Original Score by Harry Manfredini
Varèse Sarabande is planning a digital and CD soundtrack release for the classic film SWAMP THING. Originally released on LP in 1982 by Varèse Sarabande, the highly sought after soundtrack features the film’s original score by Harry Manfredini (FRIDAY THE 13TH series, HOUSE OF USHER). SWAMP THING was the first of what would be three collaborations between Manfredini and legendary horror director Wes Craven.
“I knew I’d discovered another one of those movies that fall somewhere between buried treasures and guilty pleasures,” wrote Roger Ebert of SWAMP THING.
The fourth film release by Craven, “SWAMP THING is a fantastic movie, showing Craven’s ability to create monsters that are more than just monstrous. The titular creature is more misunderstood than villainous, and that emotional resonance is what makes this more than just another horror film,” said Kelly Lawlor (USA TODAY). SWAMP THING was based on characters from the DC Comic book series written by Len Wein and spawned both a sequel and a TV series, which aired on USA Network from 1990-1993.
On the verge of a breakthrough in his quest to wipe out world hunger, altruistic botanist Dr. Alec Holland (Ray Wise) is placed under the protection of special government agent Alice Cable (Adrienne Barbeau). Mad outlaw scientist Anton Arcane (Louis Jourdan) wants to steal Holland’s research for his own nefarious ends, but an unforeseen accident during the heist turns Holland into the Swamp Thing, an enormous plant-like creature that fights back against Arcane’s henchmen to save Cable.
“In SWAMP THING… I had a two-note whole tone phrase that denoted the magic formula. It is a quick way to evoke to the audience an element of the film,” said Manfredini in a 2013 interview with Nick Dolan.
Born in Chicago, Harry Manfredini has spent most of his life in music. While living in the Midwest, he worked as an arranger and performer. He also earned a Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University and a Master of Arts degree from Western Illinois University, where he subsequently taught theory, orchestration, and conducting. Harry moved to New York to pursue his doctorate at Columbia University. Upon completion of his doctoral courses, the opportunity arose for him to further his longtime dream of a career in film music. The years of classical training and the twenty years in the popular music scene (he plays great sax) combined with a good sense of drama to make him a natural in film music.
Manfredini has scored over one hundred films. His major feature credits include the highly successful FRIDAY THE 13TH series for Paramount Pictures, and now New Line Cinema, SWAMP THING for UA/Embassy, HOUSE, a breakaway hit for New World Pictures, and DEEP STAR SIX and ACES-IRON EAGLE III for Carolco Pictures. These films characterize his style as an action, suspense, and thriller composer, but Harry’s credits also include SPRING BREAK, a good-time rock and roll summertime success for Columbia Pictures and MY BOYFRIEND’S BACK, a teen comedy for Touchstone Pictures. Harry’s dark, jazzy, dramatic scores have been heard in A GUN, A CAR, A BLOND, and HIDDEN AGENDA. Harry’s score to WISHMASTER, helped make it the number one independent film of 1998, and he repeated in 1999 with his score to THE OMEGA CODE, the largest grossing independent for 1999. AMORE’ and FOLLOW YOUR HEART are examples of his lighthearted love story scores. Harry is extremely proud of his scores for numerous children’s films. While many of them have received various awards, three of them, CORDUROY, ANGUS LOST, and A BOY, A DOG AND A FROG were awarded best children’s film at the American Film Festival. His children’s feature films include THE STORYBOOK, and DANNY.
