Soundtracks of the Harry Palmer movies

Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, who died 24 December 2012 at the age of 76, was one of Britain's leading film and television composers for most of the last 50 years.

He was nominated for the Academy Award three times – for Far From the Madding Crowd (1967), Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) and Murder on the Orient Express (1974) – but his more recent excusions into film included the popular Enchanted April (1991) and Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). He won a BAFTA for Orient Express and was nominated several more times for equally deserving scores including Equus (1977) and Yanks (1979).

Here are some quotes by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett on BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN during an interview at his Manhattan residence on December 17, 2001.

The complete profile and interview appeared in FILM SCOREMONTHLY.

"The main titles of BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN are of computer printouts about Harry Palmer. So you saw all these machine like happenings. I had recently seen Labaie des anges (BAY OF ANGELS) scored by Michel Legrand which is about gambling.He used a lot of piano keyboarding sounds, and so I did steal that idea, so the title music is three grand pianos playing in front of an orchestra. I did not use any instruments that sounded sympathetic like strings or flutes. I used alot of percussion, brass, and pianos, and this extraordinary French electronic instrument called a ondes martenot. It was a coloristic decision. I did not know John Barry's score, and BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN was kind of fun in that kind of way. You often get a cue for a film from a) something from in the film itself,and b) from somebody else's score..."

Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, interviewed by James Phillips, New York City, December 17, 2001.

This info about the soundtracks of Bullet and Midnight can be found on a site about Rick Wakeman (Rick Wakeman's Communications Centre). Most interesting stuff about making the soundtracks for Bullet and Midnight can be read below:

"What an amazing five months! It's almost impossible to know where to start, but we'll do our best.. Firstly the Michael Caine films. All the music was finally delivered in early April and "Bullet to Beijing" was premiered at the film festival in Cannes in May. This is due for major cinematic release a little later this year. The other film, which was made for television and entitled "Midnight in St Petersburg", has yet to be given a viewing spot although it is unlikely that it will be shown until at least three months after "Bullet to Beijing " has been shown.

Producing the music was not without it's difficulties and much was written before it was delivered to the satisfaction of the producers and directors. This is not an uncommon situation although there was a stage during the recording when Rick and Stuart were considering never to go to the cinema again! The final outcome was very pleasing though and Rick is very pleased with the music. His only regret is that he never got to meet Michael Caine!After all the keyboards and percussion were recorded in Rick's studio, the tapes were taken to CTS Studios in Wembley where a string section was added with arrangements done by Les Williams around Rick's original score. There has been talk of a soundtrack album to accompany the films but as yet nothing has been firmed up. (1995)