FILMUSIK: Death Rides a Horse | July 15 & 17 @ Hollywood Theater
July 13, 2009 — PDXPIPELINE(Win Tickets to Filmusik's Wednesday screening. Details at end of post)
Posted by Dan Wheeler
It started last November with a program of classic Superman cartoons from the 
40's. Then, a few weeks ago, Portland got hit with a with a one-two punch of classic sci-fi B-movies: Missle to the Moon and Plan 9 from Outer Space. What's next? Filmusik takes on the Spaghetti Western.
This promises to be a powerful experience. For the 40th anniversary of Guilio Petroni's Death Rides a Horse, the 40 members of the Eugene Contemporary Chamber Ensemble and the Opera Theatre Oregon Chorus will perform an original score composed by Gracin Dorsey and Sam L. Richards (director of ECCE). There was a time that live music accompanied every movie screening, Filmusik aims to showcase the strength of that tradition as well as the talents of local musicians.
I honesty believe that anyone that goes to see this WILL be knocked on their ass.
Press Release
This week at the Hollywood Theatre, something big is happening. When the lights go down and the projector rolls, an orchestra and chorus bring new life to an old classic with a thundering orchestral score performed live in the pit. With its original soundtrack removed, the orchestra and chorus bring you a new sonic world created by Eugene composers Sam L. Richards and Gracin Dorsey.
Death Rides a Horse is the story of one gunslingers quest for revenge in the old west, starring Lee Van Cleef and John Phillip Law, a stunning example of the spaghetti western genre (films set in the west but produced in Italy and Spain). The ECCE New Music Orchestra of Eugene and the Opera Theatre Oregon Chorus of Portland come together in a stunning performance of film that touches you, grabs you, shakes you and doesn't let go until you pry yourself from its cold dead fingers!
FILMUSIK: Death Rides a Horse
July 15th and 17th; 7 PM
Tickets $10 – Students/Seniors $8
Hollywood Theater
4122 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR‎
(503) 281-4215‎
Win Tickets: We have two pairs of tickets to Filmusik. Simply comment on this post on why you'd like to go to this show. Winner drawn Tuesday afternoon. I will email the winner. Check your email at 5 on Tuesday to see if you have won.
July 13, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Love spagetti westerns and seeing this film with a live orchestra will be cool.
July 13, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Oh man, I’d love to win those tickets. After watching that trailer I’m stoked to go but as a recently unemployed student, no way I can waste money on movies.
July 13, 2009 at 2:01 pm
My reason for wanting to go to this show…..because our finances are super tight, but I’d really love to take my GF out. We love music, movies and each other. And we really need a night out.
July 13, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Did you know this film inspired a good bit of Kill Bill?
I have a friend in the orchestra but that doesn’t get me free tickets. Lame! Help me out pdxpipeline!
July 13, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I’d love to see this movie on Friday with my husband. I know he would really enjoy it also. We’re new to Portland and we need a date! I’ve never heard of anything like this and I would love an opportunity to go! Thanks!
July 13, 2009 at 3:26 pm
A fantastic “bring it back” method of entertainment to remind us of talent that is not computer generated. Applaud.
July 13, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Since my husband grew up in the region of where many western stories come from,and loves westerns, I know how much this would mean to him to go and see this movie. On another note, now that our son is working on the weekends, my husband and I actually get to have some time to where we can go and see a movie just the two of us.
July 13, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I’ve only seen a film with live orchestra once and it was spectacular!
July 13, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I own the DVD of this classic film, but as you may know it looks like a 19th generation VHS pan and scan transfer.
I love the movie and rank it on par with Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns. I like how Quentin Tarantino used the Ennio Morricone music and the flashback eye shots from this film in Kill Bill. I always hoped that a sweet Portland movie house would obtain a good print and show it. But with a live chorus and orchestra performing new soundtrack music live!?!? THIS will be amazing!
July 14, 2009 at 10:58 am
After helping a friend shovel dirt and complete the 2nd phase of their garden, I think I will be facing a well deserved break.
Having never seen a film with live orchestral accompaniment, I would relish the opportunity. Thanks for the giveaway.
July 14, 2009 at 2:03 pm
oh, man, i’d love to go to this show.
July 14, 2009 at 2:49 pm
This sounds like it could be the best Filmusik yet… though Missile to the Moon’s rock monsters will be hard villians to compete with…
July 14, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I was raised on old westerns… And love live music… And I ADORE the Hollywood Theatre!! Pleasepleaseplease??! Pick me!
July 14, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Hilarious! My dad was totally into the Spaghetti Westerns. He went so far as to purchase a soundtrack of all the original scores. On vinyl. Which, along with an onion on your belt, was the style at the time. He also had an album of what I call Marboro Music: original recordings of music from Marboro commercials. It’s one of the best tapes I ever made. One side Spaghetti Western, one side Marlboro music. I should prolly transfer it to CD one of these days. Richards and Dorsey didn’t write the score for any of the original Spaghetti Westerns, so the audience surrounding me, should I acquire tickets, would be spared my humming along as I won’t know the music. Yet.
July 14, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I have been learning to play the Violin and have always dreamed of playing with an orchestra. I have no extra cash so have been trying to decide if I could pinch the 10 out of my budget. I would love to check this out!
July 15, 2009 at 2:43 pm
I’d love to get tickets to go to this, the trailer looks awesome!!!