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A review by JAMES SOUTHALL

A political action thriller set in the Philippines, High Velocity was made in 1974 but released in 1977 and is probably one of the most obscure movies Jerry Goldsmith has ever scored.  Directed by Remi Kramer, it tells the story of a US industrialist captured by anti-Marcos rebels and the subsequent rescue attempt (led by Ben Gazzara and Paul Winfield).  It made no particular impression on anybody and I'm sure that virtually the only people today who have even heard of it are Jerry Goldsmith fans, though even they may be unfamiliar with the score, which again is virtually unknown, despite having been released by Prometheus Records in 1994 (it's still available if you look hard enough).

It's a very solid effort.  "Welcome to the Philippines" is a great opening, a scene-setting piece for guitar, marimba, flute and shakers which is great fun and very attractive, similar I suppose to the opening of Medicine Man but without the synths.  It develops into some taut action music which sets the tone for the majority of the score (and features an action theme very similar to the secondary theme from Basic Instinct all those years later).  Goldsmith's action music of the 1970s tended to be considerably darker than it is today and High Velocity is no exception, with low brass and percussion being used by the composer to maximum effect in creating music that is thrilling and incredibly tense.

It's not all action all the way, though; there is a nice, soft love theme in (of all things) "The Mafia Marines" and a sensational trumpet theme, full of Latin flair, in "The Hostage".  "The Mission Begins" is a piece that evokes the jungle through clever use of exotic percussion, flute and Goldsmith's trademark low end piano.  "Night Flight" is the standout piece, a wonderful, exciting and dynamic pieces that gives the National Philharmonic Orchestra's trumpet player a real workout.

High Velocity is a safe bet for Goldsmith fans, featuring all the ingredients that make some of his 1970s thriller scores so wonderful along with more exotic flavourings due to the film's locale.  It's not exactly a classic, but then it's still a superior score for this genre, and so comes recommended.

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Tracks

1. Welcome to the Philippines / The Observers / The Sniper (5:59)
2. The Night Before (2:16)
3. The Mafia Marines (2:06)
4. The Hostage (3:07)
5. The Mission Begins (4:23)
6. The Rope Trick (1:48)
7. Night Flight (2:11)
8. The Ring / Not Thirsty (2:47)
9. The Archer (2:28)
10. Coffee Break (2:19)
11. Just a Little More / No Victories (4:07)