Скачать или смотреть The Deathhead Virgin [Original Score] (1974)

The Deathhead Virgin [Original Score] (1974)
Composed by Richard LaSalle (1918-2015)

Tracklisting:

1. [00:00] Exploring the Sunken Wreck / Evil Freed
2. [05:19] Flight / Scalping the Girl
3. [07:54] Water Play / Strange Happenings
4. [11:45] Murderous Pursuit / Frank is Dead
5. [15:39] Virgin Princess Attacks / Boat Hijacked / A Woman Under Suspicion
6. [20:03] Swim to the Boat / Vengeance of the Princess / Finale

From film and television director Norman Foster (1903-1976), whose career comprised an extremely large body of work on both sides of the camera, this cheap but modestly effective horror yarn (co-produced between the Philippines and the United States) stars Diane McBain (1941-2022), who reached a brief peak of popularity during the early 1960's, Iraida Arambulo (in her only film appearance), notable Filipino actor Manny Ojeda, Jock Gaynor (1929-1998), who also produced the film, Larry Ward (1924-1985), and legendary Filipino actor Vic Diaz (1932-2006).

Bound for a century within a submerged tomb, a priceless treasure lies beneath the ocean. When a determined treasure hunter (Jock Gaynor) discovers a Spanish galleon wrecked off a Philippine island, he unknowingly awakens an ancient princess (Kim Ramos), who unleashes a wave of murder and mayhem in order to appease the god that she was sacrificed to a hundred years earlier... Most American backed Filipino genre films from the time were unbearably cheap, dull, and unintentionally goofy, and this seems to be no different. From a story and screenplay co-written by Jock Gaynor and Larry Ward (both prominent figures in the television industry during the 1960's), the film contains the familiar 'vengeful spirit' story, and at times is inventive and well-acted, but at others is overly drab, tedious, and rather silly. Despite this, the story (told largely in flashback) is nicely told and some of the underwater sequences with a shapely young woman flitting about wearing nothing but a weird-looking mask are quite impressive. Unfortunately, viewers are bombarded with this same visual time and again. Largely forgotten today, the film, though flawed, is still enjoyable, elevated somewhat by the exotic locales and a couple of intriguing twists.

One of the most impressive aspects of the film is the highly effective score from the often-overlooked American composer Richard LaSalle, which gives it a progressive energy that is very much to its benefit. Reminiscent somewhat to his score for 'The Mermaids of Tiburon (1962), there are some wonderful tracks lurking here which are both alluring and suitably eerie via reverbed harp playing a romantic melody (which is also taken by strings), and the otherworldly tone of the Theremin accentuating the film's fantastical elements along with various sound-effects from the film and a barrage of shrieking brass when the vengeful spirit is released. A wonderfully atmospheric score (and much sought after by collectors), this bears listening to in its own right, whether you've seen the film or not. Although he didn't receive many high-profile productions to work on, LaSalle (who began his career as a pianist and orchestra leader during the 1940's/early 1950's) enhanced every film (around fifty) he worked on, composing music for the likes of 'Tank Battalion (1958), 'The Flight that Disappeared (1961), 'Hands of a Stranger (1962), 'The Day Mars Invaded Earth (1962), 'Diary of a Madman (1963), '40 Guns to Apache Pass (1967), 'Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls (1973), 'The Thirsty Dead (1974), and 'The Night the Bridge Fell Down (1983). Some of his television work included 'Land of the Giants (1969) and Irwin Allen's television-film 'City Beneath the Sea (1971).

This video is for promotional use only. I do not own the rights to the music. All rights belong to the artist / band.