Manhattan, (Manhattan)
The Theme: Woody Allen turns the island of Manhattan into Isaac Davis’ (Woody Allen) co-star in his love letter to NYC, and all because of one composer.
Allen even prepares us for this from the outset, stating that in his eyes this is a city that “pulsated to the great tunes of George Gershwin.”
Its Effect: Allen illuminates New York with picturesque cinematography that helps to illuminate Gershwin’s music, leaving an imprint of the city in every viewer’s mind that it’s hard to shake off.
Inspector Jacques Clouseau, (The Pink Panther)
The Theme: The largest diamond in the world has one slight imperfection, the imprint of a pink panther, which then dances along to Henry Mancini’s score as he escapes the attentions of an animated Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers). The music permeates throughout Blake Edwards’s impeccable comedy as Sellers delightfully bumbles his way through proceedings.
Its Effect: Clumsy and imperfect, Mancini’s work compliments Sellers virtuoso performance wonderfully.
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Mrs Bates, (Psycho)
The Theme: Possibly the most infamous cinematic sound of all time greets the presence of Norman (Anthony Perkins) when he is disguised as his long dead mother in Hitchcock’s 1961 thriller.
Its Effect: Nauseously violent on its own, each stab of a string from Hermann is like a dagger through skin, but the blood is replaced by chocolate syrup instead.
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Indiana Jones, (Raiders of the Lost Ark)
The Theme: Could Indy have escaped the attentions of the Peruvian Hovitos without John Williams score? Probably. But it would have made for some average viewing.
Its Effect: Williams’ music is the cinematic equivalent of pop music, to the point that you’d even consider dusting off the old textbooks and entering a career as an archaeologist just to be more like Indy.
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Rocky Balboa, (Rocky)
The Theme : A '70s working class anthem that turned Sly Stallone into a cinematic heavyweight and has been the backing track to many futile gym sessions, Rocky’s final push to be ready for his bout with Apollo Creed brings a tear to eye.
Its Effect: Who needs motivational speaking when you instantly become a better person after letting your ears inject this musical adrenaline shot.
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Frank Drebin, (The Naked Gun)
The Theme : How can one single shot be so funny? Watching a rogue police siren drive where it shouldn’t is the perfect way to acquaint audiences with the wacky world of Police Squad and their superlative lieutenant, Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen).
Its Effect: You can’t help but raise a smile and think of Drebin’s copious mishaps.
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Axel Foley, (Beverly Hills Cop)
The Theme : Arriving in Beverly Hills to solve the murder of his friend Mikey Tandino (James Russo), Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is soon arrested for being thrown out of a window, which signals the start of Harold Faltermeyer’s annoying effort that accentuates Murphy’s equally annoying, but loveable charm.
Its Effect: Despite providing Martin Brest’s movie with a light rhythm and helping to turn Murphy into a bona fide movie star, Faltermeyer’s tune is now so exacerbating that it has almost single-handedly ruined one of the finest films of the 80s.
Still, the two are so entwined that if you listen hard enough you can almost hear Foley’s cackle in the background.
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Superman, (Superman)
The Theme: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Superman (Christopher Reeve) and with him comes John Williams’s almighty wallop of a theme that embraces the melodramatic air of Richard Donner’s superhero extravaganza and lends weight to Kal-El’s efforts to save the world
Its Effect: Anyone who has ever placed their underpants over their trousers and worn their dad’s coat as a cape can attest to the sounds never-ending influence on cinema.
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Darth Vader, (Star Wars V : The Empire Strikes Back)
The Theme: An overly vocal breathing pattern, Williams’ concerto and James Earl Jones’ voice each helped turn Darth Vader into the most feared villain to ever grace the screen.
Even just walking along a corridor he becomes the scariest bad ass in the entire galaxy thanks to the composers' imposing psalm.
I ts Effect: A tidal wave of despair washes over the screen when the theme begins and you know that it is only going to end badly for the individual or planet at the other end of Darth’s rage.
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Bruce The Shark, (Jaws)
The Theme: Steven Spielberg’s vision and John Williams’s talents were made for each other and the two work in tandem to perfection in the bespectacled genius’ 1975 blockbuster.
Any time you hear his music you know that the shark is near by and you can’t help but be petrified.
Its Effect: You’ll edge closer and closer to the precipice of your seat without even knowing it and even after it’s finished you won’t be able to go into the ocean ever again.
For those keeping score, Williams created each of the top 3 themes. The talented man.
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