MINT - SEALED
World premiere of original soundtrack to 20th Century-Fox biblical tale about David, King of
Israel and his love for Bathsheba, starring Gregory Peck, Susan Hayward. 1951 movie was
Fox's initial entry in biblical-spectacular trend of late 1940s, early ’50s. No composer was
more sensitive at scoring films with religious subject matter than Alfred Newman (THE ROBE,
SONG OF BERNADETTE, THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD.) He provides David and Bathsheba with
sumptuous music for their love story, colorful music for period locales they lived in,
highlights with exciting music for numerous battles and powerful music for the famous David
and Goliath sequence. Everything's capped by one of Newman's most impressive finales, a
dynamic setting of "The Twenty-Third Psalm" for combined chorus, orchestra. Nearly an hour
premieres in mono, as presented for the film, mastered from original optical tracks and
acetate reference discs maintained in the Fox vaults. Notes by Newman authority Jon
Burlingame offer insight to production, background on scoring. CD concludes with bonus
stereo mix of finale from surviving multi-channel session elements made during final
combined orchestra, chorus session. Alfred Newman conducts. Intrada Special Collection
release limited to 1500 copies!
1. Prelude/The Israelites 2:34
2. The Battle of Rabbah 2:09
3. Caravan to Jerusalem/Nathan, the Prophet/Absolom 3:04
4. Bathsheba/Bathsheba's Destiny/David and Bathsheba 5:16
5. A Shepherd/A Love Scene 3:06
6. Gilboa/The Battle of Gilboa 4:02
7. Lament for Saul and Jonathan/Ark of the Covenant 2:14
8. On the Terrace 5:11
9. Early Dawn 1:35
10. The Fate of Uriah 3:49
11. Uriah is Dead 2:11
12. Wrath of God/The Sick Baby 6:29
13. Michal and Absolom 2:11
14. A God Without Mercy 2:31
15. Walk to Tabernacle 3:23
16. Goliath 2:21
17. The 23rd Psalm 2:38
Total Score Time = 55:34
Bonus Track
18. The 23rd Psalm [Stereo Mix] 2:38
SYNOPSIS - "David and Bathsheba" is a respectable, slightly stodgy cinemazation of the Old
Testament story. King David (Gregory Peck), much beloved by the subjects and a war hero of
long standing, falls victim to the sins of the flesh when he falls in love with Bathsheba
(Susan Hayward), the wife of Uriah (Kieron Moore), one of David's most trusted soldiers. His
downfall begins when David orders Uriah into a suicidal battle, knowing that this will clear
the way for his relationship with Bathsheba. His infatuation leads him to neglect his
kingdom and his people, and invokes the wrath of God. Only after his land has been
devastated by God's hand does David offer atonement. The film's lavish production values
compensate ever so slightly for the long-winded script. David and Bathsheba was the last
major "flat-screen" Biblical epic; it was filmed in 1951 B.C. - Before Cinemascope.
