July 1, 2004

BY RICHARD ROEPER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

The movie is "Say Anything." John Cusack holds up a boombox outside Ione Skye's window and cranks up "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel. He's a guy in trench coat, jeans, T-shirt and high-tops, and he's in love.

The movie is "10." Bo Derek puts on Ravel's "Bolero" and invites Dudley Moore to indulge his ultimate fantasy.

The movie is "The Color of Money." Tom Cruise's hotshot pool player runs the table while howling along with "Werewolves of London."

The movie is "High Fidelity." Record-store snob and bar-band wannabe Jack Black takes the stage and blows everybody away with his surprisingly soulful rendition of "Let's Get It On."

The movie is "Bound For Glory." The song is "This Land is Your Land."

The movie is "Tootsie." The song is "It Might Be You" by Stephen Bishop.

The movie is "Behind the Green Door." As a twanging guitar kicks in. . . .

The sounds of movies

Just kidding about that last one. All the other entries were mentioned by readers reacting to my recent column item about the American Film Institute's solid but unimaginative list of the 100 greatest songs in film history.

With the exception of "Fahrenheit 9/11," no column topic in recent weeks has generated as much response -- and the "In Your Eyes" moment from "Say Anything" was by far the most popular submission. By. Far.

First, to answer some FAQs:

No, the songs did not have to be specifically composed for the film in question. Thus, a classic chestnut such as "It Had to Be You" was No. 60 on the AFI's list because it was used to such great effect in "When Harry Met Sally . . . " and Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" from "Risky Business" was slotted at No. 100, even though neither song was composed for the film in question.

For Academy Award consideration, a song has to be original. That's why Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called To Say I Love You," which became a mega-hit after it was featured in "The Woman in Red," wasn't up for an Oscar nomination. Same thing with "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston. It was one of the biggest hits of all time because of exposure from "The Bodyguard," but the song had been around for a while. (It was written by Dolly Parton.)

Criteria for inclusion on the AFI's list included "[m]usic and lyrics featured in an American film that set a tone or mood, define character, advance plot and/or express the film's themes in a manner that elevates the moving image art form.

"Songs may have been written and/or recorded specifically for the film or previously written and/or recorded and selected by the filmmaker to achieve the above goals."

In other words, the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want," as heard as a funeral selection in "The Big Chill," was eligible.

Some of your favorites that didn't make the cut:

'' 'To Live and Die in L.A.' -- title cut; 'Gimme Some Lovin' -- 'Days of Thunder'; 'Relax' -- 'Body Double.' And lastly, though I don't feel it has passed the test of time, it was cool back then: the 'Billy Jack' theme song."

Rob Peterson

Note: That would be "One Tin Soldier" by the immortal Coven, and I disagree -- it DOES stand the test of time. College marching bands, hip-hop artists and TV commercials use it all the time!

*****

'' 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' from 'Sun Valley Serenade' and 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B' from ''Buck Privates.' I'm only 42 years old, but these songs are still enjoyed today. I've been to many a wedding where these songs are played and everyone, young and old, gets up to start dancing."

Kevin Deany

*****

"One of my favorite movie songs -- one of my favorite songs, period -- is Warren Zevon's 'Looking for a Heart' from 'Grand Canyon.' "

Suzanne Oliver

*****

"How could any list of great songs from the movies be complete without including 'A Hard Day's Night?'"

Mickey Govern

*****

"I was disappointed there wasn't a single song from 'The Music Man' or even 'Oklahoma!' both wonderful musicals. I always thought Robert Preston and Shirley Jones were fabulous in 'The Music Man.' "

Laurie Garrison

Note: I also enjoyed "I Think I Love You." Oh, wait, that came later, when Shirley was in a different band.

"I agree with you about the AFI list, there were certainly omissions. But there were [also some undeserving selections]. How could you not mention the horror of the AFI including 'My Heart Will Go On' from 'Titanic?' Every time I hear the opening strains of that song, I break out in hives and run from the room. I suppose it fits: overblown, dreadful movie, overblown, dreadful song."

Lauren Pitalis

*****

Oh, great. Now you've opened up a whole other can of tunes: the worst songs in movie history.

I nominate that sappy theme from "The Goodbye Girl."

E-mail: rroeper@suntimes.com