The High and the Mighty (song)
Encyclopedia
"The High and the Mighty" is a song by Ned Washington
and Dimitri Tiomkin
from the movie of the same name.
At the start of the film's production late in 1953, veteran film composer and musician Dimitri Tiomkin
was commissioned to write the film's Academy Award
winning score. The studio also urged Tiomkin to come up with a theme song for the film, to be released to radio and as a vinyl record. Tiomkin formed the basic melody to the song and enlisted songwriter Ned Washington
to write the song's lyrics. What resulted was a gentle ballad. Warner Bros.
presented the song to Les Baxter
and his Orchestra, who recorded and released the song to coincide with the release of the film. When released in 1954, "The High and the Mighty" peaked at #4 on the Billboard Pop chart. Tiomkin and Washington earned an Academy Award
nomination for the song in 1955.
Toward the end of the film, after John Wayne's character convinced the captain to try to make it to San Francisco rather than ditch, the captain said "Whistle me a tune, Dan. I like music when I work." Dan (John Wayne) whistled a bit of "I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech"
(Georgia Tech's famous and catchy fight song). Audiences at the time no doubt immediately recognized it and understood it was a sign of success, as Georgia Tech was in its glory years in football under Bobby Dodd
, during which it won six bowl games in six years and was named National Champion by one organization in 1952.
A second and much rarer version of the title song lyrics also exists.
In contrast to the romantic motif of the popular hit tune, the secondary version is instead a paean
to the crews who guide the airliners through the night skies towards distant cities, and concludes with an alliteration to the "high and mighty" as the Deity
.
An instrumental version was also recorded in 1954 by the conductor and arranger LeRoy Holmes
, reaching #9 on the Billboard chart. It became Holmes' biggest hit, and his most recognizable. The song is known for its distinctive whistling, which accompanies the music, and which was provided by Fred Lowery
. (The whistling within the film itself was dubbed by Muzzy Marcellino
.) Yet another hit version was recorded by Victor Young
and his orchestra in 1954, peaking at #6 on the Billboard chart.
Another vocal version with the complete Ned Washington lyrics has been recorded by Billy Eckstine in his album '12 Great Songs from the movies' from the early sixties.
The tune is whistled in the fadeout of the Simon and Garfunkel
song "Punky's Dilemma", from their 1968 album Bookends
. Toward the end of the 1980 film Seems Like Old Times
, Chevy Chase's character can be heard whistling the tune as he walks away from the camera.
Ned Washington
Ned Washington was an American lyricist.-Biography:Washington was nominated for eleven Academy Awards from 1940 to 1962...
and Dimitri Tiomkin
Dimitri Tiomkin
Dimitri Zinovievich Tiomkin was a Russian-born Hollywood film score composer and conductor. He is considered "one of the giants of Hollywood movie music." Musically trained in Russia, he is best known for his westerns, "where his expansive, muscular style had its greatest impact." Tiomkin...
from the movie of the same name.
At the start of the film's production late in 1953, veteran film composer and musician Dimitri Tiomkin
Dimitri Tiomkin
Dimitri Zinovievich Tiomkin was a Russian-born Hollywood film score composer and conductor. He is considered "one of the giants of Hollywood movie music." Musically trained in Russia, he is best known for his westerns, "where his expansive, muscular style had its greatest impact." Tiomkin...
was commissioned to write the film's Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
winning score. The studio also urged Tiomkin to come up with a theme song for the film, to be released to radio and as a vinyl record. Tiomkin formed the basic melody to the song and enlisted songwriter Ned Washington
Ned Washington
Ned Washington was an American lyricist.-Biography:Washington was nominated for eleven Academy Awards from 1940 to 1962...
to write the song's lyrics. What resulted was a gentle ballad. Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
presented the song to Les Baxter
Les Baxter
Les Baxter was an American musician and composer.Baxter studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory before moving to Los Angeles for further studies at Pepperdine College. Abandoning a concert career as a pianist, he turned to popular music as a singer...
and his Orchestra, who recorded and released the song to coincide with the release of the film. When released in 1954, "The High and the Mighty" peaked at #4 on the Billboard Pop chart. Tiomkin and Washington earned an Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
nomination for the song in 1955.
Toward the end of the film, after John Wayne's character convinced the captain to try to make it to San Francisco rather than ditch, the captain said "Whistle me a tune, Dan. I like music when I work." Dan (John Wayne) whistled a bit of "I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech"
Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech
" Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech" is the fight song of the Georgia Institute of Technology, better known as Georgia Tech. The composition is based on "Son of a Gambolier", composed by Charles Ives in 1895, the lyrics of which are based on an old English and Scottish drinking song of the same...
(Georgia Tech's famous and catchy fight song). Audiences at the time no doubt immediately recognized it and understood it was a sign of success, as Georgia Tech was in its glory years in football under Bobby Dodd
Bobby Dodd
Robert Lee Dodd was an American college football coach at Georgia Tech. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player and coach, something that only three people have accomplished....
, during which it won six bowl games in six years and was named National Champion by one organization in 1952.
A second and much rarer version of the title song lyrics also exists.
In contrast to the romantic motif of the popular hit tune, the secondary version is instead a paean
Paean
A paean is a song or lyric poem expressing triumph or thanksgiving. In classical antiquity, it is usually performed by a chorus, but some examples seem intended for an individual voice...
to the crews who guide the airliners through the night skies towards distant cities, and concludes with an alliteration to the "high and mighty" as the Deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
.
An instrumental version was also recorded in 1954 by the conductor and arranger LeRoy Holmes
LeRoy Holmes
LeRoy Holmes was an American songwriter, composer, arranger and conductor....
, reaching #9 on the Billboard chart. It became Holmes' biggest hit, and his most recognizable. The song is known for its distinctive whistling, which accompanies the music, and which was provided by Fred Lowery
Fred Lowery
Fred Lowery was a blind professional whistler who recorded a #9 Billboard chart hit version of The High and the Mighty with conductor and arranger LeRoy Holmes. Lowery whistled with Horace Heidt and Vincent Lopez in the 1930s and 40s...
. (The whistling within the film itself was dubbed by Muzzy Marcellino
Muzzy Marcellino
Maurice "Muzzy" Marcellino was an American singer and musician, known primarily for his clear, melodious style of whistling....
.) Yet another hit version was recorded by Victor Young
Victor Young
Victor Young was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. He was born in Chicago.-Biography:...
and his orchestra in 1954, peaking at #6 on the Billboard chart.
Another vocal version with the complete Ned Washington lyrics has been recorded by Billy Eckstine in his album '12 Great Songs from the movies' from the early sixties.
The tune is whistled in the fadeout of the Simon and Garfunkel
Simon and Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel are an American duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl". As Simon & Garfunkel, the duo rose to fame in 1965, largely on the strength of the...
song "Punky's Dilemma", from their 1968 album Bookends
Bookends
-Charts:-Personnel:*Paul Simon - Vocals, Guitar, Producer*Art Garfunkel - Vocals, Producer*Hal Blaine - Drums, Percussion*Joe Osborn - Bass*Larry Knechtel - Piano, Keyboards*John Simon - Production Assistant...
. Toward the end of the 1980 film Seems Like Old Times
Seems Like Old Times (song)
"Seems Like Old Times" is a popular song, with music and lyrics by Carmen Lombardo and John Jacob Loeb.It was originally recorded by Guy Lombardo's orchestra on November 15, 1945 and released by Decca Records as catalog number 18737....
, Chevy Chase's character can be heard whistling the tune as he walks away from the camera.