| "Lifting" is rampant in the film music world. Of course, the responsibility lies with the composer, but with an insistent director or producer, sometimes anything goes. Williams and Zimmer are in the limelight now, so they'll get targeted first. But if they're going to go after film composers, why don't they go for the gusto: Carter Burwell who, in "Doc Hollywood," lifted from Prokofieff. Andrew Lloyd Webber who, in "JC Superstar," lifted from Mendelsohn. James Horner who lifted from work for hire pieces he wrote. And Quincy Jones who had to hire the actual composer of the theme from "The Color Purple." And those are just the cases that came to mind.
What to do? I don't know. But what I'm saying now is if they're going to go after Williams and Zimmer, they'll have to go after a lot of people in the business.
p.s. The theme from "Gladiator" sort of reminded me of a minor "Bye Bye Birdie." |