James Horner, Film Composer for 'Titanic' and 'Braveheart,' Dies in Plane Crash

The Hollywood Reporter ^ | June 22, 2015 | Mike Barnes

[C19fan]

The two-time Oscar winner, 61, worked on three James Cameron films, two 'Star Trek' movies and classics like 'A Beautiful Mind,' 'Field of Dreams' and 'Apollo 13.'

James Horner, the consummate film composer known for his heart-tugging scores for Field of Dreams, Braveheart and Titanic, for which he won two Academy Awards, died Monday in a plane crash near Santa Barbara. He was 61.

His death was confirmed by Sylvia Patrycja, who is identified on Horner's film music page as his assistant.

[C19fan]

Too bad. I thought his soundtrack for Wrath of Khan was the best one of any Star Trek movie. Glory was another moving soundtrack.

[beaversmom]

Really enjoyed his work for The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Sorry to hear this.

Exploring the Forest:
https://youtu.be/yYmRo3zQzhM

[OttawaFreeper]

“Field of Dreams” is one of my favourites. As an aside, a while back I looked at peoples’ comments about that movie on the IMDB site and was quite taken aback at some who made really rude remarks about it. I certainly do not expect a particular film to be everybody’s favourite, but some commenters struck me as needing a life in that instance.

[A Navy Vet]

What a shame. People often don't realized how important the music/scores affect the feel of a movie. Horner was a great composer along the lines of John Williams. Without their compositions, many movies would be boring no matter how great the direction, acting, story-line, cinematography. Music can make a mediocre movie better, but also make a good movie mundane.

Example: Texas Rising on HBO. Their music was right out of old TV westerns like Bonanza and the Big Valley. I stopped watching after the first episode. Even my wife commented, "What's with the old 60's 70's western music?"

[originalbuckeye]

A great talent, very sad to lose him. RIP Mr Horner, your work will live on.

[SamAdams76]

Music is as important to a movie as dialogue. Imagine watching classics like "Goodfellas", "Jaws" or "Titanic" for instance, with just the dialogue and no music at all. Totally different movie experience - and not for the better.

Even when movies were "silent", they would have a band in the theater playing the film score.

Getting back to the plane crash, I'm not a pilot but always wondered what the appeal was of flying solo. I would always want to have a co-pilot with me - just in case.

[beaversmom]

I definitely understand what you are saying. The soundtrack is one of three essential elements of a great movie to me...the other two being direction and acting.

A perfect example of how music conveys a range of emotions w/barely a word spoken in the scene linked below. The scene, as lovely as it is, would be greatly diminished w/out the score.

https://youtu.be/-tuNR-uD_mE

[bravo whiskey]

I remember a show about movie scores. They did a scene from JAWS without music and then with music. Quite a change in the impact of the scene.

[Sans-Culotte]

Though some of his music was sometimes derivative, he did produce some score which really lifted their movies to another level. Besides Braveheart, I really liked his score for Glory. His sweeping music as the 54th readies itself for the assault on Battery Wagner is one of the most stirring moments in movies. RIP, Mr. Horner.

[Diamond]

The composer is shown in the audience at a beautiful performance in 2013 in Vienna of the Titanic Suite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEb_HEn6wBk

[InterceptPoint]

Very bad news. This guy was in the exclusive class with John Williams and Rachel Portman and perhaps 2 or 3 others. I already miss the great music that he will now never compose.

[Ingtar]

His music will live on...

[EveningStar]

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[pabianice]

The crash site is a scattering of small parts. Looks like he went straight in.

[TheOldLady]

From the burned-up look of the entire area, it is doubtful that he was out of gas.

May God Bless him and rest his soul.

Rest in Peace, James Horner. You will be missed, but your music will live on.

[Perdogg]

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