My Favorite Themes - Part III

Score: The Witches of Eastwick by John Williams (so help me God, I really shouldn't have to explain what else he's done)

About the film: Dissatisfied with the relationships they've suffered, three friends (Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer), more or less, conjure up an amazing guy (Jack Nicholson) with something of a devilish streak. This adaptation of John Updike's novel is, by turns, funny, witty, sexy, scary and exciting. An unusual witches' brew, but a very well-acted, good-looking one.

Title: "Daryl Van Horne". Though this score copped an Oscar nomination, it is something of an underrated one. Or maybe, I'm applying that to the theme under review. Williams' villain themes are, more often than not, very enjoyable (Superman's "March of the Villains", "The Imperial March", the Crimebuster's theme from Heartbeeps, Hook's theme). Where was I? Oh, right, "Daryl Van Horne". This is a wonderfully serpentine melody played mainly on what sounds like a harpsichord with electronics in the background. Occasionally, though, Williams will shake things up with strings and winds. I imagine that the Devil (hope I didn't spoil anything) likes to draw things out; to tease and string along. Maybe this is why the slower renditions of the theme work best, like in "Daryl Rejected", where the piano intermingles with strings and harpsichord to really tingle the spine.

Other theme(s) of interest: The incredibly catchy main theme (introduced in the tranquil "The Township of Eastwick") is put through several renditions. Also, there's a beautiful, soaring melody in "The Ballroom Scene" that was practically made for concert performances.

Availability: The Warner Bros. Records CD was released in 1987, when CDs were just hitting the marketplace. The record is very much out-of-print. However, the score is available on a music-only track on the DVD.