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Release Date: July 25, 2006 Label: Decca Records Related Sites: · Official Movie Site Grade: A-

Anyone looking for a classical music sampler, with a few diversions, will appreciate the original motion picture soundtrack to Woody Allen's "Scoop" put out by Decca Records. Anyone looking for pictures of the freakin' gorgeous Scarlett Johansson will enjoy the foldout booklet that comes with the CD packaging.

Allen and Johansson previously collaborated on the film "Match Point" and he has a knack for presenting the lovely actress in a "she don't know she's beautiful" vein that merely adds to her sexiness. "Scoop" is a romantic comedy/murder mystery set in London, with Johansson as a journalism student amateurishly investigating a serial murdererer, who may be the son of a British lord (played by Hugh Jackman, "X-Men: The Last Stand").

The eight-panel booklet included with the CD has several pictures of scenes from the film, all of which feature the enchanting Miss Johansson in one form or another. She's cute in her wire-rimmed glasses, but a reproduction of the movie poster, sans spectacles, graces the front. Here she's looking up expectantly at a Tarot card-holding Jackman, luscious lips ever-so-slightly parted, eyes alluringly half-closed, with an infinitesimal arch of the back subtly lifting up her ample breasts in an unspoken invitation to...

What was I talking about?  Oh, yeah... the soundtrack.

In its attempt to present classical music in a comedic context, the soundtrack succeeds admirably. Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake Ballet Suite" inhabits the first six tracks, with "Danse des cygnes" playing over Allen's trademark black-and-white title sequence in the movie. Two Strauss polkas follow, with the latter, "Tritsch-Tratsch Polka," providing imperative zip to the film's more screwball comedic elements.

Things change up with some vintage dance music from the 1940's, "Miami Beach Rhumba," from Spanish-Cuban bandleader Xavier Cugat, featuring the only vocals you'll hear on this soundtrack. Being from an analog source, naturally, the sound quality of this track stands in contrast to the rest of the disc. The female vocalist doesn't quite burst from the speakers as you'd expect from the strength of her voice, yet its "dated" aspect nevertheless sets a nice tone.

As the musical cue for scads of cartoons, "Sabre Dance" prances about with a clamorous presence that makes it seem a lot longer than its two-and-a-half-minute running time. I couldn't help but think back to how musician/comedian Spike Jones used this song to such humorous fruition. Film buffs will recall hearing portions of "Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1" in other contexts. It's beautifully rendered by the Berlin Philharmonic (they also interpreted the opening "Swan Lake Ballet Suite").

The film's brief foray into drama is represented by "The Nutcracker Ballet No. 7 Scene" in a harmonious mingling of string and brass. Concluding the album are three short ethnically-flavored tunes presented by the bandleader of high society, Lester Lanin, who enjoyed a seven decade career as the "King of the New York dance band contractors."

Woody Allen offers another tasteful selection of accompaniment music to suit his theatrical agenda. It's emphasis is on classical selections, with a few quirky sidetracks into dance pop and some space-age jazz. And, best of all, you can set up the CD booklet on your stereo to use the comely Miss Johansson as a visual aid to enhance your listening experience.