Best Use of Classical Music in Films

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Mozart's Requiem in The Big Lebowski! 

[Grazioso]

and while we are out on the ocean, the following from one of my favorite, if not my favorite, movies made in the last decade, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Thomas Tallis Fantasia on a Theme 
Boccherini La musica notturna delle strade di Madrid, Op.30 No.6 <Quintetto>
Bach Prélude (1st movt) from Cello Suite No. 1
Corelli   Concerto Grosso Op.6 No.8 <Adagio>
Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3 <3rd movt>

A superb film, based on superb books, with superb music, superbly implemented This always leaps to my mind as one of the most intelligent and emotionally effective uses of classical music in a film not explicitly about classical music (such as Amadeus). The RVW Fantasia as a deeply moving post-battle elegy, the Bach prelude for Maturin's foray on the Galapagos--what an unexpected but somehow apropos meeting of images and music (and the cello is of course that character's instrument), the Mozart for the friendship and high spirits of the musically inclined principals, and so on.

[ChamberNut]

I find that Stanley Kubrick's movies in general tend to make great use of Classical music. People have mentioned 2001 and A Clockwork Orange, but I also think The Shining does a great job with Bartok's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta. And of course the Ligeti and Penderecki, although various Penderecki pieces are layered on top of each other most of the time.

Symphonien, yes!  How could I forget mentioning Kubrick's The Shining?  I love Wendy Carlos' arrangement of the Dies Irae from Berlioz' Symphonie fantastique!  Played right at the opening credits of the film, as the overhead shots of driving through the Rockies provides a most chilling and foreboding ambience.

[Brian]

Indeed! Being a huge Chopin fan this was a must. Because the C sharp minor was often omitted from nocturne sets I was relatively unfamiliar with it. This gorgeous piece is now one of my most listened to works.

And Wladyslaw Szpilman's own 1948 recording of that nocturne is simply shattering - one of my favorite recordings of anything.

[Renfield]

Symphonien, yes!  How could I forget mentioning Kubrick's The Shining?  I love Wendy Carlos' arrangement of the Dies Irae from Berlioz' Symphonie fantastique!  Played right at the opening credits of the film, as the overhead shots of driving through the Rockies provides a most chilling and foreboding ambience.

And I also seem to recall that, much to my astonishment when I first spotted the fact during the end-credits, it was none other than Herbert von Karajan conducting the "original" part of the soundtrack for "The Shining".

Not that it comes as much of a surprise, in retrospect: I had already made a mental note of how tautly-performed it was as I was watching the film, a couple of years back.

[Bogey]

A superb film, based on superb books, with superb music, superbly implemented This always leaps to my mind as one of the most intelligent and emotionally effective uses of classical music in a film not explicitly about classical music (such as Amadeus). The RVW Fantasia as a deeply moving post-battle elegy, the Bach prelude for Maturin's foray on the Galapagos--what an unexpected but somehow apropos meeting of images and music (and the cello is of course that character's instrument), the Mozart for the friendship and high spirits of the musically inclined principals, and so on.

You just ten notches up on my cool meter Grazioso.  Way to nail this one.

[Wanderer]

Another great example is the use of Bartók's Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta (second movement) in the brilliantly surreal Being John Malkovich.

[eyeresist]

I'm afraid my only contributions to this thread will be invalid:

1) Fantasia!
2) Meistersinger overture as used in the Boogiepop Phantom animated series.

I remember the Bond film "The Living Daylights", they used Mozart's 40th, the Act 2 Finale to the Marriage of Figaro, and Dvorak's Cello Concerto.  Needless to say its my favorite Bond film.

Wow, I'll have to watch it again. I recall really liking the realism of the first two thirds, but then it got silly and dull when the action moved to Afghanistan.

[vandermolen]

2001 A Space Odyssey (which I saw 8 times at the cinema when it first came out in 1968) and A Clockwork Orange (which I saw before it was banned). Predictable choices but they are the ones that stand out for me. Barber's ubiquitous Adagio in The Elephant Man also worked well.

[Wanderer]

I remembered another favourite one: the use of Barber's Agnus Dei and Fauré's Requiem in Simone.

[Symphonien]

Symphonien, yes!  How could I forget mentioning Kubrick's The Shining?  I love Wendy Carlos' arrangement of the Dies Irae from Berlioz' Symphonie fantastique!  Played right at the opening credits of the film, as the overhead shots of driving through the Rockies provides a most chilling and foreboding ambience.

Ah yes, forgot about that. That Dies Irae does fit well at the beginning too, along with some wonderful cinematography.

Here's the opening credits, on YouTube. The helicopter shadow can be seen briefly in the open matte version; see if you can spot it.

[marvinbrown]

  Not for nothing but I believe that all of us here have got it all wrong.  The BEST use of Classical Music in films is an opera that has been turned into a excellent film production  .

  marvin

[Grazioso]

Barber's ubiquitous Adagio in The Elephant Man also worked well.

And of course in Platoon.

[Sergeant Rock]

The Ride of the Valkyries used in the air assault scene in Apocalypse Now.

Sarge

[Brian]

And of course in Platoon.

Actually, anytime Barber's Adagio appears in any film that I watch with non-classical-listening friends, they tell me that it's the most wonderful thing they've ever heard.

[Haffner]

The Ride of the Valkyries used in the air assault scene in Apocalypse Now.

Sarge

Now that was extraordinarily effective!

[vandermolen]

Now that was extraordinarily effective!

I agree too.

[Sergeant Rock]

Now that was extraordinarily effective!

Too effective! In the 70s, 80s I wouldn't watch films about Vietnam. The real thing was still too fresh in my mind. The only exception was Apocalypse Now. My best friend persuaded me to see it with him when it was originally released. The music combined with the air assault images were blood-curdling to me...the emotions I felt watching it were like the real thing: the intense fear, the adrenaline rush, the heightened awareness, the bloodlust. I was a cavalry scout in a mechanized brigade: I know what it feels like to be the first to step into the fire and those feelings came rushing back. Although I've seen far more realistic battle sequences since then (Platoon, for example) nothing has ever given me quite the same sense, the same emotional feel, of charging into combat.

Sarge

[Bogey]

The Ride of the Valkyries used in the air assault scene in Apocalypse Now.

Sarge

Did they kick some Eric Burdon and the Animals in that one too Sarge?  Or was that just used in the previrews?

[Sergeant Rock]

Did they kick some Eric Burdon and the Animals in that one too Sarge?  Or was that just used in the previrews?

It's been awhile since I watched it but I think it's just Wagner in that scene.

Sarge