DEFENSE PLAY (1988)

The goal of this blog is to cover other films that Arthur B scored and not just the big budgeted obvious ones. Hopefully this is a discovery of new music from a long lost era. One of our interesting discoveries was DEFENSE PLAY (1988), the first feature film directed by actor Monte Markham who would occasionally collaborate with Arthur B. The pitch for this film was probably "WARGAMES meets BLUE THUNDER but with no budget." According to IMDB this film was distributed theatrically in the US by the same people that put out TROLL 2.  One interesting footnote for the film is that Karen is played by Susan Ursitti who played Boof in TEEN WOLF (1985).

The film is about two teenagers, Scott and Karen, who get caught up in the defense department's top secret project involving remote controlled miniature helicopters with lazers. Scott's father is Colonel Denton, the leader of a top secret rocket launch that the Soviets want to stop. Karen's father, Prof. Vandemeer, is the head of the physics department and creator of the DART program (Defensive Aerial Reconnaissance Transmitters). Vandemeer, who it turns out was asked by Denton to oversee the DART project, decides to work late one night and is murdered by one of the DARTS when he attempts to call Scott's father. Of course Scott answers the phone and hears the whole thing. Soon he's involved in a cat and mouse game with a Russian spy named Starkey and the Soviets, trying to prove his father had nothing to do with the murder. 


The amazing thing is the score is mostly orchestral and is like a miniature WARGAMES. The opening music is introduced with an exciting fanfare theme on the Main Title over stock footage shots of a rocket launch pad: 




One standout sequence (one of the greatest cues we've ever unearthed) has Scott escaping from the roof of Starkey's dorm building with the help of a fire hose. An energetic use of the main theme is stated with some active string flourishes above the orchestra. The best moment being the swell of trumpets before the trombones end the cue with a biting staccato attack as he hits the ground running:






There is plenty of action in DEFENSE PLAY and here's an example of some of the DART action music with low brass and strings for the lazer attack on Scott's Jeep:




There are some great slower moments based on the theme with nice orchestral colors like this scene with Scott and Karen. This kind of 80s writing is sorely missed:


 


There is one ridiculous 80s synth moment in the music when Scott's steering wheel drumming friend helps him escape the police. It's probably the best music you will hear for a guy with his legs hanging out of the window of a car. A variation of the main theme can be heard briefly:






A great end title brings the score to a close with a reprise of the main fanfare theme but with a mysterious sounding B section extension:






Overall it's a fun score with some impressive action music for when the DARTS chase Scott and Karen in the Jeep. Despite the low budget and all around bad script the score just works so much better than the movie and you can't help but wish it was in a different film while you're watching. 

-- Brandon F. 


No album or DVD released as of this post.  You may still find a sun faded copy on VHS in a local hole-in-the-wall video rental shop or stop searching and watch it on Youtube here.