The Thomas Crown Affair: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD] [Soundtrack]

the thomas crown affair: original mgm motion picture soundtrack [enhanced cd] [soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
One of the tricks in utilizing a contemporary form like jazz in scoring a film is to avoid the idiom's passing fads and clichés, which have severely dated many lesser projects. Paris-born composer Michel Legrand was classically trained in Europe and worked as an arranger and film scorer there, but also had the good fortune to work with jazz greats such as John Coltrane and Miles Davis in America.

This background helped elevate his "symphonic jazz" score to director Norman Jewison's romantic caper The Thomas Crown Affair beyond the excesses of much late '60s "contemporary" film music--with the exception of Noel Harrison's Rod McKuenesque rendering "The Windmills of Your Mind." Harrison may have gotten the Oscar for it, but Dusty Springfield made the song a classic.

One minor fault: Ryko's generous interspersing of film dialogue between the cuts of its reissues occasionally distracts from Legrand's symphonic intent, but these cuts can easily be programmed out. --Jerry McCulley

From the Label
Michel Legrand's jazz-influenced "symphony" for this classic 1968 caper movie features the Academy Award winning, #1 single "Windmills of Your Mind" performed by Noel Harrison. The film stars Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway, and Michel Legrand's music received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Score. Legrand and Harrison were both interviewed for our liner notes. First Time on CD!

The Thomas Crown Affair: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD],Michel Legrand,Rykodisc,Film Music,Jazz-Pop,Original Score,Pop,Soundtrack,Soundtracks,Soundtracks & Film Scores

The Thomas Crown Affair: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD] [Soundtrack]

Average customer rating:

A Classic
Contemporary yet Contemplative Score
The sublime Monsieur Legrand at his very best!
However good the remake, the original retains it's sparkle.
Older is Better

The Thomas Crown Affair: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD]
Michel Legrand
Manufacturer: Rykodisc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000005Z63
Release Date: 1998-04-07

Tracks:

Theme From The Thomas Crown Affair (The Windmills Of Your Mind) - Noel Harrison
Whose Head Are You After? - Film Dialogue
Room Service
Think You'll Get Me? - Film Dialogue
A Man's Castle
Chess - Film Dialogue
The Chess Game
Cash And Carry
His Eyes, Her Eyes
Playing The Field
Something Else - Film Dialogue
Moments Of Love
The Boston Wrangler
Doubting Thomas
Please Come With The Money - Film Dialogue
The Crowning Touch
Theme From The Thomas Crown Affair (The Windmills Of Your Mind)
His Eyes, Her Eyes

Amazon.com

One of the tricks in utilizing a contemporary form like jazz in scoring a film is to avoid the idiom's passing fads and clichés, which have severely dated many lesser projects. Paris-born composer Michel Legrand was classically trained in Europe and worked as an arranger and film scorer there, but also had the good fortune to work with jazz greats such as John Coltrane and Miles Davis in America.

This background helped elevate his "symphonic jazz" score to director Norman Jewison's romantic caper The Thomas Crown Affair beyond the excesses of much late '60s "contemporary" film music--with the exception of Noel Harrison's Rod McKuenesque rendering "The Windmills of Your Mind." Harrison may have gotten the Oscar for it, but Dusty Springfield made the song a classic.

Customer Reviews:

A Classic.......2005-05-22

Putting Michel LeGrand together with phenomenal lyrics by Marilyn and Alan Bergman creates an unfogettable soundtrack. I have been playing this soundtrack on one media form or another for years. The clever instrumentation and lush orchestrations make it all the better.
For me, this soundtrack helped make the original movie so incredibly entertaining. LeGrand helps to make Faye Dunaway even more beautiful and enhanced McQueen's unreachable detachment.
One of my all time favorite CD's
See the movie after you have listened to the music.

Contemporary yet Contemplative Score.......2002-01-27

This is a great late 1960's score from composer Michel Legrand. The main title song "The Windmills of your Mind" sung by Noel Harrison and composed by Michel Legrand and Hal David is a classic. Closing your eyes it brings many images to mind. It is a beautiful song on its own yet still reflects the inner struggle of McQueen a man who has everything yet needs danger and excitement just to survive and make some meaning out of his life. His pastime full of transgressions will ultimately remain insatiable and will never relief his boredom. Michel Legrand's music perfectly underscores the tale of this man in a rather overt style. The music which is gaudy and "in" actually demonstrates the banality of McQueen's world. A good example of this is the way Legrand scores track 7: "The Chess Game" that McQueen plays or toys with Faye Dunaway. This is another great soundtrack album CD from Ryko.

The sublime Monsieur Legrand at his very best!.......2000-08-25

It's incredible to think that a whole generation of moviegoers think that 'Windmills Of Your Mind' was written for Sting's contribution to the 1999 hit remake of 'Thomas Crown'. Some 32 years earlier the young Noel Harrison was whispering his way through this captivating melody, with lyrics from the incomparable Alan & Marilyn Bergman, as Steve McQueen slipped his way through the traps set by the elegant and sexy Faye Dunaway. Michel Legrand's remarkable score embraces his jazz upbringing, providing the perfect catalyst for an ultra cool blend of high romance and 60's 'caper' action. As love songs go, Michel Legrand's own vocal interpretation of the beautiful 'His Eyes, Her Eyes' also has to be about as good as it gets. The other jazz cues fare just as well away from the split screen frames that characterised Norman Jewison's memorable film. 'The Thomas Crown Affair'is one of the sublime M.Legrand's musical milestones, in partnership with the best of 1960's American filmmaking.

However good the remake, the original retains it's sparkle........2000-04-20

Comparing the soundtrack of the remake to this the original is like comparing the two films. They are both good for different reasons. This soundtrack stands as interesting on it's own, without the film. It has two main theme's... (the two feature songs "Windmills of your mind" and "His Eyes, Her Eyes" and these are used in the composer's exploration of the jazz idiom. While I say that it stands on it's own as interesting..... it won't appeal to everyone, but whatever you do make sure you see the film! It's one you can't miss :-)

Older is Better.......2000-04-07

To anyone who saw the recent attempt to re-write the script and music to this classic, is like trying to re-write Bach for the Moog. It will have little staying power. The LeGrand score is beyond wonderful, and the music is as steamy as the original scenes! You ain't seen or heard nothing til you've heard THIS one!

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