Celebrating Basil Poledouris

On what would have been his 78th birthday

Basil Poledouris (1945–2006) is not a film score composer who’s as well-known as John Williams, Hans Zimmer, or even John Barry.

But to aficionados of the genre, his work is impressive. Poledouris would have been 78 years old today. He died in 2006 from lung cancer at the age of 61.

Poledouris was of Greek extraction, but was born in Kansas City, MO and began his musical training at the age of seven, having been influenced by his Greek Orthodox Heritage and the iconic film music composer Miklós Rózsa.

His work is inextricably linked with the 1980s and 1990s, as he scored films like Conan the Barbarian (1982), Robocop (1987), The Hunt for Red October (1990), and Starship Troopers (1997), among many others. You can read more about his legacy on his website.

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Selections

“Anvil of Crom” from Conan the Barbarian is a hammering theme featuring French horns, with a blend of blood-and-thunder choral cues and an unexpectedly beautiful, lyrical sensibility:

Robocop was a dystopian look at the blending of man and machine in the pursuit of law and order in Detroit in 2043. “Drive Montage” borrows a bit from the hammering on the anvil in Conan, but updates it to ensure it has a futuristic feel:

The choral and orchestral “Hymn to Red October” was an inspiring piece that ran with the pre-roll credits of The Hunt for Red October. The Russian male chorus sings a farewell to the motherland as the submarine sails on to defect.

Starship Troopers brought Poledouris an unusual opportunity: because of the significant postproduction CGI needed, the composer had from February to October of 1997 — nearly 8 months — to complete the score. As a result, we’re treated to a complex and powerful score, as “Klendathu Drop” hints at:

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Enjoy the music,