Ben Shapiro: Guess The Movie Score | Part 2

Summary

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The Ben Shapiro Show

Episode: Ben Shapiro: Guess The Movie Score | Part 2
Date: November 29, 2025
Host: Ben Shapiro (with Matt Walsh and producers)

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Episode Overview

In this lively and fast-paced episode, Ben Shapiro and his team play another round of "Name That Score," a game in which Ben’s knowledge of classic and modern film scores is put to the test. The episode is a mix of rapid-fire trivia, deep-cut film analysis, and humorous banter—while also showcasing Ben’s opinions on film music and cinema itself. Movie buffs and casual listeners alike will find entertainment in both the competitive atmosphere and the informative asides about movie composers and the legacy of certain scores.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Movie Score Trivia: Rapid-Fire Guessing

• The central segment consists of Ben’s staff playing snippets of famous movie scores. Ben tries to identify:

  • The film title
  • The composer
  • Sometimes, the specific scene or track

• Ben’s accuracy varies—from lightning-fast identification ("Magnificent Seven," "American in Paris") to more challenging stumps ("Fellowship of the Ring" vs. other LOTR films).

2. Composer Deep Dives and Movie Opinions

• Each correct answer cues a brief analysis—Ben often elaborates on the composer’s place in film history, shares recommendations, or critiques the movies themselves.
• Ben and Matt banter about films whose politics or mood Ben strongly dislikes but can still respect for their artistry.

3. Film Criticism: Politics and Messages

• When "The Graduate" comes up:
  • Ben launches into a critique of the movie’s message, contrasting it with other movies he enjoys but disagrees with politically.

4. Moments of Movie Fandom

• Ben glows about his favorite scores and sequences, sharing personal anecdotes ("My kids love [Robin Hood]. It’s great").

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On "American in Paris" and Gershwin

  “I’m Weinman’s Gershwin. All that music is Gershwin. And then they adapted the music. All right, great movie. If you’ve never watched it… Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful movie.”
  (Ben Shapiro, 03:02)

• On "Lord of the Rings"

  “You cannot pass.”
  (Ben Shapiro, channeling Gandalf after getting stumped, 03:36)
  "Composer Howard Shore." – Proudly identifying the composer despite missing the film
  (Ben Shapiro, 04:00)

• On "Mission Impossible" Theme History

  "The original composer? That’s the only one that matters... Because that theme is his. Like, you’re playing the Mission Impossible theme that comes from the TV show."
  (Ben Shapiro, 04:35)
  (Note: Original composer is Lalo Schifrin.)

• On "Magnificent Seven" and Elmer Bernstein

  “He’s definitely top three in terms of film scorers of all time. His To Kill a Mockingbird score is the one that’s like, just unbelievable.”
  (Ben Shapiro, 06:02)

• On "The Graduate"

  “Because it’s totally cynical about America. It hates capitalism, and it’s got this horrible undertone, that of nihilism and meaninglessness based on a spoiled brat asshole. Yeah, the entire morality of that movie is totally skewed and crappy.”
  (Ben Shapiro, 06:42)

• Political Disagreements vs. Appreciating Film

  “There are a bunch of movies that I think the politics suck, but the movie’s great. This happens not to be one of them. I think JFK is a great movie. It’s totally wrong on everything, but JFK is a great movie.”
  (Ben Shapiro, 07:23)

• On Max Steiner (Composer of "Gone With the Wind")

  “You want to talk generational run in terms of composing. Max Steiner, my gosh. He did Casablanca. He did Gone with the Wind. You want a truly terrific score from this period... Adventures of Robin Hood, with the original, with Errol Flynn... and the score is terrific. It’s Korngold, Erich Korngold.”
  (Ben Shapiro, 08:46–09:20)

• Playful Banter About Movie Preferences

  “That movie moves like lightning.”
  (Ben Shapiro, on Robin Hood, joking about a friend who fell asleep during it, 11:16)

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• [02:34] – Start of the “Name That Score” segment: Ben’s love for movie scores and American in Paris.
• [03:14-03:44] – Lord of the Rings cues; Ben and Matt joke about obscure soundtrack choices.
• [04:22] – Mission Impossible: Ben discusses the importance of the theme and its TV origins.
• [05:24] – “Oppenheimer”: Contemporary film score discussion and composer shoutout (Ludwig Göransson).
• [05:58] – “Magnificent Seven” and Elmer Bernstein praise.
• [06:39-07:23] – “The Graduate” critique; discussion of political disagreement vs. appreciation.
• [08:45] – Max Steiner and deeper film music history; Erich Korngold's "Adventures of Robin Hood".
• [09:35] – "Jurassic Park" and John Williams.
• [10:04-10:35] – “Indiana Jones” action cues; highlights memorable score moments from the series.
• [11:04-11:38] – “Adventures of Robin Hood” and nostalgia; more film music recommendations.
• [11:38] – Ben invites listeners to submit scores to stump him in the future.

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Tone & Style

• Fast-paced banter: Frequent rapid exchanges between Ben and Matt, especially when Ben is unsure or when they’re ribbing each other about missed answers.
• Intellectual but playful: Ben’s deep film knowledge is paired with humor and occasional self-deprecation.
• Opinionated: Unfiltered thoughts on both movies’ artistry and the messages behind them; classic Ben Shapiro candor.

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Summary Takeaways

• This episode is a treat for both movie music aficionados and fans of Ben Shapiro’s sharp commentary.
• Ben demonstrates encyclopedic recall (and strong opinions) on classic film scores and composers, while Matt Walsh provides a sparring partner for movie trivia and banter.
• The segment celebrates both cinematic art and the generational influence of Hollywood’s greatest composers, leaving the door open for listeners to join in with their own score suggestions.

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Transcript

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[Matt Walsh]

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Alrighty, folks. Today we're gonna be playing Name that Score. So I love movie scores. My staff has decided to test my knowledge and my arrogance by playing just a little bit of movie scores. And we'll see what I get and what I miss. And now the moment we've been waiting for is here, American in Paris. Wow. I love that movie. Great movie.

[Matt Walsh]

Should I ask who the composer is?

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Who could ask for anything more? Who could ask for anything more?

[Ben Shapiro]

I'm Weinman's Gershwin. All that music is Gershwin. And then they. And then they adapted the music. All right, Great movie. If you've never watched it, I've never seen it. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful movie.

Wonderful.

Smile. Lord of the rings.

[Matt Walsh]

Which one?

[Ben Shapiro]

I want to say it's Two Towers.

[Matt Walsh]

No.

[Ben Shapiro]

Was it Returned?

[Matt Walsh]

No.

[Ben Shapiro]

Wow. I'm wrong on all of them. Wow.

You cannot pass.

[Matt Walsh]

Yeah. It was Fellowship. It was when the Nazgul came to the prance of Pony.

[Ben Shapiro]

Oh, wow.

[Matt Walsh]

Yeah.

[Ben Shapiro]

You. You picked one of those. I know. I did that on purpose. You're being obscure. I knew it was an Osgo sinks. That's an Osgo music.

[Matt Walsh]

Yeah. Matt Walsh would have gotten that instantly.

[Ben Shapiro]

Can you. Can you just cut it down from epic marathon length to very long?

Okay. Composer Howard Shore.

[Matt Walsh]

All right, Good job.

[Ben Shapiro]

Next charade. Why did you have to make this so complicated? Mission Impossible.

Yeah.

[Matt Walsh]

Do you know which one, by chance? I wouldn't know.

[Ben Shapiro]

No, I would not know that. I would not know that. All of them.

[Matt Walsh]

It's Fallout. So do you know the composer?

[Ben Shapiro]

The original composer?

[Matt Walsh]

The original is.

[Ben Shapiro]

That's the only one that matters.

[Matt Walsh]

Oh.

[Ben Shapiro]

I mean, like. Because that theme is his. Like, you're playing the Mission Impossible theme that comes from the TV show. I can't remember who wrote it, though.

[Matt Walsh]

Oh.

[Ben Shapiro]

The truth or falsity of this information is so important that they are sending their most brilliant intelligence officer to investigate.

[Matt Walsh]

Do you know who did the 96 movie? Who? Elfman.

[Ben Shapiro]

Oh, yeah, that's right.

[Matt Walsh]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ben Shapiro]

But by the way, if you. If you play. By the way, if you. If you play the beginning when I said charade. If you play the beginning of the scoreder. Charade. It's identical because it starts off with that also. Okay, go ahead. Yeah. Justin. Actually, Limp Bizkit wrote that song.

[Matt Walsh]

Next.

[Ben Shapiro]

Oppenheimer. Yeah. It's so good. Three seconds. Lucas, what's his face Or Ludwig. Ludwig. Ludwig. Yeah. I don't. Yeah.

[Matt Walsh]

For extra credit points, can you name that track?

[Ben Shapiro]

I know the part of the movie that's in. It's the part of the movie where he's actually explaining the science and you get to. It's like the greatest science sequence in the history of film. It's fantastic.

[Matt Walsh]

Can you hear the Music?

[Ben Shapiro]

Yeah. Can you hear the music? Yep.

[Matt Walsh]

Jake saw that movie ten times and he fell asleep for four of those times.

[Ben Shapiro]

Magnificent Seven. Elmer Bernstein.

[Matt Walsh]

Wow. That was really good.

[Ben Shapiro]

Good case to be made. He's like the. He's definitely top three in terms of film scorers of all time. His To Kill a Mockingbird score is the one that's like, just unbelievable. His To Kill a Mockingbird score is phenomenal.

[Matt Walsh]

I feel like you hate this movie.

[Ben Shapiro]

But what is this movie?

[Matt Walsh]

It's A Graduate.

[Ben Shapiro]

I do hate that movie. Yeah. Okay, why do you hate that movie? Why do I hate that movie? Because it's totally cynical about America. It hates capitalism, and it's. And it's got this. This horrible undertone, that of nihilism and meaninglessness based on a spoiled brat asshole. Yeah, the entire morality of that movie is totally skewed and crappy. Please forgive me, because I like you. I don't think of you that way, but I'm mixed up. Are there any movies that you actually like but you disagree with the message? Sure. Oppenheimer is totally wrong politically. Dr. Strangelove, totally wrong politically.

That's impossible.

There are a bunch of movies that I think the politics suck, but the movie's great. This happens not to be one of them. I think jfk. JFK is a great movie. It's totally wrong on everything, but JFK is a great movie. Okay, we'll get some more on this in a moment. First, if you're struggling with credit card debt, you're not alone. Many hardworking Americans find themselves overwhelmed by interest rates, fees, medical bills, persistent collection calls. It can feel like there's no way out. That's where PDS debt comes in. They've helped hundreds of thousands of people just like you negotiate lower debt amounts, stop collection calls, and start rebuilding their financial stability. If you're feeling overwhelmed by credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, you're not alone. And PDS debt is here to help you find a way forward. What sets them apart is they don't just look at the numbers on your statements. They take the time to understand your unique financial situation and create a personalized plan that's designed specifically for you. The best part, there's no minimum credit score required, so they can work with you regardless of where your credit stands right now. Their goal is simple. Help you save more money, pay off your debt faster, start putting cash back where it belongs in your pocket. With an A rating from the Better Business Bureau, thousands of five star Google reviews, and a perfect five star rating on trustpilot. It's clear why PDS has successfully helped hundreds of thousands of people break free from debt. When you're ready to take control of your finances, they're ready to help you make it happen. I have friends who've gotten into debt. It is brutal. It wrecks your life. Don't be that person. Instead, help yourself by heading on over to pdsdebt.com Shapiro that's pdsdebt.com Shapiro to get started, pds.com Shapiro Gwen to Glenn.

[Matt Walsh]

Wow.

[Ben Shapiro]

Oh, my Lord. Who's that? Max Steiner. Yeah, Max Steiner. By the way, like you want to talk generational run in terms of composing. Max Steiner, My gosh. Yeah, I know. That's crazy. He did Casablanca. He did Gone with the Wind. You want, like, a truly terrific score from this period that is none of these people, but I think maybe the greatest possible, the greatest score of all time. The Adventures of Robin Hood, with the original, with Errol Flynn, which is unbelievably rewatchable. It's so good. My kids love that movie. It's great. And the score is terrific. It's corn gold, Eric. Corn gold. Wow.

[Matt Walsh]

You got that in two seconds.

[Ben Shapiro]

Yeah. As soon as you hear the bells on. The opening to that score is so good. Like if you play the bells and then it goes into the big buildup and then you get the big terra theme. It's so good, man.

[Matt Walsh]

But yet you couldn't remember when the Gungans were celebrating at the festival at Naboo.

[Ben Shapiro]

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. Three more. Yeah. Dress part. Yes.

[Matt Walsh]

Nice.

[Ben Shapiro]

This score is only temporary. It all has very dramatic music, of course. March or something.

It hadn't been written yet.

And then, of course, the tour moves on.

Oh, I know this. It's a bit of a deep cut. This is Indy.

[Matt Walsh]

Yeah.

[Ben Shapiro]

Which one? Da da dun dun dun. That's the truck chase themed.

[Matt Walsh]

Close, but it's when he's fighting the guy underneath the airplane.

[Ben Shapiro]

Yes, it's right before that. It's right before that. It's that whole sequence. He fights the guy and then he goes directly into the truck chase. Also great. You want a great cut from the Indy scores. The Indy 3. The tank. The tank sequence is fantastic.

[Matt Walsh]

Yeah.

[Ben Shapiro]

Great. Great. Cut. Last one. Yeah. There we go. There's adventure. The robin hood.

[Matt Walsh]

Oh, my gosh.

[Oregon Lottery Narrator]

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[Ben Shapiro]

Four seconds.

[Matt Walsh]

Me and Zach watched that movie about 10 years ago.

[Ben Shapiro]

That movie kicks ass. It's a great movie.

[Matt Walsh]

Zach fell asleep. 15 minutes in.

[Ben Shapiro]

15 minutes. That movie moves like lightning. That moves.

[Matt Walsh]

Let me tell you. We had to watch Birth of a Nation and he was clapping and cheering.

[Ben Shapiro]

By the end of that movie.

[Matt Walsh]

He was wide awake the entire time. But Robin Hood fell asleep immediately. He's like, wow, they don't make them like they used to.

[Ben Shapiro]

If you have more scores that you wish to submit, you can do so in the comments. If you if you wish to try to stump me, we'll see if you do better than my producers just did. I think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day.

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