Virtually all film musicals, particularly in the early days of film, were adaptations of stage musicals, and I think it's fair to say that British film musicals have had nothing like the impact on popular culture of their American counterparts. At times they have elegance, as in 1931's Man Of Mayfair starring Jack Buchanan, or charm, like Sing As We Go from 1934, written as a vehicle for the much-loved Lancashire music hall star Gracie Fields. But ultimately they are parochial affairs, unable to match the grandeur and energy of Hollywood .
In the 1960's film musicals based around established stars such as Cliff Richard became the vogue. But more significantly it was at about this time that John Barry began writing soundtracks and songs for the film industry, beginning with Beat Girl in 1960, starring Adam Faith. He quickly graduated to writing for the highly popular James Bond films, for which wrote some of his best scores and theme tunes, including Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice, From Russia With Love and Diamonds Are Forever. Barry went on to write the popular theme to Born Free with lyricist Don Black, and his scores contributed much to the success of many more films, not least Out Of Africa.
Despite some excellent original material written by Lennon & McCartney for A Hard Day's Night and Help! in the mid-1960's and contributions from established musicians and lyricists, including Alan Price, David Essex, The Gibb Brothers, Elton John and Tim Rice, John Barry remains the one substantial figure to emerge specifically from within the British film music genre.

{back}      {back to guide}