 Richard Bransons Virgin Films, the production company bankrolling  the movie, had wanted a commercially viable pop act to compose the  music for the film to increase its market potential. Originally they  approached David Bowie, who had used Orwells novel as inspiration  for some songs on his 1974 album, "Diamond Dogs", but he demanded  too much money for the job. They opted instead for Eurythmics, who  had initially turned down the offer but later accepted. The director  Michael Radford was unaware of this plan and had already hired  Dominic Muldowney to compose the entirety of the films musical  score. Virgin Films exercised their right of final cut and dubbed in  some of the Eurythmics score for the films theatrical release.  Radford was displeased with this development and retaliated by  withdrawing the film for consideration for BAFTA award for Best  Picture. When the film did win the Evening Standard award for Best  Film of the Year, Radford took the opportunity to denounce the  Eurythmics involvement in his acceptance speech at the nationally  televised ceremony.