The Best Years of Our Lives [Hugo Friedhofer]

This video pays tribute to the legendary film composer, Hugo Wilhelm Friedhofer, who received a much-deserved Oscar in 1946 for his brilliant, much lauded score for the William Wyler directed film, "The Best Years of Our Lives".

Friedhofer's score was analysed in several serious musicological journals at the time. Presently, it ranks sixth in the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest Film Scores of All Time.

The selection heard here, which is titled 'Homecoming', presents four of the score's leitmotives. The recording was produced by John Steven Lasher for Entr'acte Recording Society, which was later absorbed by Fifth Continent Music Classics. This recording is (P) (C) 1978 & 2000 Fifth Continent Australia Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

The Label X CD [LXCD 14] is available on iTunes and Amazon.com. Another CD of our copyrighted material released by Membran GmbH in Germany is a pirated edition. Do not purchase this or download it.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• The
• Best
• Years
• of
• Our
• Lives
• Hugo
• Friedhofer
• Franco
• Collura
• John
• Steven
• Lasher
• Fifth
• Continent
• Music
• Classics

[ffvsartoris]

Brilliant score, fine recording, bizarre conducting.... the "Main title" that begins it is positively lugubrious.... (compare it to the trailer) but some great color later and some nice pacing.

[FifthContinentMusic]

@ffvsartoris What an absolutely stupid comment on your part. For your information, mate, Mr Friedhofer changed the tempi markings before the recording. The conductor followed them to the letter.

[Glinkaism1]

At 1:06 the three in the airplane going home ends & the scherzo accompanying the flight footage goes on! So it's not matched to the visual. But tis the music that's important. 

[FifthContinentMusic]

@Glinkaism1 The stills have not been synchronised. Your comments are not relevant.

[robst999]

This is a haunting and beautiful song which inspire feelings of sadness and joy. Certainly it fits the mood of the film. Words escape me in describing the beauty of this piece.

[Kinopanorama1]

Brilliant score if ever there was one.

[samwst56]

Reminds me of parts of the last movement to Dave Diamond's 4th Symphony. Same kind of feeling. And whoa! I'm not saying anything was borrowed. Both were great, separate, scores. This surely is outstanding music. Thanks for sharing it!

[Dana888dana]

@threecalifornians

He did???? I am truly impressed by his talent!! It is a God-given gift - how proud you must be!!! He made so many people like myself so happy with his works. And many more people to come throughout the years!

[FifthContinentMusic]

@spacepatrolman The LP was released in 1978, followed by the Barclay-Crocker reel-to-reel tape in 1980. What the hell do you mean by a music book?

[FifthContinentMusic]

@spacepatrolman What does your comment have to do with 'The Best Years of Our Lives"?

[FifthContinentMusic]

@spacepatrolman The lyrics have nothing to do with the film. You are banned.

[spacepatrolman]

@Dana888dana i taped the whole movie of spartacus because there is music that isnt on the record like the beginning at the salt mines and the fantastic voyage was never issued on a record it was rumoured to exist on a test pressing