Maurice Jarre, Composer: 1924 – 2009
By Craig Kennedy - March 29th, 2009; 8:12 pm
Try to imagine Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago or Passage to India without the scores by Maurice Jarre. You can’t do it. Now we have to imagine a world without Maurice Jarre.
RIP.
Filed under: Obituaries
Tags: Maurice Jarre
Aw. At least he lived a long life, and in that picture, apparently from only last month, he was still looking good for an 84-year-old man suffering from cancer.
In the past week I’ve seen no less than three films for which he wrote the scores (Taps, The Train and Jacob’s Ladder). He left us an extremely accomplished and impressively distinguished body of work.
Indeed, a great loss here of a distinguished composer, whose two most ffamous (and arguably greatest scores) were for David Lean. “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Doctor Zhivago” ar elargely recognizable for Jarre’s sweeping themes.
R.I.P.
RIP, Mr Jarre. Your contributions to cinema were immeasurable.
I felt I should give a nod to his other work, but they just don’t spring to mind like Lawrence and Zhivago.
Did you write a review of Jacob’s Ladder Alexander? I haven’t seen it for many years ,but I’ve always had a real soft spot for it.
Actually, I had to go to IMDB because I was sure that Monsieur Jarre had produced many more memorable scores besides the three that he won Oscars for.
(The AP article that announced his passing was abruptly brief.)
There was RYAN’S DAUGHTER, GAMBIT, THE LAST TYCOON, THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY, TAPS, ENEMIES: A LOVE STORY….
The list goes on and on.
I own a fair amount of his work. MAURICE JARRE was a spectacularly talented man.
Fabulous music for DR. Z. It’s mercilessly haunting. Saw it in a theatre twice in the 90s. The great power and beauty of that film intensifies when you view it on a big screen…where it was meant to be experienced.
When I saw LAWRENCE OF ARABIA five times during the identical time period (and at the same cinema), they did it old school – which was awesome.
They played the overture with closed curtains and a spotlight focused on them. When everyone was finally seated, the lights dimmed, the overture faded, the curtains opened…and the film began.
Seems strange to be nostalgic for a time that I totally missed. But it must’ve been cool to attend films back then when people were glamourous, dressed up to go out (instead of looking ultracasual or skanky) and actually possessed some decorum. As opposed to yapping loudly during the movie, checking their messages and talking on their cell phones.
Doubt that will ever happen again.
But Monsieur Jarre will definitely be missed. His scores were beyond compare. He was a master.
RIP.
Thanks, Alexander, for the link to Jarre’s body of work. I had no idea he was so prolific and longstanding. Two that surprised me were Ishi: The Last of His Tribe and Mandingo, for Pete’s sake.
Frankly — and I mean no disrespect — I find his music rather Jarre-ing. (Couldn’t help it.)
“Did you write a review of Jacob’s Ladder Alexander? I haven’t seen it for many years ,but I’ve always had a real soft spot for it.”
No, Craig, though I’m considering one for sometime in the near future. I have a soft spot for that film as well.
You’re most welcome, Pierre.
His music from “GHOST” by far was his best. And then the “Barnraising’ from “WITNESS”. The “GHOST” music should have been expanded to concert length form.
Jack Davidson
Thanks for stopping by Jack.
I’m glad others have spoke out about Jarre’s work beyond David Lean. They’re the scores that most instantly come to mind for me, but he did so much more.