Geller liked it, but wanted “something exciting.” He let Schifrin watch a rough cut of the pilot. With the vague call for a theme that fit the “paramilitary” nature of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF), Schifrin composed “The Plot”, based on martial music. Geller just told him that each episode would likely begin with a match lighting a fuse. Schrifin also had no main titles, which help in the composition of a suitable theme. Bruce didn’t have time to ask me for anything specific with the music.” Without the script, when one of the characters said something, I did not understand anything. “I did not understand anything, because I had never been to a TV shoot,” Schifrin told Soundtrackfest. “Everything was very slow, and everything went in different order. When he first met Geller, he watched actors Martin Landau, Steven Hill, and Barbara Bain in action during the filming of the pilot at Desilu Studios in Culver City, California.
In the video below, Schifrin explains how he came to work with Geller and write the theme.Īs Schifrin explained, he did not have much to work with. Schifrin wisely made his composition different, but no less catchy.
Who wrote original mission impossible theme series#
Schifrin originally wrote a different theme, but the series creator, Bruce Geller didn’t like it, favoring music Schifrin wrote for an action sequence as the show’s theme.
As far as spy music goes, the James Bond theme by Monty Norman might be the gold standard, but Schifrin’s theme is no less catchy, and frequently ranks as one of the ten most well-known themes of all time. Written and performed by Argentinian composer Lalo Schifrin, this jazzy, bongo-driven instrumental, also known as “Burning Fuse”, is instantly recognizable as the theme to the hit tv series Mission: Impossible (1966-73). This message will self-destruct in 5…4…3…2…1.