Jerry Goldsmith

“I was fortunate to work in an era when melody was still important.”

“I think a good score is one that you don't notice. It's one that's so integrated with the film that it becomes part of the film.”

“To me, the most important thing is the story. Not just the plot, but the story of the characters.”

“I've always felt that the score is a character in the film.”

“The music is the soul of the film.”

“What I try to do is find the heart of the film.”

“My own personal taste is for the lyrical and the melodic.”

“Every film is a new challenge. You have to start from scratch every time.”

“The director has the last word. It's his movie.”

“I was always interested in the orchestra and its colors.”

“I'm not a tunesmith. I'm a dramatist.”

“Music has to have an emotional impact.”

“You write for the film. You don't write for yourself.”

“I approach each film as a unique entity.”

“I think the most difficult thing is to be simple.”