Over a stunning career spanning more than five decades, Jerry Goldsmith explored every film genre, from major blockbusters to intimate works, from cult classics to critically acclaimed films, as well as some long-forgotten productions. He gave us iconic scores for Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Planet of the Apes, Patton, Chinatown, the Rambo and Omen trilogies, Alien, Gremlins, Total Recall, Basic Instinct, Rudy, The Mummy, Air Force One, Mulan, and countless more.
Jerry Goldsmith: An Alchemist in Hollywood was first published in French in 2024 by Total Trax, the French podcast dedicated to film music. We are now delighted to present the complete and updated English edition of Yves Desrichard’s work, produced in collaboration with Rafik Djoumi and Olivier Desbrosses.
In its October 2024 issue, FSM Online featured Daniel Azevedo’s comprehensive review of the French edition of the book: “As a teenager in the late ’80s, I dreamt of getting my hands on a reference book that would grant me full access to the work of the legendary Jerry Goldsmith. Cut to the present day, and my wish has been granted (…) a compelling French volume that provides a deep dive into the composer’s work.”
Across 400 pages, the book explores the life and career of Jerry Goldsmith — his influences and mentors, his formative years in television, his close collaborations with some of cinema’s greatest filmmakers, and the evolution and refinement of his musical language.
This well-documented work is further expanded with a 200-page, full-color companion volume entitled Jerry Goldsmith: Visual Filmography, featuring a comprehensive and updated collection of original soundtrack album covers composed by the Maestro. An exclusive collector’s slipcase for both books is also included with every preorder.
For months, we have been regularly asked about a complete English edition. The time has finally come to end the wait.
Check out the Kickstarter campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pulsegames/jerrygoldsmithalchemist
