Film critic Mark Kermode presents a special concert to celebrate the 85th birthday of composer John Williams.
A long time ago in a galaxy not so far, far away composer John Williams sat at his grand piano to sketch out ideas for his next film score. He knew little about the subject matter apart from the fact that it was a 鈥渟paceship film鈥�. His friend Steven Spielberg had recommended him to the film鈥檚 producer who was called George Lucas. He set to work on the main theme 鈥� a blast of discordant brass 鈥� a fanfare to herald the start of the film. In later years he said 鈥� 鈥淚 hope I wrote something mysterious, dramatic, and hugely effective鈥�.
In 2005 the American Film Institute named the soundtrack to Star Wars as the most memorable film score of all time. On 8th February this great movie maestro celebrates his 85th birthday. He is perhaps the last great maestro who writes big orchestral music for the big screen 鈥� continuing a line which has included the likes of 鈥� Franz Waxman; Erich Korngold and Alfred Newman. He鈥檚 provided scores for more than 100 films over a career spanning more than 5 decades including 40 year collaboration with director Steven Spielberg. He has won 5 Oscars, 4 Golden Globes, 7 Baftas and 22 Grammy Awards. He has notched up 50 Academy Award nominations second only to Walt Disney who achieved 59.
In this special Friday Night is Music Night concert film critic Mark Kermode looks back on John鈥檚 career and the 成人快手 Concert Orchestra conducted by Stephen Bell perform some of his greatest scores including Jaws, Star Wars, Harry Potter , E.T. , Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Indiana Jones and Saving Private Ryan.