http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5374808.stm

How can anyone not have listened to at one time or another the catchy whistling melody of the *Colonel Bogey March* from Sir Malcolm Arnold*s 1957 Oscar winning film score "The Bridge On The River Kwai"?...

A true classic in its own right!

serifiot, September 24, 2006; 9:40 AM

Great respect to sir Malcolm Arnold.
i am a classical guitar player and he wrote an historical and beautiful Fantasia for this instrument in collaboration with Julian Bream!
A great musician....
rest in peace,

riccardo.rocchi4, September 23, 2006; 9:53 PM

One of the true classics of Film Composition has gone.

Rest in Peace...

Serifiot, the "Colonel Bogey March" was not composed by Sir Malcolm Arnold. It was composed by Kenneth J. Alford in 1914 and rearranged by Mitch Miller for THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, 43 years after. The piece was retitled "River Kwai March". I don't know who decided to include this tune in David Lean's movie, but Arnold had nothing to do with it. Anyway, his dramatic score for the film is an absolutely master piece.

Another master piece comes now to my mind: NINE HOURS TO RAMA.

Although the composer is not among us anymore, his ethernal music will be loved and respected forever.

Best wishes for everyone,
Angel

angeldibujo, September 24, 2006; 7:59 AM

My ears have been familiar of this whistling tune (and who isn*t?) since I can remember, way back before I really even began to appreciate film music as a whole.

Thank you Angel... I never knew this!

The whistling tune though works quite well within the context of the movie along with the rest of Malcolm*s wonderful film score.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/clipserve/B000002AN1001002/0/ref=mu_sam_wma-001-002-102-

serifiot, September 24, 2006; 9:39 AM

He won his only Academy Award for Kwai.

TheSaint.786, September 24, 2006; 9:34 AM

So did the legenadry Jerry Goldsmith among his countless mastepiece compositions for "The Omen"... his only one!

Oscars even though many times are well deserved and indeed quite an honor to receive one can also become meaningless.

Marlon Brando never cared for them.

Manos Hadjidakis who won the Oscar in 1960 for best song 'Never On Sunday' never gave his trophy much regard either.

serifiot, September 24, 2006; 10:12 AM

One of the greatest composers ever, works like "The Lion", "David Copperfield", "The Roots Of Heaven" are unforgettable masterpieces

Truly condolenences

byronger, September 24, 2006; 10:18 AM

I'll second that nod towards "Roots Of Heaven".

victoravalentine, September 25, 2006; 11:48 AM

Poor guy... best known for a piece of music he didn't write.

zuvqwyx3, September 26, 2006; 1:50 PM

Rest in Peace Maestro

baalgehenna, September 26, 2006; 11:14 PM

Although he didn’t write Colonel Bogey, he did write the counterpoint theme to it that is heard in the middle of the piece before the whistling tune starts again. The counterpoint theme was called “The River Kwai March.” I hope this clears things up.

The following year, he incorporated another old song, Nick Nack Paddy Whack, into his score for The Inn of the Sixth Happiness.

Kwai and Sixth Happiness are among my favourite Arnold scores, along with Whistle Down the Wind; The Inspector (retitled “Lisa” for the US market); The Lion and David Copperfield. I have all my favourite Arnold scores on LP; EP; 45 and CD. But, although I have two 1962 singles of his theme from The Inspector, the soundtrack LP of that film has eluded me. It’s listed on this site as being on a Columbia LP, but maybe someone uploaded the details wrongly, as I’ve never met anyone who’s ever seen it. Rest in Peace, Sir Malcolm. Your wonderful film scores were part of the musical background to my life.

David in England.

david_rayner, September 28, 2006; 12:04 PM