The Wasp Woman [Original Score] (1959)
The Wasp Woman [Original Score] (1959)
Composed by Fred Katz (1919-2013)
Tracklisting:
1. [00:00] Original Main Theme
2. [01:25] Main Title
3. [02:37] Looking For The Queen
4. [03:29] In The Box
5. [04:27] Great Discovery
6. [05:32] Presentation
7. [07:05] Complete Experiment
8. [10:06] Young Again
9. [10:47] Need For More
10. [12:46] Wild Attack In The Dark
11. [14:14] Investigation
12. [14:38] Horror & Fall To Death
13. [15:33] End Titles
14. [16:17] Teaser Score
15. [17:07] Sounding Like Bees
Directed, produced, and starring (in a minor uncredited role) Roger Corman (1926-2024), this engagingly cheap creature-feature stars Anthony Eisley (1925-2003), Barboura Morris (1932-1975), character actor, director and producer Bruno VeSota (1922-1976), character actor Frank Gerstle (1915-1970), Frank Wolff (1928-1971), character actress Lynn Cartwright (1927-2004), Michael Mark (1886-1975), film, stage, and television actress Susan Cabot (1927-1986), and film, stage, and television actor William Roerick (1912-1995). Corman is well known for his low-budget films issued with remarkable speed during the late 1950's and early 1960's. Despite their low production values, the majority of his films are surprisingly entertaining, and are often characterized by a campy, self-deprecating humour.
Originally known as 'Insect Woman, this Corman classic stars Susan Cabot as Janice Starlin, founder and owner of a large cosmetics company which is suffering from diminishing sales after it becomes apparent to her customer base that she is aging. Desperate to regain her youthful visage, Janice procures the assistance of eccentric researcher Eric Zinthrop (Michael Mark), who has been experimenting with the royal jelly from a queen wasp, creating a serum that reverses the aging process. Seduced by the opportunities his elixir presents, Janice strikes a deal with Zinthrop to fund his research as long as she can be his first human subject. However, after injecting herself with extra doses of the formula, she fails to anticipate the side-effects, which have deadly results...
The winning element of the film has to be the deliciously mad score performed by Fred Katz. Originally composed for 'A Bucket of Blood (1959), the score was used in a total of seven films, including 'The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) and 'Creature from the Haunted Sea (1961). Apparently, each time Katz was called upon to write music for Corman, he apparently sold the same score as if it were new music. Nevertheless, Katz's music is as much fun as the film and has often been praised for its atmospheric qualities. A composer, conductor, songwriter, cellist and teacher, Katz is best known as a member of Chico Hamilton's quintet, one of the most important West Coast jazz groups of the 1950's. Hamilton's quintet (including Katz) appeared in the film 'Sweet Smell of Success (1957), starring Burt Lancaster (1913-1994) and Tony Curtis (1925-2010). Katz and Hamilton actually wrote a score for the film, but it was rejected in favour of one by Elmer Bernstein (1922-2004). Another high point in Katz's career was writing and conducting the arrangements for American jazz singer Carmen McRae's (1920-1994) album 'Carmen for Cool Ones, which was released in 1958. He was also among the earliest jazz musicians to establish the cello as a viable improvising solo instrument. Other notable film scores from Katz include 'Ski Troop Attack (1960), 'Battle of Blood Island (1960), and 'The Horizontal Lieutenant (1962), whilst his television credits include music for the detective series 'Johnny Staccato (1959-1960) and 'Checkmate (1960-1962).
This video is for promotional use only. I do not own the rights to the music. All rights belong to the artist / band.
