SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 1:28 Min.
Off 1963’s The Pink Panther film soundtrack, this car chase tune narrates Inspector Clouseau’s hot pursuit of ‘The Phantom,’ as two suspects in matching gorilla suits driving separate cars wildly confound him. Composer-conductor Henry Mancini titled this ode to live-action cartoons after comedy director Mack Sennett, who is credited with the invention of movie slapstick. This song is available on the soundtrack’s 1993 CD release.
REVIEW:
Hearing the wacky “Shades of Sennett” will make anybody visualize clowns or fast-paced, anything-goes Hollywood slapstick. For youngsters, it’s fun just hearing it as silly background noise. In a contemporary sense, “Shades of Sennett” applies to any harried parent trying to round up his/her kids or even chasing after a mischievous pet. For that matter, this tune might as well sum up a ridiculously busy day at the office.
Mancini needs less than ninety seconds to conjure up a timeless bit of comedy magic. “Shades of Sennett” is worth keeping, even just for a good chuckle.
Note: For a download double-feature, there’s Matthew Harwood’s wonky instrumental mayhem, “Mischief (Harley Quinn’s Theme).” The clownish track appears on 2015’s Infinite Crisis video game soundtrack and 2016’s Music of DC Comics, Volume 2.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
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