The Blue Lagoon

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

By the time passed, everyone will know about the tale of a deserted boy and girl on a deserted island. And even if you don't know your classics or even didn't see it (I'm not embarrassed to include myself on that list) it is still a part of that romantic age of Gone beyond that wind. Of course to think now that this was the movie people got crazy over. I would have loved to see their faces when they would have encountered a epic story like Titanic (better not because they would have thought that real people were jumping of that ship). Of course a classic as Randal Kleiser's fall in love epic is always a dream come true for a composer, and speaking in the terms of Basil Poledouris' age and career development a wonderful starters kit. And with the Australian Symphony Orchestra at his disposal Basil could surely unleash all the sweet romantic tones for that mellow mood. Luckily Basil kept his over creamed cake in the oven and kept things more adventurous but with a touch of love and romanticism wrapped around it and that controls The Blue Lagoon's sound and tone.

It is one of Poledouris' earliest classics and yet I discovered no real problems purchasing it of a record dealer. The price was the usual standard and with 34 minutes you have at least something for a respectable sound quality. And even if its not a super sweet listen, it still sets the charge for what Poledouris would create in the latter years. Especially the main love theme for Brooke Shields 'Love Theme (Emmeline)' is very good, being my favorite of the whole score. The score holds a sense of adventure when the young deserters explore the island ('The Sands of Time') or a deep love feeling in tracks such as 'Main Title', 'The Children Grow', 'The Kiss', 'Bad People / Baby Swim' (with a good love theme performance as in the next track) '3 Points to Port / End Titles' . It is all the testament of Poledouris' gifts as a composer that the score never becomes boring or too smooth, too mellow. The Blue Lagoon remains in that part a better listen then first imagined.

Of course the only problem I usually encounter with dated scores is that after a time it doesn't lose its quality but more its magic. When you know certain things about the composer it is hard to over appreciate those things he just got under the control when he was 10 to 20 years younger. Its that typical old music that you sometimes thought so well off. In that specific time it might have embraced you with more magic but today it has worn out a bit. Of course a good classic like we would say today off Star Wars, Star Trek or another example isn't that worn out product, and surely The Blue Lagoon isn't one worn out listen, but it doesn't hold its league when we heard Farewell to the King several years later of Poledouris. But the release is found for a remarkable "fair" price and Poledouris fans might want to seize the moment and pick up this little classic. Because it remains that little extra for those who seek anything that might expand their Poledouris collection or to fill up that romantic side of their shelve.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Love Theme (Emmeline) (2.31)

2. Main Title (2.35)

3. Fire (1.16)

4. The Island (1.43)

5. The Sands Of Time (2.24)

6. Paddy's Death (1.18)

7. The Children Grow (4.09)

8. Lord Of The Lagoon (1.04)

9. Love Theme (Reprise) (1.10)

10. Underwater Courtship (1.58)

11. The Kiss (2.33)

12. Richard Sees Paddy (2.20)

13. The Birth (1.13)

14. Bad People / Baby Swim (3.00)

15. The Memories (1.18)

16. 3 Points To Port / End Titles (3.21)

Total Length: 34.40

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Basil Poledouris ===