Sunday, July 10th, 2011
KHCD-ST005 – Newman: The Robe (1953) – Soundtrack to the 20th Century Fox Cinemascope Production – The Robe is a 1953 American Biblical epic film that tells the story of a Roman military tribune who commands the unit that crucifies Jesus. The film was made by 20th Century Fox and is notable for being the first film released in the widescreen process CinemaScope. The music was composed by distinguished film composer Alfred Newman. When the original soundtrack album was issued on LP by Decca Records, it used a remix for only monaural sound rather than the stereo sound that was originally recorded. MCA, which acquired the rights to the American Decca recordings, issued an electronic stereo version of the mono tape in the mid-60s. This transcription is from a second-generation rainbow-bar label Decca (US) LP in mint condition. I have remixed the sound to the original mono, eliminating the ringing caused by the electronic pseudo-stereo separation and the echo plates used to create reverb. The results are true to the original movie sound source (which subsequently have been reported as deteriorated beyond restoring).
This classic soundtrack, along with a growing selection of previously out-of-print soundtracks as well as classical titles, may be found at Klassic Haus Restorations. Keep checking back for more titles! Cheers – Curt Timmons