Soundtrack review: ‘Flags of Our Fathers’

By Jeff Swindoll Oct 15, 2006, 12:33 GMT

Soundtrack for the movie Flags of Our Fathers ...more

The photograph of the soldiers raising the American flag at Iwo Jima during World War II is one of the most famous pictures of the entire war (and perhaps even the most famous war photograph of all wars).  Clint Eastwood directs Flags of Our Fathers based on the book James Bradley and Ron Powers.

It tells the tale of the soldiers who raised the flag and what became of them once the war was over.  They return to the states to become public relation ambassadors and to sell war bonds.  Not all of there stories turn out to have happy endings.  I think most everyone has heard Johnny Cash’s song “The Ballad of Ira Hayes.”  Hayes was one of the men who raised the flag and went on to have a tragic end. 

We know Eastwood the star and director, but I think I tend to forget Eastwood the composer.  He scores 11 tracks on the CD and they have an epic feel to them, as they should have for a film covering this particular subject.  These 11 tracks use a full orchestra and are orchestrated and conducted by Lennie Niehaus. 

Eastwood also used period music including “I’ll Walk Alone” by Dinah Shore, “Any Bonds Today?” by Irving Berlin, ‘Summit Ridge Drive’ performed by Artie Shaw and his Gramercy Five, and “Vict’ry Polka” by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne.  He also allows Kyle Eastwood to compose and perform (along with Michael Stevens, Andrew McCormack, and Graeme Flowers) one jazzy number called “Knock Knock.”

Eastwood also uses other pieces of music (but newly orchestrated I believe) including “The Thunderer” and “Washington Post March” by John Philip Sousa, “Symphony in G Minor, 3rd Movement” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and “Sting Quartet Opus #6, 2nd Movement” by Joseph Haydn. 

The album reminded me of a wedding – something old, something new, and something blues (or maybe jazz in this case).  It sounds an epic soundtrack for what appears to be an epic film.

‘Flags of our Fathers’ soundtrack is now available at Amazon. Visit the soundtrack database for more information and a complete track listing.