Michel Legrand (1932-2019)

Even though my knowledge of Michel Legrand - who just passed away - is limited, what I do know of his work is still spellbinding.

For a letterboxd scavenger hunt this month, one of the tasks was 'a musical in an unfamiliar language'. On a whim, I watched The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, unique in the musical canon in that there are no songs, but all of the dialogue is sung. Legrand's music beautifully captured the film's many moods, becoming as invaluable to the film as its terrific cast.

I've only seen the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, but Legrand's work on the original 1968 movie may be most memorable for its (justifiably) Oscar-winning theme, the lovely "The Windmills of Your Mind". The music (as well as Alan and Marilyn Bergman's lyrics) help the wistful tune to endure even half a century later.

If I had to pick a favorite Legrand work, though, it would have to be for the Charlton Heston outdoor adventure The Mountain Men. From its sweeping main theme to its ingratiating secondary theme to the truly thrilling motif for the villain, Heavy Eagle, it may well be one of the most underrated scores of the 1980s, making for a vital component of the beautifully shot but inconsequential film.

I suppose this would make for a good time to get into more of his work (also in my collection are Ice Station Zebra and his unused-in-the-American-cut score for Slapstick (of Another Kind)).

He will certainly be missed.