GREEN MANSIONS, 1959

Often considered the most successful element of the movie Green Mansions, the recording of the hauntingly ethereal score was not without its problems. MGM originally enlisted Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos to write the score based on the screenplay, until his lack of experience with film scoring techniques meant MGM’s Bronislau Kaper was brought on to complete the score, adapting Villa-Lobos’ material to fit the on screen action, resulting in a hybrid synthesis of their two styles. Marake, 5 minutes 83 seconds, was recorded to accompany the Marake dance sequence choreographed by Katherine Dunham. Panpiper of Piunabe, 1 minute 41 seconds, is a brief panpipe interlude which was not included on the original motion picture soundtrack. Also not included on the soundtrack was the love theme Song of Green Mansions, composed by Kaper, with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster, and sung by Anthony Perkins to Audrey Hepburn as jungle girl Rima as he accompanied himself on a guitar. The double sided acetate retained by Hepburn features two takes of Perkins recording the love song. The original master recording for the love theme Song of Green Mansions is believed to be lost.