Mark Kermode & Jenny Nelson
Summary
Mark Kermode and Jenny Nelson discuss their new book, *Surround Sound*, exploring how film music shapes emotional connections and nostalgia. They debate the power of soundtracks, the strategic use of silence, and the distinction between composed scores and jukebox tracks. The hosts share personal "scars," including Jenny’s trauma from *Flowers in the Attic* and Mark’s chilling memory of *Doodle and the Blue Cat*. The episode concludes with a "tennis match" where they recommend unsettling scores, highlighting Bernard Herrmann’s *Psycho* and the alien theremin in *The Day the Earth Stood Still*.
Topics discussed
Sponsorships and introduction of guests Mark Kermode and Jenny Nelson
Introducing the book 'Surround Sound' and early listening habits
The calming power of instrumental music and Angelo Badalamenti's style
The impact of soundtracks on film and creative director-composer collaborations
The underrepresentation of composers in awards and the male-dominated industry
Jukebox soundtracks vs. original scores and the case of American Graffiti
Using pop music for nostalgia and period setting in films
The strategic use of silence in film scores, exemplified by North by Northwest
Improvising music for silent films with Neil Brand
Jenny Nelson's traumatic childhood experience with 'Flowers in the Attic'
Sponsor break
Mark Kermode's early cinema memory of 'Doodlebug and the Blue Cat'
The iconic score of 'Psycho' and Bernard Herrmann's legacy
The theremin in 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' and the chilling song in 'Night of the Hunter'
The use of children's voices and lullabies in horror scores
Sponsor break
The inventive use of dialogue in the score for the TV series 'Utopia'
Pino Donaggio's score for 'Don't Look Now' and its circular structure
Why horror films often involve harm to children and the fairy tale connection
What readers can expect from the book 'Surround Sound' and final thoughts
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