Top 15 Horror Film Themes #9

Film: The Exorcist Music: Tubular Bells Year: 1973 Composer: Mike Oldfield Contrary to popular belief, the familiar theme that most fans associate with the 1973 hit horror film, The Exorcist, was not actually written for the movie. The theme (Tubular Bells) was actually written by performing artist Mike Oldfield for his 1973 instrumental record of the same name. One story goes that when famous film composer Lalo Schifrin finished writing and recording the score for The Exorcist, director, William Friedkin, was so disappointed with the finished product that he threw the reels out into the street calling the score "fucking Mexican marimba music". He was forced, instead, to use modern classical music, including Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Regardless of where the theme comes from, it has become entrenched in our psyches ever since The Exorcist first premiered in 1973; and the film itself helped turn Oldfield's eerie composition into a smash hit.

Author: 100HorrorFilms
Keywords: The Exorcist mike oldfield tubular bells
Added: February 17, 2008