It’s also been a while since we touched
upon the genius of British composer John Barry, so I thought I’d recommend The
Last Valley (1971) (Intrada Special collection vol. 46). In a time
where epics were still very popular with cinema going audiences, John Clavell’s
Todd-AO production faired rather disappointingly at the box office, despite the
popularity of Michael Caine and some positive critical acclaim. Fittingly
enough, Barry’s score is the epitome of the word epic, as has been the wait for
it to finally emerge on a digital format. Intrada’s release is a straight
forward issue of the film’s original and hard to find album, without the luxury
of any bonus material. Saying that, I’m sure I read somewhere, long ago that
the masters for Barry’s majestic score were thought to be lost but
unfortunately I can’t confirm any such comments. However, listening to Barry’s
work today I can confirm that it remains both compelling and enthralling and
among the high points of his 70’s work. Naturally inspired by the film’s
incredible cinematography, Barry’s journey takes us from the delicate, pastoral
moods of a ravaged, war torn village to the mammoth choral pieces set against
the bloody and traumatic battles of the Thirty Years War. While it’s always
nice to have the composers original working of a score, occasionally there are
some very fine exceptions from which some interesting comparisons can be made.
Regarding The Last Valley, I should
also mention Nic Raine’s complete re-recording from Silva Screen, a very nicely
worked CD with the highest of production values. Significantly though, it is
Raine’s version that contains some 20 minutes more music, including a beautiful
love theme, which was subsequently dropped for the original LP release. It was
a puzzling yet common enough occurrence, as it is today, that often left
collectors both unsatisfied and asking the question why? Whichever version you
may choose to go with I’m sure you’ll be delighted.  (To order Intrada’s John Barry score click
here)-Â Darren Allison