The Cassandra Crossing

The 1976 thriller The Cassandra Crossing launched the collaboration of director George P. Cosmatos and composer Jerry Goldsmith, who subsequently reunited for projects including 1985's Rambo: First Blood Part II and 1989's Leviathan. It also remains Goldsmith's most interesting and effective effort of the three, encapsulating the tightrope-taut dramatics that defined his cinematic output during the Me Decade. Adorning Goldsmith's dynamic melodies with robust strings and dense, foreboding percussion, The Cassandra Crossing bursts with energy, communicating the onscreen narrative suspense in broad strokes. While its darkly sinister overtones also portend subsequent and more fully realized scores like Logan's Run and Capricorn One, it's nevertheless a satisfying work on its own terms and deserves commendation. ~ Jason Ankeny