Was This Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard's Inspiration For THE DARK KNIGHT Score?

Was This Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard's Inspiration For THE DARK KNIGHT Score?

You know that really cool soundtrack from Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight titled "Why So Serious?" that can be heard throughout the film? Well, this was the music that inspired Zimmer and James Newton Howard to make that...

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By WolvieCBM - Jan 09, 2012 07:01 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman




Even the great composers like Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard have to be inspired by something so they could make a memorable piece of music. Well, one fan of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight has noticed something regarding the score for the film. We all know that the score for The Dark Knight is great, especially that one track titled "Why So Serious?" which can be heard throughout the film. In the video below, you will see the comparison between the musical score of the 1983 French film called Édith et Marcel and of course, the score for The Dark Knight.



The similarity is definitely there. Still, it's pretty cool to see what Zimmer and Howard listened to before making the soundtrack. What do you think?

Thanks to @STYDNews for the heads up (via Slash Film).

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venomvsspidey11
venomvsspidey11 - 1/9/2012, 8:09 AM
The video doesn't work something wrong the with the URL.
WolvieCBM
WolvieCBM - 1/9/2012, 8:14 AM
You Tube emebed is not working for some reason. I see the video in memebers section, but not here. Odd. Give me sec.
venomvsspidey11
venomvsspidey11 - 1/9/2012, 8:16 AM
well here's the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2cXWt[fricken]Qlg
crazycharliemma
crazycharliemma - 1/9/2012, 8:16 AM
not working
WolvieCBM
WolvieCBM - 1/9/2012, 8:19 AM
venomvsspidey11: Nope, still doesn't work.
IamNotLegend
IamNotLegend - 1/9/2012, 8:22 AM
As a musician, it's very difficult to call that an inspiration. It's almost note for note the same thing. On the other hand I can't see them ripping this off either. Who knows? Could be a coincidence although not very likely, it's just too similar.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 1/9/2012, 8:27 AM
Listened over at Youtube. It COULD be a shocking coincidence, but I think it's more likely there was some skulduggery involved. Bold Hanz!
TheNameIsBetty
TheNameIsBetty - 1/9/2012, 9:08 AM
That's actually kinda creepy...

@grif - you want a real soundtrack? Go for Tron Legacy and Tron: Reconfigured.
crucifier
crucifier - 1/9/2012, 9:17 AM
Just post the title of the video, if you will. As a musician, I am very interested in this...
Aaesir
Aaesir - 1/9/2012, 9:27 AM
HACK!!! lol ...it's all good. It's good to know even Hans can be knocked off the high horse!
PapaEmeritus
PapaEmeritus - 1/9/2012, 9:31 AM
I saw it on io9.com!
Well, this isn't an inspiration, it's a total RIP OFF! You can listen the two songs playing over each other:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2cXWt[fricken]Qlg#!

Shame on you Zimmer! XD
PaulRom
PaulRom - 1/9/2012, 9:39 AM
I can definitely see the influence. But Hans Zimmer is too good of a composer to purposely rip off someone else's work.
Fogs
Fogs - 1/9/2012, 10:37 AM
ripoff.

And sorry but I don't think Batman soundtrack so inspired. The main theme has 2 notes.
Lert
Lert - 1/9/2012, 11:38 AM
This doesnt make the Avenger movie any better.. but im sure that the kids will try to come up this childish wisdom to pump up their kid show coming out!
Scruff
Scruff - 1/9/2012, 11:46 AM
http://www.hecklerspray.com/the-dark-knights-score-is-oscar-eligible-again-yipee/200817959.php
Digitaria51
Digitaria51 - 1/9/2012, 11:50 AM
@grif I'm surprised you have time to listen to any other cd with your Green Lantern soundtrack playing all the time..
poop23
poop23 - 1/9/2012, 11:59 AM
Thank you for crediting James Newton Howard in the article. I'm tired of Zimmer receiving all the credit
BillyBones
BillyBones - 1/9/2012, 12:51 PM
All youtube links are being censored for some strange reason. I didnt realise a random assortment of letters and numbers could cause offence lol.

If you want to watch the video, search youtube for 'Inspiration for The Dark Knight Score?'
ISleepNow
ISleepNow - 1/9/2012, 1:39 PM
The similarities are striking at the very beginning, particularly when you compare the theme music from Édith et Marcel to the version of the Dark Knight score that was actually used in the film. However, after that the scores are totally different

Bandrews1
Bandrews1 - 1/9/2012, 1:41 PM
Hmmm, these are painfully similar.
PapaEmeritus
PapaEmeritus - 1/9/2012, 1:55 PM
Yeah, the guy ripped off somethings, who cares? Every great artist rip shit off from time to time. Led Zepellin ripped off so many american bluesmen and they're still great anyway!
95
95 - 1/9/2012, 2:27 PM
Could be. I know they definitely found inspiration in the soundtrack for Heat. Sounds exactly like Heat's bank robbery scene. Someone post the video, I'm on my mobile. Either way, Zimmer and Howard did an amazing job.
AC1
AC1 - 1/9/2012, 2:43 PM
Well, it seems Hans does sample a lot of other music when creating some of his tracks. For example, one of his more complex samples is hidden in plain sight in the film Inception:


Either way, Hans is a genius, and I can only hope that (if he did base 'Why so serious?' on 'Edith et Marcel') he sampled the older song as more of an homage than an outright rip off
CasualFanatic
CasualFanatic - 1/9/2012, 3:14 PM
As a composer of absolutely zero note (outside of my musical circle of family and friends), I can honestly say that there are no more original ideas. Everything is derivative of something else. However, I would assume that Zimmer and Newton-Howard, who HAVE done some very creative work in the past, would have done a lot more to disguise the rip-off of this intro. I'd be more upset if the rumors I hear are true about Zimmer leaving most of the composing and arranging work to his 'team.' That's just lazy.
Hellkat1979
Hellkat1979 - 1/9/2012, 3:53 PM
Inspiration? Straight up bit that shit. Nolan too... Inception was based entirely on an old Scrooge McDuck comic. Plot point for plot point. Yikes guys...
Supes17
Supes17 - 1/9/2012, 4:41 PM
lmao I love the end of the vid with INCEPTION and all the brass instruments
bobevanz
bobevanz - 1/9/2012, 11:08 PM
Cheater!
NeoBaggins
NeoBaggins - 1/10/2012, 6:50 AM
The two scores sound similar. But the violin sound in the begining of the Édith et Marcel is IDENTICLE to the sound they use in Dark Knight in Joker scenes. I believe it can be heard during the escalation of the interrogation scene. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a full on sample.

Can't wait to see The Dark Kight Rises. =)
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