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Music Conducted By
Jerry Goldsmith

Orchestrations By
Arthur Morton

Recorded By
Eric Tomlinson

Performed By
The National Philharmonic Orchestra

Album Produced By
Luc Van De Ven

Label
Prometheus PCD 127 (Remastered 2005)

Previous Release(s)
Prometheus PCD 127 (1993)

Year Of CD/Film Release
2005/1980

Running Time
39:05

Availability
Normal Release

Cues & Timings

 

1. Main Title (2:34)
2. The Diving Bell (2:43)
3. "The Very Thought of You" (3:53) **
4. Beckdorf's House (1:45)
5. The Drowning (1:58)
6. Heaven Knows (3:29) ***
7. Love Scene (1:10) *
8. Boat Attack/Jungle Run (6:17)
9. Hide and Seek (6:26)
10. The Final Act Begins (1:54)
11. The End of Beckdorf (1:54)
12. "The Very Thought of You"/Finale and End Credits (4:41)*

* Contains music composed by Ray Noble
** Composed by Ray Noble
*** Lyrics and Sung by Carol Heather



Soundtrack Ratings

Disappointing

Functional

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 Excellent

 Outstanding

Cabo Blanco
 
One of sadly many assignments hardly worthy of Jerry Goldsmith's talent. Goldsmith probably signed up on the strength of the film's director; J Lee Thompson whom the composer had collaborated successfully with before, most notably on the Chairman and would work once more with him on the 1985 remake of King Solomon's Mines.

Cabo Blanco the movie had little going for it but the opening shots clearly stirred something within the composer who turned in one of his most melodious Main Titles. It remains the only real reason to sample Cabo Blanco, it's rich south of the border feel makes for a dazzling Goldsmith theme, a style the composer would often utilise for the many westerns he scored, perfectly evoking an exotic romantic adventure, musically far more lavish than the film deserved.

The Diving Bell introduces an ominous underwater environment focussing on sinister brass, spotlighting Tuba along with swirling strings as frogmen appear from the murky depths and assault the descending Bell. As a charge is set by them Goldsmith builds the anxiety of those stuck inside with a terrifying cacophony of strings as the Bell explodes.

Ray Noble's classic song The Very Thought Of You pops up throughout the movie, here in the next cue it's utilised as a source track playing in the background of the local bar.

Berkdorf's House introduces Goldsmith's march for the villain of the piece; a Nazi war criminal living in exile on Cabo Blanco. The short cue opens with a tense Latin rhythm for percussion and strings, that contrasts vividly with a flamboyant secondary theme for a journey to Berkdorf's opulent home.

The Drowning initially reprises the infectious Cabo Blanco theme as a local fisherman dives in to the picturesque bay, but like the Diving Bell earlier comes under attack from guarding frogmen who murder him. Goldsmith again provides growling brass and swirling strings for the ensuing under water struggle and his violent demise.

Heaven Knows is another source cue, though this time an original piece by Jerry Goldsmith with lyrics by Mrs Goldsmith (Carol Heather) reflecting on the film's post war mood. Disappointingly Goldsmith doesn't develop this theme as part of the score for the movie, leaving the Love Scene to an adaption of The Very Thought Of You.

The Berkdorf theme gets a dramatic workout in Boat Attack/Jungle Run, one of two lengthy cues. The second part provides low key suspense before the Berkdorf theme explodes in the brass as a chase ensues giving Goldsmith the opportunity to turn the theme into a major action workout replete with virtuoso playing from the strings. Hide and Seek follows in a similar vain as shakers and castanets mingle with guitar, and strings whisper alongside woodwinds to create a more suspenseful atmosphere.

The Final Act Begins has an elaborate Bolero-like variant of the Berkdorf theme for snares and castanets for the classic stand off between hero and villain. Goldsmith's thrilling finale piece is pinned by a powerful statement for trumpets and backed by strings. While The End Of Berkdorf focuses on low key suspense with castanets and xylophone before a tragic secondary theme for Berkdorf signals his demise, dramatically carried by strings and guitar.

The album and the film close with another rendition of The Very Thought Of You (Finale and End Credits). Sadly no reprise of Goldsmith's stunning main theme.

The soundtrack to Cabo Blanco was one of a number of scores that never had a soundtrack release at the time of the film, which was hardly surprising considering its minor showing at the box office. It was rescued from obscurity by the Prometheus label in 1993 and re-issued again by them in 2005 with re-mastered sound and new cover art. Though it has to be said in terms of sound quality the first release sounded pretty damn good.