Bandolero!

Bandolero! remains one of Jerry Goldsmith's most intriguing contributions to the horse opera genre. Like its brethren Rio Conchos and 100 Rifles, the score favors period instrumentation and spare, suspenseful melodies, creating an impressively lyrical and textured evocation of life and death in the Wild West. The main title theme essentially represents Goldsmith's homage to spaghetti Western maestro Ennio Morricone, evoking his trademark sound via electric guitar, Jew's harp, and forlorn whistling. Contrasting cues including "The Trap," "The Kidnap," and "El Jefe" instead boast the intricate orchestral composition that is Goldsmith's hallmark, capturing both the exhilaration of adventure and the foreboding melancholy of impending doom. Intrada's limited-edition 2004 reissue includes more than a half-hour of unreleased bonus material, most notably a "rock & roll" rendition of the Bandolero! title theme that's as entertaining as it is anachronistic. ~ Jason Ankeny