Elmer Bernstein - Drango

Facts Drango, a low-budget film from 1957, starred Jeff Chandler, a very underrated actor, and had a terrific supporting cast, including Julie London, Donald Crisp, Ronald Howard, and Joanne Dru, along with John Lupton, Milburn Stone, Parley Baer, and Morris Ankrum. The film takes place in the months following the Civil War and the script presents the story of bitterness, resentment, and redemption, honestly and simply and without any attempts to sugar coat anything from anyone's point of view. One thing Bartlett had as a director was extremely good taste in the composers he chose for his projects - Alex North for Unchained, George Duning for All The Young Men, Neil Diamond and Lee Holdridge for Jonathan Livingston Seagull, and, of course, the great Elmer Bernstein for The Caretakers and Drango. By the time of Drango, Bernstein had already written two masterpieces of film scoring - The Man With The Golden Arm and The Ten Commandments. 1957 was a busy and incredible year for Bernstein - in addition to Drango, he also scored Men In War, Fear Strikes Out, Sweet Smell Of Success, and The Tin Star. Drango is a very strong Bernstein score - somber, melancholy, exciting, and, as always, filled with wonderful and unique Bernstein themes.