Other than Death Wish II (1982) being your host's favourite film in the series, it also boasts a great soundtrack. All the more impressive is it's produced by Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page. Blasphemy to many, but the Death Wish II soundtrack is the only music that's related to Led Zeppelin that I can listen to without Rap making it palatable.
A Shadow in the City is the best track off the soundtrack - and defines an outsider's impression on the sound of Los Angeles via film. Mean and moody from the offset, blessed with nasty synth stings, eerie cries and a bubbling noise that I can only imagine is the pent up anger rising out of Paul Kersey's soul. Simply put: it perfectly compliments Charles Bronson's vigilante prowling the cold, urban streets of Los Angeles as its Angel of Death.
Elements of A Shadow in the City are noticeable on Michel Colombier's track John and Betty's Theme off the Deep Cover soundtrack. What I love the most about this instrumental is how it samples Page's recognisable two notes and uses it as the skeleton to a late night, minimalist track for hustlers and love makers.
The connection between the two films isn't just applicable to just these two tracks, however. Both films featured Lawrence Fishburne (previously credited as Larry Fishburne back then).
While not a leading role like his undercover cop in Deep Cover, Fishburne would play Cutter, a member of Nirvana's gang; memorable for his futuristic-looking visors. Cutter would meet his demise in a shootout and idiotically shielding himself with a boombox.
Even further down the rabbit hole, Fishburne's co-star in Deep Cover was Jeff Goldblum, who also played a nasty street punk in the first Death Wish (1974) film.
Does anyone else remember the hoax of Jeff Goldblum's death in 2009? I definitely recall it, but I also remember the bizarre use of a Goldblum scene from Death Wish as part of the news story. Of all the Jeff Goldblum film clips to use, and the one selected is where he's a horrible scumbag. Barely anyone knows he was in it, either. Sadly, I can't find the news report which contained the Goldblum's Death Wish scenes online, after all these years.
Never really liked Led Zeppelin outside of rap songs sampling them either. The only time one of their songs has ever sounded good as a standalone is when Black Dog was used as George Dawes' theme on Shooting Stars.
ReplyDeleteZepp had a hot riff, Rap made it a hot song.
ReplyDeleteDid you watch that British Sex Comedy doc last night? I enjoyed it, but was gutted it was on at the same time as The Shining.
I did. Very funny that there's XXX hardcore versions of a lotta those movies they made with stunt-cocks + stunt-minges to sell to European countries.
ReplyDeleteXXX inserts were strangely common back then. Tinto Brass’ Caligula (1979) being the most notorious one I know.
ReplyDeleteKnew about Pete Walker’s other films, but I didn’t know he was the one who kickstarted the British sexploitation wave like the doc claimed.