The AFI's List of 100 Best Movie Songs

The American Film Institute released its list of their picks of the 100 Best Movie Songs. Their stated criterea focused on the impact the song had, both on the movie it appeared in and on American culture. Such lists always spark some controversy, especially when they come from influential and respected organizations like the AFI. We certainly have issues with several of their choices and since the institute president invited commentary and discussion in the broadcast on CBS television, we thought we'd take her up on the offer. So here we present the AFI's top 100 Movie Songs of All Time, with our review of both the original movie and its music, as well as what we thought of the AFI's ranking.

Glaring omissions? Oh, we've got our ideas on that, too. Like the theme from the classic musical "Hello Dolly!" But there are others, as well.

The AFI ranked the film version of the Broadway musical "South Pacific", but not "Oklahoma!" or "Carousel"? I won't even mention "Aquarius" from "Hair". "Raindrops" from "Butch Cassidy", but not "The Entertainer" from "The Sting"? The banal theme from "Rocky" but not the wonderfully outrageous "Time-Warp" from Rocky Horror Picture Show? And at long last will we ever see the soundtrack from "Ishtar" released? I'm serious! The masterfully funny songs by Elaine May and Paul Williams from that movie are priceless, and throngs of movie fans continually scour the Internet for a glimpse of this mythical product. "I can see her standing by the backroads of my mind. She cracks her knuckles and the scar that's on her knee won't go away!" Telling the truth can indeed be dangerous business. And, while I appreciate Henry Mancini as much as anyone, why "Days of Wine and Roses"?? Why, oh Why?? A more banal example of the effects of the Dreaded Percy Faith Syndrome you'll never find. And where was the theme from "The Pink Panther"???? That may have been Mancini's crowning acheivement in movie scores, even though it was an instrumental (and thus disqualified, but still…). And they pick "Luck Be A Lady" from "Guys and Dolls" just because it's sung by Marlon Brando over the wittier, snappier, and infinitely more memorable "I Got The Horse Right Here" featuring "The Voice" Frank Sinatra and the inimitable Stubby Kaye, or "The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in The World". I'm sure you have favorites that didn't make the AFI's list, too. But we present our comments on the AFI's picks in hopes of stimulating your interest in music in the movies.