[Harp-L] harmonica in movie soundtracks

["Mick Zaklan" <mzaklan@xxxxxxxxx>]

  I'm know I'm late on this thread, but I thought I'd kick in a couple of
examples of fine harmonica work that I never see mentioned anywhere.
Probably because no one besides me ever saw these movies!
  Back in the early 80's, my girlfriend wanted to see a film called "Chilly
Scenes of Winter"; based on something written by her favorite author, Ann
Beattie.  Don't remember much about the flick, except that Toots Thielemans
was featured pretty significantly in the soundtrack.  I recall that my
girlfriend was impressed and maybe a tad skeptical that I could identify an
anonymous background musician; but we hung around for the closing credits
and sure enough, Toots was listed.  But we harmonica players know that Toots
is pretty easy to ID.  He did some very pretty, evocative playing that might
have even been unaccompanied.  It was absolutely perfect for conveying the
ups and downs of a romance.  Perfect for a film on a tight budget, too!
  Around 1970, Gene Wilder did a foreign film with the oddball title
"Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx".  The film got rave reviews and
was playing next door to where I was going to school in downtown Chicago.  I
had an afternoon to kill so I took in the matinee showing. To this day, it
remains one of my favorite films. The plot featured an Irish-brogued Gene
Wilder pushing a cart of fertilizer through the streets of Dublin,
periodically bellowing "haarse manoooor!".  His clientele was a string of
lonely housewives who used his horseshit in their gardens and planter
boxes.  Eventually he wound up dallying with, and getting his heart broken
by, a university student played by Margot Kidder.  The soundtrack was almost
as gorgeous as Ms. Kidder, containing some of the most beautiful harmonica
work I'd ever heard.  Back then, I had never heard anyone get those sounds
out of the instrument.  I remember impatiently sitting through the closing
credits, expecting to see Larry Adler's name pop up.  It did not.  My
memory's a little cloudy, but I believe Tommy Reilly was the harmonica
player on this one.  Great job by Tommy!.
  I don't believe a soundtrack was ever put out on either of these films,
which is a shame because the playing was first rate.  I don't even think
they show up on television anymore.  Curiously, somewhere along the line it
was decided that "Chilly Scenes" would be more appealing with a different
title.  It is now called "Head Over Heels".  But Toots remains in the
credits.  Both films are great examples of what our instrument can do if
given a chance.  So I thought I'd give them some recognition.

Mick Zaklan