A review by JAMES SOUTHALL

An acclaimed documentary about the development of nuclear weapons charting the progress of mankind's most destructive idea from the first tests in the New Mexico desert through China's development of its own bombs, Trinity and Beyond is narrated by William Shatner and attracted praise from all quarters on its release in 1997.  Directed by Peter Kuran, who made his name as a visual effects man at Industrial Light and Magic (working on Star Wars was something of a big break!), he saw good music as being paramount to his film and so wisely enlisted the services of William Stromberg, not a household name to the general public, but certainly one to lovers of classic film scores.

He's composed some fine music himself in his time, but of course the reason he is so well-known to film music fans is not that, but rather that - along with John Morgan - he has reconstructed and conducted a number of first-rate recordings of Golden Age film music for the Marco Polo label.  One of the most prominent composers featured in their wonderful series of recordings is Bernard Herrmann, and his influence is plain to see in this score.  Perhaps the more obvious place to look would be in Herrmann's feted science fiction scores (I'm not quite sure why, so don't ask!) but it's not that so much as his bold thriller scores that seem to have been an inspiration in this instance, sometimes by way of Danny Elfman.  "Newsreel" and "Armada Annihilation" in particular seem to owe something of a debt.  I'm sure Stromberg would be the first person to acknowledge his inspirations, and perhaps John Williams is another one, if the florid orchestration of "Operation Crossroads" is anything to go by.

Of course, the development of nuclear weapons is not exactly the cheeriest of topics, so much of the music is quite dark and, appropriately, apocalyptic.  Many instruments are used in particularly low ranges (another Herrmann trait), growling and menacing in their way.  However, the music remains constantly melodic and is very easy to listen to and enjoy.  It can reach frenzied proportions when the choir is added, and at other times is quite affecting ("Hiroshima / Nagasaki Requiem", for instance).  It is tuneful without being cheerful, and there is a distinctly Russian feel to some of it (appropriate, considering the music was recorded in Moscow).  It's highly-impressive and hopefully Hollywood will afford the composer the chance to lend his talents to some decent movies in the future.  He has recently scored the straight-to-video Starship Troopers 2 along with Morgan - with any luck, there will be bigger and better things in future.  Trinity and Beyond is terrific.

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Tracks

1. Monument Site / 100 Tons of TNT (3:00)
2. Newsreel (2:44)
3. Fat Man and Little Boy (1:49)
4. Hiroshima / Nagasaki Requiem (3:31)
5. Operation Crossroads (1:18)
6. Armada Annihilation (2:13)
7. Deus Vult (2:19)
8. Nautical Graveyard (1:58)
9. Operation Sandstone (2:20)
10. Improved Stockpile Bomb (1:10)
11. Russia Gets the Bomb (1:05)
12. Operation Ranger-Able (2:22)
13. Operation Greenhouse (1:10)
14. Boosting with Tritium / The George Device(2:42)
15. The Atomic Cannon (2:32))
16. Castle Bravo (3:40)
17. Operation Wigwam (1:28)
18. Cherokee Deliverable H-Bomb (1:59)
19. The Hood Device (2:48)
20. Operation Hardtack / Teak and Orange (3:23)
21. Russian Monster Bomb / Operation Dominic (3:07)
22. Christmas Island Tests (2:18)
23. Thor Missiles (2:59)
24. China Gets the Bomb (3:31)