A to Z Challenge: O (John Williams’ film scores)

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*Read John Williams’ biography here

Daddy-O
This 1958 movie was directed by Lou Place and stars Dick Contino and Sandra Giles. The movie is about a part-time truck driver and singer who meets a blonde who challenges him to a drag race. He’s caught and loses his licence but finds a job as a singer in a new nightclub. When he realises his new job involves being a drug runner he has to fight to save his friends and himself. Daddy-O was a B-movie for drive-in theatres, released to be the supporting movie for Roadracers .

Daddy-O is most notable for being the debut feature film score for John Williams, credited as Johnny Williams, who was only 27 at the time.

Below is one of the tracks from the movie. Unfortunately it contains dialogue and sound effects (I believe it is cut from the movie itself). I guess no-one expected Johnny Williams to go on to be as famous and significant in the field of movie scores, thereby making the soundtrack to this film rather significant.

I have never heard of the movie before, and after reading reviews gather it really deserved its B-grade status. The music suits the scene – building tension and providing dramatic effect. I don’t think it is memorable or gives insight into the greatness that was to come from Williams. What do you think – can you see the potential in the music?

(Note the incorrect attribution for composition on the slide above!)

8 comments on “A to Z Challenge: O (John Williams’ film scores)”

  1. Giggling Fattie

    April 17, 2019 at 9:41 pm

    Hhmmms very interesting sound today!

  2. John Holton

    April 18, 2019 at 12:29 am

    It’s a good one. It’s a shame that whoever posted it had to throw in all the dialog and stuff.

    • ajblythe

      April 22, 2019 at 10:40 am

      John, from what I have read about it, there isn’t a clean version available. I guess no-one saw how famous Johny Williams was going to become so didn’t keep the soundtrack.

  3. Sue Bursztynski

    April 18, 2019 at 7:47 pm

    He seems to have done quite a lot of B movies before Star Wars, doesn’t he? A good thing he finally had the chance to create art for a very special film, before going on to do more. No more B movies for him!

    • ajblythe

      April 22, 2019 at 10:42 am

      He did manage a few other big hits before Star Wars – Jaws for example – but I think Star Wars was the one that really changed his future.

  4. Liz A.

    April 19, 2019 at 11:53 am

    Everyone has to start somewhere.

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