The John Williams Web Pages
		Compositions: Films
		None But the Brave
None But the Brave The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links Compositions: Films Previous: The Killers Next: John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! Chronological filmography Alphabetical filmography Television films Miscellanea		The Film Release date: February 24, 1965 Studio: Warner Bros. Running time: 105 minutes Director: Frank Sinatra Cast: Frank Sinatra, Clint Walker, Tommy Sands, Brad Dexter, Tony Bill, Tatsuya Mihashi, Takeshi Kato, Sammy Jackson, Richard Bakalyan, Homare Suguro, Kenji Sahara, Rafer Johnson, Jimmy Griffin, Masahiko Tanimura, Hisao Dazai, Christopher Dark, Don Dorrell, Phil Crosby, Susumu Korobe, Toru Ibuki, Takashi Inagaki, Ryucho Shunputei, Kenichi Hata Technical information: Panavision (2.35:1), Technicolor A U.S.-Japanese co-production, None But the Brave is notable primarily for being Frank Sinatra's directorial debut, as well as for its even-handed treatment of American and Japanese soldiers.
		A plane full of young Marines crash lands on an uncharted South Pacific island inhabited by similarly stranded Japanese soldiers. The pilot, Capt. Dennis Bourke (Walker), must contend with a brash young Marine lieutenant (Sands) and a wisecracking pharmacist's mate (Sinatra) as well as the Japanese, led by Lt. Kiroki (Mihashi), who has similar troubles of his own. After an attempt to steal a makeshift boat from the Japanese ends in casualties on both sides, the two commanders make a bargain: fresh drinking water and food supplies in exchange for medical attention for a wounded Japanese soldier. This leads to an uneasy truce, during which the soldiers become friends and cooperate to protect the water supply during a monsoon. But it is not long before the Americans are able to repair their radio and send for help, at which point the truce is called off and the inevitable bloodshed results. The screenplay is well-intentioned, but there aren't many surprises to the story or the performances — Walker's acting is rather wooden and Sands is way over the top — although Sinatra fares well in his supporting role.
None But the Brave The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		The Music Music Composed by: Johnny Williams Music Supervised and Conducted by: Morris Stoloff Japanese Music Advisor: Kenjuro Hirose Asked about the film 15 years later, Williams recalled, "[Frank Sinatra] couldn't have been nicer and more appreciative, and he didn't come in with any preconceived ideas about the music. Maybe you wouldn't want him for an enemy, but he is a marvelous friend. He's a very compelling character; he can give you the impression he is completely alone in the world." Williams' score is primarily monothematic; following a unison horn statement, the main theme — actually, more a single repeated phrase than a full-fledged melody — is heard, followed by a more lyrical, Japanese-flavored second statement. This main theme serves as an all-purpose musical motif throughout the film, not linked to either group of soldiers. Several quite effective action cues are founded more upon rhythmic and harmonic urgency than development of this theme — one early cue underscoring military preparations by the Japanese utilizes only snare drum and timpani. Although a somber atmosphere prevails during most of the film, there are some lighter musical moments during the short-lived truce. There are also instances where the Japanese soldiers sing folk songs, and these melodies are briefly integrated into the score. Rather than dipping into the standard musical clichés, Williams suggests Asian music through modal harmonies and carefully chosen instrumentation from among the Western orchestral palette. (One exception is a short flashback sequence where Kiroki reminiscences about his wedding — here the composer briefly employs a traditional Japanese stringed instrument.) Also of note are two major sequences that are unscored: the scene where Sinatra's character amputates the gangrenous leg of a wounded soldier; and a special-effects created monsoon. Both of these are gripping enough not to require music and Williams wisely leaves them alone. A footnote: This was one of the few film scores composed by Williams that he did not conduct himself.  The score was recorded October 14, 22 and 26, 1964, with Morris Stoloff conducting.  Stoloff had served as music director at Columbia Studios (where he gave Williams a job as a pianist in the studio orchestra) and in 1964 was music director of Reprise Records, Sinatra's record label.  Because of this, Sinatra assigned Stoloff to supervise the music for None But the Brave.
None But the Brave The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		Audio The theme to None But the Brave was issued on a 45 RPM single (Reprise 0339) at the time of the film's release; it features a chorus (identified as The Jack Halloran Singers) and orchestra under the direction of Morris Stoloff. Don Wolf wrote the lyrics (heard only on this recording and not in the film itself). The flip side of the single, which was produced by Sonny Burke, features the same forces performing David Raksin's theme from Sylvia (1965). No other music from None But the Brave has ever been released in any format.
		Video This film has been issued in a widescreen version on Laserdisc (Warner Home Video 11712); it is also available in pan-and-scan format on VHS.
None But the Brave The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		References "Filmland Events" Los Angeles Times, September 19 1964, 17 "Review: None But the Brave," Bosley Crowther New York Times, Feb 25 1965, 24:1 "Where is John Williams coming from?" Richard Dyer Boston Globe, Jun 29 1980, MAG
None But the Brave The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		Links Internet Movie Database entry for None But the Brave Cinebooks Database entry for None But the Brave All Movie Guide entry for None But the Brave
Page last modified June 05, 2006		home | news | compositions | recordings | reference The John Williams Web Pages www.johnwilliams.org