007 composer David Arnold and lyricist Don Black on the future of soundtracks

The composer for one of the year's most eagerly-awaited films, King Kong, has been replaced just weeks before the film is released due to creative differences with director Peter Jackson. Is this unusual?

David Arnold, whose string of big screen soundtracks includes the last three James Bond movies and Independence Day, says composers are under increasing pressure.

He told the BBC News website: "New technology has meant that composers can now be asked to present their score in a demo form on synthesisers before its been properly recorded.

"They then ask test audiences what they think. It is like judging a film by having the cast shout out the script first

"People have been taken off films on the basis of the results. It is not a particularly rational form of decision-making."

Arnold says some of his most enjoyable work has been on low-budget movies.

He says: "If you get involved with Hollywood films where a lot of money is riding on them, you have to be prepared for all the stuff that goes with it.

"It tests every aspect of you, your tenacity and originality, your stamina and your sense of humour.

"Writing music is an emotive experience. When you get opinions from somebody you have never heard of, it is sometimes not the easiest thing."

Lyricist Don Black won an Oscar in 1967 for the song Born Free with composer John Barry, his long-time collaborator.

Near misses

His other successes include the theme songs for Diamonds Are Forever and Ben, hits for Shirley Bassey and Michael Jackson respectively.

"All the great film composers have been replaced on movies," he says.

"It happened to my friend like Elmer Bernstein, who did the Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape, on Gangs of New York."

Black says his most famous songs nearly did not see the light of day.

"The song Born Free was pulled from the soundtrack before the film was premiered but then it became a hit single so it had to be added to every print.

"Harry Saltzman didn't like Diamonds Are Forever because he thought the lyrics were too explicit but Cubby Broccoli did.

"You could make a great album of the soundtrack music that was never released."

Thanks to `JP` for the alert.

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