The Adventures of Mutt



The Adventures of Mutt is a concert arrangement of Mutt Williams’ theme, composed by John Williams for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It is the third track on the score album, is 3:12 in length, and is one of four suites on the album. The piece does not play in its entirety in the film, but is meant to introduce soundtrack listeners to the character’s theme, a common feature in many of Williams’ film score albums.

The piece is an homage to the musical style of 1930’s and 40’s swashbuckling films, particularly those of composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold. It is quick-paced and whimsical, with rapid string, brass and wind instruments, and several false stops, and is likely meant to characterize Mutt’s daring and bold deeds, along with his youthful and rash attitude. In an interview, Williams stated that, “The combination of his sword fighting and his swinging on these vines and the heroics that he does made me have some fun with the music. In calling it even “Adventures of Mutt,” it refers into a little bit of a way to the Adventures of Robin Hood; the music is not similar, but only in the sense that it is swashbuckling theme for a young hero… it’s a young hero’s music in the tradition of the swashbuckler.”

The arrangement is comprised mainly of the variation of Mutt’s Theme which is heard during the Jungle Chase piece, while Mutt is sword fighting with Irina Spalko atop speeding vehicles. This same variation is also heard in part at during the film’s end credits, part of the Finale piece on the album.

The Adventures of Mutt contains several brief yet prominent quotes of The Raiders March, which is the theme for Indiana Jones, his father. The piece also seems to contain several references to the theme for Marion Ravenwood, who is his mother, with the most prominent reference being the opening three notes of the arrangement.

Williams received a 2008 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition with The Adventures of Mutt.