1967's Cool Hand Luke features an Oscar-nominated original score by Schifrin. He channeled Aaron Copeland for this masterpiece of movie music. One section of it lived on beyond the film, as the newscast theme for some ABC local stations. When royalties increased, copycats started issuing themes that "sounded like" Schifrin's work, while sidestepping the copyright.
At the beginning of Cool Hand Luke, Paul Newman's character is drunk and pruning the head off a parking meter. As a result of his ill-advised adventure, Luke gets to join a group of men working in the fields. They don't get paid even a low wage. They live behind bars, work in chains and are watched over by a prison guard with mirror sunglasses and a shotgun. He's usually a bigger thug than the inmates. Think ICE agent.
I'm thinking it's jailbreak time. Make a run for the nearest wine tasting event and hang out near the media. In your dirty, sweaty, tattered prison rags, you'll blend right in. While tasting, remember to sip, swirl and spit. Otherwise, what we have here is failure to expectorate.
The Prisoner is predominantly Zinfandel, with a chain gang of other grapes mixed in. This Dave Phinney favorite is one to take with you if you're going away for a long time.
Bullitt, from 1968, was a showcase for Steve McQueen and the Ford Mustang. When the talk turns to great chase scenes, the crazy pursuit through the streets of San Francisco usually dominates the conversation. Just how many hubcaps did that Mustang have?
Schifrin's jazzy score was re-recorded for the soundtrack album when the producers wanted to give it a "poppier" sound. Hmmf. A soundtrack album with the actual movie music didn't appear until 2009. That may seem like a tiny tidbit to you, but jazz aficionados can tell you what kind of sandwiches were ordered for the session from the deli down the street.
Bulleit bourbon would be a great choice for Bullitt, if we were doing a bourbon and movies column. But we're not. Bullitt's Winery in Kentucky has reportedly closed, which is okay with me. I'm not inclined to do business with Kentucky at the moment. I will, however, do business with Escondido, where Cheval Winery lives. Their Bullet Cabernet Franc/Syrah/Merlot blend sells for $77. Don't drink and drive. Especially if you drive like Steve McQueen.
The 1971 classic Dirty Harry was set in San Francisco. Schifrin's jazzy theme breathed life into the city that is forever linked with film noir, hard-boiled detectives and elusive murderers.
The tense music highlights our hard-boiled detective as he hunts down a psycho killer. Did people like Dirty Harry? You bet they did. It made their day. And it spawned four sequels, the mark of a Hollywood success. Schifrin also scored several of the ensuing entries in the Harry Callahan oeuvre.
The Pearl and Stone Wine Company makes a Snoqualmie Valley Syrah/Mourvèdre blend that's deep and dark, just like Dirty Harry. In fact, it's called Dirty Harry's. $45. Now, Washington state is a long way from Southern California. And you've gotta be asking yourself, "Will FedEx be able to deliver?" Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?
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