Like everything in that series (conducted by Charles Gerhardt, produced by George Korngold, and recorded by Kenneth Wilkinson), this re-release is mandatory for film music devotees and cannot be too strongly recommended to the general fan of classical orchestral music. Tiomkin's score features entrancing bell-sounds and a lovely processional theme to evoke Shangri-La, and contrasts these with the hurly-burly of the real world and the various emotions of the Westerners who find themselves shanghai-ed to paradise. Also included on the disc are shorter selections from five films of widely varying genres: war, western (the type of film that dominates Tiomkin's output), romantic comedy, a family drama, and a Cinerama travelogue.

The performances are masterful, made at a time when the National Philharmonic Orchestra and the John Alldis Choir comprised some of London's best classical session musicians and singers. The sound of the original LP was stunning, and gorgeous as it still is on this CD, listeners who remember the original will notice just a bit less presence, less "shimmer" in the effect of the 22-member bell ensemble. Meanwhile, Sony/BMG should seriously consider making SACD versions of this and other "Classic Film Score" masters that were recorded in Quadraphonic sound.

--Joseph Stevenson, ClassicsToday.com