Sound of Cinema

Jan 11 2025 415 ep. 24 mins 16.2k
Sound of Cinema Podcast artwork

Matthew Sweet's weekly look at music for the screen

  Society & Culture  Music
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Alfred Hitchcock

Jan 11 2025 18 mins  
From the driving energy of North By Northwest to the iconic string stabs of Psycho, music is an integral part of what makes Alfred Hitchcock's films stand out. Matthew Sweet finds out what makes them so good and looks at times when Hitchcock and his composers disagreed.To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema".

A celebration of German film

Jan 04 2025 20 mins  
As part of Radio 3's European Road Trip, Matthew Sweet explores some of the best soundtracks in German cinema.To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema".

Music from films themed around the Vatican

Jan 02 2025 17 mins  
What is the sound of Papal Rome? Matthew Sweet explores the music of films set in and influenced by the Vatican. From Morricone's melancholy oboe in The Mission to Hans Zimmer's massed choirs and menacing strings in Angels & Demons. Nino Rota's score for The Godfather Part III exquisitely demonstrates both the pageantry of the Catholic Church and Michael Corleone's personal fee

Comfort films

Jan 02 2025 15 mins  
Presenter Matthew Sweet cosies up with the soundtracks of films that bring comfort to those dark, wintry nights…From the life-affirming joy of Studio Ghibli classic My Neighbour Totoro to the 80s cinema thrills of Raiders of the Lost Ark, he uncovers why film scores don't necessarily need to be twee to warm our hearts…To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to

Christmas film scores

Dec 23 2024 19 mins  
Hop on board the Polar Express! Matthew Sweet's unwrapping the greatest Christmas film soundtracks. We'll be walking in the air with Howard Blake's Snowman and Home Alone with John Williams.To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema".

Cinematic Presidents

Nov 30 2024 16 mins  
In cinema, US presidents have been portrayed as heroes, villains, great leaders who unite the world and hopeless puppets who are the butt of jokes. In this episode, Matthew Sweet casts his vote on classic soundtracks to films including Nixon and Independence Day. Celebrating the 1991 blockbuster, Point Break, as it returns to cinemas in the UK.To listen on most smart speakers, just

The Roman Empire

Nov 16 2024 21 mins  
With the release of Gladiator II in cinemas, Matthew Sweet brings us the music of the Roman Empire - as told by Hollywood - from Alex North's scores for Spartacus and Cleopatra, Miklos Rozsa's epic music for the equally epic Quo Vadis? and Ben Hur. Matthew is also joined by composer and academic Dr MaryAnn Tedstone Glover to find out if the music we now think of as Roman sounds any

Hollywood composer Marc Shaiman

Oct 31 2024 28 mins  
Sleepless In Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, The Addams Family, Hairspray, Mary Poppins Returns, Marc Shaiman's music has been a part of our lives for over three decades. One time king of the Romcom score, master arranger and songwriter, Marc talks to Matthew Sweet about his career and introduces cues from some of his many scores. As well as those listed above, the programme also fe

Westerns

Oct 22 2024 15 mins  
Matthew Sweet saddles up to explore the most iconic soundtracks of the Wild West. Traverse the sweeping landscape with music from Western blockbusters, including The Magnificent Seven and A Fistful of Dollars. Featuring the award-winning score from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, in celebration of its 55-year anniversary.To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Soun

Cinema Paradiso and the long hot summer

Aug 24 2024 16 mins  
Matthew Sweet packs his bags in search of the films that bring back memories of summer - with music from the hot sun of Roman Holiday and Jean de Florette, the childhood adventures of Swallows and Amazons and UP and the nostalgia of Cinema Paradiso.