List of films with overtures

This is a chronological partial list of films which include a musical overture at the beginning, against a blank screen or still pictures. Not included are films where an overture is used to present the credits, or underscored scenes that are already part of the plot. Often, but not necessarily, these films also include an intermission with entr'acte, followed by exit music (after the credits).

This list documents the rise and fall of the Overture/Roadshow practice over film history.

Overtures were popular in 1950s and 1960s Hollywood musicals (particularly those of Rodgers and Hammerstein) but have become less common since.[1] In many cases, these overtures have been cut from TV and video releases and can only be found on "restored" DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray versions, if at all.

The "Golden Age" era

1950–70

After 1970

Notes

  1. ↑ Don Juan is an early sound film, the first to use the Vitaphone sound-on-disc system, and opened with a series of shorts to display this.[2] One of these was the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Henry Kimball Hadley, performing the Overture to "Tannhäuser".[3]
  2. ↑ Conflicting account surround the overture, with some saying it was created for the premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre while others claim that there was never an overture. The 2005 restoration (which restored the overture missing from all previous home media releases) is the same length as the version of the film which ran at Grauman's.[4]
  3. ↑ The original version lacked an overture and intermission until a later reissue, when an overture and entr'acte were assembled from underscore music.[6]
  4. ↑ Roadshow versions only
  5. ↑ An overture and entr’acte were created for the LaserDisc release and included on the extended cut[10]
  6. ↑ Certain versions only[12]
  7. ↑ Introduced in the 1992 LaserDisc extended edition.[18]
  8. ↑ Not included on physical media, digital or streaming releases of the film.[6]
  9. ↑ Only the director's cut features an overture.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bernhard, Adrienne (2018-10-12). "The Nearly Extinct Movie Tradition Filmmakers Should Bring Back". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  2. ↑ "Vitaphone Bow is Hailed a Marvel". Variety. August 11, 1926. p. 10. Retrieved May 28, 2018 – via Archive.org.
  3. ↑ Slowik, Michael James (2012). "Hollywood film music in the early sound era, 1926-1934" (PDF) (Thesis). University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa: University of Iowa. p. 113. Retrieved 25 June 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "Robert A. Harris On King Kong". Retrieved: March 15, 2012. Archived August 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R. Holston, Kim (2013). Movie Roadshows : A History and Filmography of Reserved-Seat Limited Showings, 1911-1973. Jefferson, North Carolina and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7864-6062-5.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "The Roadshow Era". Cinema Sightlines. Archived from the original on 7 December 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  7. 1 2 Axmaker, Sean (7 November 2013). "Videophiled Cool and Classic: True Blu-ray Americana – 'The Best Years of Our Lives' and 'The Right Stuff'". cinephile.
  8. ↑ Shoilevska Henderson, Sanya (2003). Alex North, Film Composer: A Biography, with Musical Analyses of A Streetcar Named Desire, Spartacus, The Misfits, Under the Volcano, and Prizzi’s Honor. Jefferson, North Carolina and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-7864-1470-3. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  9. ↑ Tooze, Gary. "Young Winston Blu-ray - Simon Ward". www.dvdbeaver.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  10. ↑ Shanske, David (18 July 2018). "1776". David Shanske - The Definitive Location. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  11. ↑ Martin, Peter (18 September 2025). "70s Rewind: Robert Redford as 'Jeremiah Johnson'". www.everythingbuthorror.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  12. 1 2 Bastardo, Luigi (15 September 2017). "Tom Sawyer (1973) / Huckleberry Finn (1974) Blu-ray Review: Wild Oates and Foster Kids". Cinema Sentries. Archived from the original on 10 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  13. ↑ Šrajer, Martin (15 May 2024). "Noc na Karlštejně". Filmový přehled.
  14. ↑ Eldred, Tim (30 July 2013). "The Space Battleship Yamato Theme". Cosmo DNA: The Starblazers Space Battleship Yamato Fandom Archive. Retrieved 3 August 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ↑ J. Miller, Cynthia (2010). "Seeing Beyond His Own Time: The Sounds of Jerry Goldsmith". In J. Bartkowiak, Matthew (ed.). Sounds of the Future: Essays on Music in Science Fiction Film. Jefferson, North Carolina and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 219. ISBN 978-0-7864-4480-9.
  16. ↑ Anderson, Matt (3 August 2004). "DVD review of The Black Hole". Movie Habit. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  17. ↑ Maxwell, Barrie (13 November 2006). "High-Definition Classics and Beyond by Barrie Maxwell". The Digital Bits.
  18. ↑ Chicago Tribune (16 June 1992). "GLORIOUS VISTAS". Chicago, Illinois, United States of America. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  19. ↑ Sarris, Andrew (2 October 2000). "This Is Not a Think Piece About Lars von Trier". Observer. New York City, New York, United States of America.
  20. ↑ Dursin, Andre (23 May 2006). "Memorial Day Marathon! - Andy Covers the Latest DVDs for the Holiday Weekend from THE DIRTY DOZEN to BLOODRAYNE and Vintage Titles, 30 New Discs Reviewed". The Aisle Seat. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  21. ↑ Emerson, Jim (14 December 2012). "Melancholia: This is The End" (Review). United States of America: RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  22. ↑ Spector, Lincoln (25 August 2021). "Movies with intermissions". Bayflicks. San Francisco Bay Area. Archived from the original on 2 February 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  23. ↑ Satchell-Baeza, Sophia (14 August 2024). ""It had to be technical rather than emotive": Mica Levi on their The Zone of Interest score". London: British Film Institute.
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