| Description |
| On-screen: |
Marlowe chases the killer |
| Description: |
As Marlowe and the killer run down the stairs, we hear descending sequential patterns in the upper register ("Down the Stairs"); below this is a rhythmic accompaniment ("The Chase") that is identical to the Sailors theme in King Kong (1933), generating excitement during the chase; layered on top of this are several statements of Marlowe's theme in a heroic variant, played dramatically by brass |
| Music annotations: |
[m. 6] f; [m. 7] sfz; [m. 8] sfz / f |
| Film annotations: |
[m. 6] Marlowe; [m. 7] Man; [m. 10] Thru door / Marlowe coming down |
| Orchestration annotations: |
[m. 6] d. / s. / 3 trpts felts; [m. 10] 2 harps gliss C major / 3 trpts (simile) |
| Analysis: |
Uses parallel major thirds in quick descending triplets; the Chase theme features parallel diminished seventh sonorities in a pattern that rises a step every two measures; the cue also features a slowly descending chromatic scale in the bass |
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| Tags |
assassin | chase scene | chasing | chromatic parallelism | chromatic scale | descending | dissonant bass | dramatic | gun | gunshot | heroic | layering | leading man | murderer | private eye | room | running | stairs | tense
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