John Williams Announces His Retirement From Film At Age 90
He made bicycles fly.
He made the human race afraid of the water with two notes.
He added menace to one of the most iconic film villains of all time.
Without him, there is no Star Wars as we know it. There is no Jaws as we know it. Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Schindler's List, the theme for the Olympics... it's no stretch to say that John Williams is the greatest film composer of all time, full stop. Without him, several of the most iconic films in history just... aren't as good. A good film score can be every bit as much of a character as the people we see on screen, and nobody knew that and utilized it better than John Williams. With a whopping fifty-two Oscar nominations with five wins, (Schindler's List, A New Hope, Jaws, Fiddler on the Roof, and E.T.) his Oscar nomination tally is second only to Walt Disney. No composer in cinema has had as much of an impact as John Williams.
Now, he's walking away from film.
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It's not too surprising. He did just turn ninety years old, after all, so his illustrious career has lasted longer than I think even he expected. He isn't walking away from music completely, as he will still be doing concerts. However, the major toll that working on film scores has is finally catching up to him. After the upcoming Indiana Jones 5, he has stated that he will retire from film scores.
In an interview, Williams stated:
At the moment I’m working on ‘Indiana Jones 5,’ which Harrison Ford—who’s quite a bit younger than I am—I think has announced will be his last film. So, I thought: If Harrison can do it, then perhaps I can, also.”
He can retire knowing the impact he's had on film is unmatched, particularly when working with one of the greatest directors of all time, Steven Spielberg. The two of them have been working together for over fifty years, and both complement each other perfectly.
He will continue doing concerts, with several more planned throughout the rest of 2022, including performances in Los Angeles, Singapore, and Lisbon. What a treat it will be for the people who get to see one of his concerts. Given that he is ninety, it is highly possible that he doesn't have that many left in him. However, he didn't rule out the possibility of returning to film someday.
“I don’t want to be seen as categorically eliminating any activity,” Williams said before jokingly adding, “I can’t play tennis, but I like to be able to believe that maybe one day I will.”
Regardless of whether or not he will follow up his string of concerts by winning the next Wimbledon, his legacy will speak for itself. His humility regarding it is astonishing. He'd have every right to be proud of the work he's done, and he is to some extent, but he doesn't let it show. He is more appreciative that people hold him in such high regard.
“We live with examples like Beethoven and Bach before us, monumental achievements people have made in music, and can feel very humbled. But I also feel very fortunate. I’ve had wonderful opportunities, particularly in film where a composer can have an audience of not millions of people, but billions of people.”
The effect he's had has and will continue to ripple across countless generations. He can feel humbled by the achievements of Bach and Beethoven, but in my opinion, he is included in that pantheon, even though he would certainly never say so himself.
It's sad to see him walk away from the industry, but at the same time, we can be happy about the legacy that his work has left. He's one of the greatest composers of all time, and his works will endure through the generations. Mr. Williams, all I can say is thank you for what you did. Human culture is better for your work.
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Source(s): Washington Post