Out of Africa

The great irony of John Barry’s Academy Award-winning score for Out of Africa (which also took the Oscar as Best Picture) is that it almost never was – director Sydney Pollack had originally envisioned the film with native African music, going as far as laying the indigenous score down as he was editing. But the weight of John Barry’s arguments held sway, and the composer delivered on his intent: a lush, romantic masterpiece for the ages. This romantic film is marked by its many breathtaking views of unspoiled African landscapes. John Barry’s main title theme masterfully captures the moods and feels of the film. A terrific arrangement by his namesake!