RETURN FROM THE RIVER KWAI

Dragon’s Domain Records presents RETURN FROM THE RIVER KWAI, featuring music composed by the legendary Lalo Schifrin (MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, BULLITT, DIRTY HARRY, ENTER THE DRAGON) for the 1989 war drama directed by Andrew V. McLaglen (THE DEVIL’S BRIGADE, THE UNDEFEATED, THE WILD GEESE), written by Joan Blair, Clay Blair, Jr. And Sargon Tamimi, starring Timothy Bottoms, Nick Tate, George Takei, Edward Fox, Denholm Elliott, Richard Graham, Chris Penn and Tatsuya Nakadai.

Released theatrically in 1989 everywhere except the United States, RETURN FROM THE RIVER KWAI was based upon the book of the same name published by Simon & Shuster in 1989 and written by Clay Blair, Jr. with the assistance of his wife, Joan. It was a re-account of one of the last untold stories of World War II. Considered a work of non-fiction, the book tells the factual account of what happened to the 2,218 Australian and British POWs, and a lone American soldier, who survived what came to be known as ‘the Death Railway’.

Father and son producers Kurt and Daniel Unger engaged composer Lalo Schifrin to compose the score for RETURN FROM THE RIVER KWAI. As an addition to the Schifrin score, a further theme was commissioned for the film from Japanese New Age composer Kitaro. Recording of the Lalo Schifrin score took place in July, 1988 at the Studio Palais de Congres in Paris. The ‘Japanese Theme’ by Kitaro was recorded by the composer at his home in Tokyo. A few years later, Kitaro would be hired by Oliver Stone to score his film HEAVEN AND EARTH.

As a young man in his native Argentina, Lalo Schifrin received classical training in music and also studied law. He came from a musical family, and his father, Luis Schifrin, was the concertmaster of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Buenos Aires at the Teatro Colon. Schifrin continued his formal music education at the Paris Conservatory during the early 1950’s, studying with numerous teachers including famed composer Olivier Messiaen. Simultaneously, he became a professional jazz pianist, composer and arranger, playing and recording in Europe. When Schifrin returned to Buenos Aires in the mid 1950s, he formed his own big concert band. It was during a performance of this band that Dizzy Gillespie heard Schifrin play and asked him to become his pianist and arranger. In 1958, Schifrin moved to the United States and thus began a remarkable career.

Lalo Schifrin has written more than 100 scores for films and television. Among the classic scores are MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, MANNIX, THE FOX, COOL HAND LUKE, BULLITT, DIRTY HARRY, THE CINCINNATI KID, THE AMITYVILLE HORROR. Recent scores include TANGO, BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE, THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY, AFTER THE SUNSET, the RUSH HOUR films and ABOMINABLE.

Originally released on compact disc in 2008 and very scarce, Dragon’s Domain Records brings RETURN FROM THE RIVER KWAI back to the marketplace, featuring music composed by Lalo Schifrin, including the Japanese Theme composed by Kitaro, performed by the Paris Philharmonic Orchestra. The music has been newly mastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland and the liner notes written for the previous release by Darren Allison have been reprised.

RETURN FROM THE RIVER KWAI is a limited edition release.
Release: the week of May 19th, 2025

01. Main Title (2:24)
02. Destroyed Bridge / Meo Tribesmen (1:46)
03. Firing Squad / Time and Change (2:07)
04. Headman / Crawford (2:39)
05. No Glory In Dying (3:47)
06. Miller’s Head / Final Mission (2:12)
07. Cambodia (1:47)
08. Brasil Maru (2:55)
09. Rickshaw / Runaway (3:04)
10. Crash Position / Gangplank / Japanese Theme** (3:10)
(** - Kitaro)
11. Stretcher (1:19)
12. Dive / Like A Shark (2:55)
13. The Take (3:03)
14. Sit Tight / Anchor Chain (3:25)
15. Escort Hit / Abandon Ship / Sinking (6:17)
16. End Titles / Pack Up Your Troubles In Your
Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile*** (2:46)
(*** - Felix Powell, George Asaf)
17. Japanese Theme** (6:34)
Performed by Kitaro
18. Rule, Britannia* (0:45)
(Thomas Augustine Arne)