charlton Heston starred as scientist Robert Neville, the last healthy human on a plague-ridden Earth. The picture is an insightful and adventuresome sociopolitical commentary, strengthened in large part by the exciting music of composer Ron Grainer.
The soundtrack--recently released for the first time as part of Film Score Monthly magazine's "Silver Age Classics" limited-edition CD series--showcases 18 elegant and engaging cues. "The Omega Man" introduces Neville's lonely pop-tinged theme, which reappears in various incarnations throughout the movie within numbers like "Needling Neville," "The Spirits Still Linger" and "Dutch Takes Over." A more malevolent, agitated melody representing the infected family surfaces on such cuts as "Surprise Party" and "Neville Crashes Through," while works like "On the Tumbril," "Zachary Makes His Move" and "Hope Springs Eternal" spotlight a tender piano motif for Lisa (Rosalind Cash), Neville's ill-fated lover.
The disc also features three source cues: a snippet of Max Steiner's famous theme from A Summer Place, "'Round Midnight" by Cootie Williams and Thelonious Monk, and Cole Porter's "All Through the Night." Film Score Monthly senior editor and album co-producer Jeff Bond provides a lengthy examination of the music in the liner notes. In addition, the 16-page booklet includes recollections from Heston, percussionist Emil Richards, recording engineer Dan Wallin and other individuals involved in the making of the film.
A mingling of many musics
Although Grainer was never terribly well-known in the United States, throughout the 1960s and early 1970s he was a highly respected composer in England. In fact, fans of British SF television should instantly recognize his "mod" sound, which often enhanced episodes of The Prisoner and Doctor Who. Grainer's snappy, chic style perfectly augments The Omega Man, lending a sophisticated air to the expressive yet somber story.
What is most fascinating about the melodies is Grainer's inventive intermingling of rock, electronic, orchestral and jazz elements into portentous though invariably pleasing creations. "Bad Medicine for Richie" is a perfect example of this conglomeration, presenting a sweet guitar-and-string theme to signify the innocence of Lisa's younger brother, who is slowly falling victim to the plague, before adding light percussion and synthesized noises to subtly indicate the hope and danger signaled by the administration of an unproven cure. Another unusual sound heard throughout the album is the waterchime, an instrument that uses tuned discs dipped into a liquid-filled container to generate extraordinary tones. The ghostly effects produced by this peculiar device embellish numbers such as "Jumped by the Family" and "Matthias the Victor."
While some of the arrangements are a bit outmoded, overall Grainer's work remains resourceful and original. The music of The Omega Man will never usurp Jerry Goldsmith's earthshaking melodies for Planet of the Apes--Heston's most notable science fiction feature--in the annals of
SF soundtrack history, but the tunes are potent, poignant and impressive.
