"The Ladykillers" is a remake of the
classic Ealing comedy from 1955 directed by Alexander Mackendrick,
which starred Alec Guiness, Herbert Lom and Peter Sellers. Nothing
about the Coens' version really mimics the original except the
basic plot, and this was also true of the music.
Long before the film was shot Joel Coen had this
idea of combining gospel, hip-hop and baroque music in some way
- but even after months of talking about it we weren't sure exactly
how this would be done, or even if it was a good idea. There were
scenes in the film which called for music of one or another of
these genres, and the gospel had been recorded prior to shooting.
I was given the job of writing a faux-baroque version of the song "Trouble
of This World" which could be intercut and mixed with gospel
and hip-hop versions during the "heist" montage which
is a high-point of the film. The result is available here as "Baroque
Troubles".
Another important score element is Prof. G.H. Dorr's
(Tom Hanks) theme. I wanted it to emanate from him whenever he
is transported by sweet poetry. Just as important, I wanted its
delicate refinement to set up the clunking of the Professor on
the head by a concrete gargoyle in Dorr's last scene. This theme
is typified by "Helen Thy Beauty Is".
Lastly there is the Heist theme, typified by bongos
and bass and sometimes incorporating harpsichord in a nod to all
those British detective films and serials which used jazzy harpsichord
riffs. I can't recall if the original "Ladykillers" did
this, but I'll be listening for it the next time I watch.
Film
Stills
Film
Info
Written and Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
Music Editor: Todd Kasow
Music Scoring Mixer: Mike Farrow
Orchestrated and Conducted by Carter Burwell
Contractor: Sandy Park
Recorded at Right Track Studio A509
Mixed at The Body Studio
Starring Tom Hanks, Irma P. Hall, Marlon Wayans
U.S. Release March 2004
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Audio Samples
This score was never released on CD. Here, for demo
purposes are some examples:
