MAURICE JARRE

Maurice Jarre – Full Biography

Early Life & Background

Name: Maurice-Alexis Jarre
Born: September 13, 1924
Birthplace: Lyon, France
Died: March 28, 2009 (aged 84)
Death Place: Los Angeles, California, USA
Nationality: French
Occupation: Composer, Conductor
Genres: Film Score, Classical, Orchestral

Maurice Jarre was a world-renowned French composer best known for his epic film scores. Despite initially studying engineering, he pursued music at the Conservatoire de Paris under Arthur Honegger. He started as a percussionist and later became the musical director of the Théâtre National Populaire in France.

1950s – Early Career

Maurice Jarre started composing for French films before gaining international recognition.

  • Hôtel des Invalides (1952) – Documentary
  • Les Amants de Vérone (1954) – Directed by André Cayatte
  • Quand la femme s’en mêle (1957) – Early crime film score
  • Les Yeux sans visage (Eyes Without a Face) (1960) – Classic horror film

1960s – Breakthrough & Hollywood Success

Jarre became one of the most sought-after composers in Hollywood, collaborating with David Lean and other major directors.

  1. Lawrence of Arabia (1962) – Directed by David Lean
    • Won Academy Award for Best Original Score
    • Sweeping orchestral themes became legendary
    • One of the greatest film scores of all time
  2. The Longest Day (1962) – Directed by multiple directors
    • A WWII epic starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda
  3. Doctor Zhivago (1965) – Directed by David Lean
    • Won Academy Award for Best Original Score
    • “Lara’s Theme” became an international hit
  4. Grand Prix (1966) – Directed by John Frankenheimer
    • A high-energy score for a Formula 1 racing film
  5. The Professionals (1966) – Directed by Richard Brooks
    • A Western starring Burt Lancaster and Lee Marvin
  6. Is Paris Burning? (1966) – Directed by René Clément
    • WWII war drama with an intense score
  7. The Night of the Generals (1967) – Directed by Anatole Litvak
    • WWII mystery thriller starring Peter O’Toole
  8. The Fixer (1968) – Directed by John Frankenheimer
    • Academy Award-nominated score
  9. Topaz (1969) – Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
    • A political thriller about Cold War espionage

1970s – Expanding His Style

Jarre experimented with different musical styles, including electronic music.

  1. Ryan’s Daughter (1970) – Directed by David Lean
    • Nominated for an Academy Award
  2. The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972) – Directed by John Huston
    • A Western starring Paul Newman
  3. The Man Who Would Be King (1975) – Directed by John Huston
    • Adventure film starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine
  4. Mohammad, Messenger of God (1976) – Directed by Moustapha Akkad
    • Historical epic about the rise of Islam
  5. Jesus of Nazareth (1977, TV Mini-Series) – Directed by Franco Zeffirelli
    • Acclaimed religious epic starring Robert Powell
  6. The Magician of Lublin (1979) – Directed by Menahem Golan
    • Drama based on the novel by Isaac Bashevis Singer

1980s – Transition to Electronic Sounds

Jarre started integrating synthesizers with orchestral music, a signature of his later work.

  1. Resurrection (1980) – Directed by Daniel Petrie
    • Nominated for an Academy Award
  2. Lion of the Desert (1981) – Directed by Moustapha Akkad
    • War drama starring Anthony Quinn
  3. Firefox (1982) – Directed by Clint Eastwood
    • High-tech Cold War thriller
  4. A Passage to India (1984) – Directed by David Lean
    • Won Academy Award for Best Original Score
  5. Witness (1985) – Directed by Peter Weir
    • Nominated for an Academy Award
  6. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) – Directed by George Miller
    • Starring Mel Gibson and Tina Turner
  7. The Mosquito Coast (1986) – Directed by Peter Weir
    • Starring Harrison Ford
  8. Fatal Attraction (1987) – Directed by Adrian Lyne
    • Intense psychological thriller
  9. Dead Poets Society (1989) – Directed by Peter Weir
    • Starring Robin Williams

1990s – Final Works

Jarre continued composing but slowed down in his later years.

  1. Ghost (1990) – Directed by Jerry Zucker
    • His adaptation of Unchained Melody became iconic
  2. Jacob’s Ladder (1990) – Directed by Adrian Lyne
    • Psychological horror thriller
  3. Solar Crisis (1990) – Sci-fi adventure film
  4. Only the Lonely (1991) – Romantic comedy-drama
  5. A Walk in the Clouds (1995) – Directed by Alfonso Arau
    • Romantic drama starring Keanu Reeves
  6. Sunshine (1999) – Directed by István Szabó
    • Historical drama starring Ralph Fiennes

Awards & Honors of Maurice Jarre

Maurice Jarre received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, including three Academy Awards (Oscars), four Golden Globe Awards, and various other honors. Below is a detailed list of his major awards and nominations.

🏆 Academy Awards (Oscars)

✅ Winner – Best Original Score

  • Lawrence of Arabia (1962) 🏆
  • Doctor Zhivago (1965) 🏆
  • A Passage to India (1984) 🏆

🎭 Nominated – Best Original Score

  • The Fixer (1968)
  • Ryan’s Daughter (1970)
  • Witness (1985)
  • Gorillas in the Mist (1988)

🌟 Golden Globe Awards

✅ Winner – Best Original Score

  • Doctor Zhivago (1965) 🏆
  • Lawrence of Arabia (1962) 🏆
  • A Passage to India (1984) 🏆
  • Gorillas in the Mist (1988) 🏆

🎭 Nominated – Best Original Score

  • Ryan’s Daughter (1970)
  • Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
  • Dead Poets Society (1989)

🎼 BAFTA Awards (British Academy Film Awards)

✅ Winner – Best Film Music

  • Doctor Zhivago (1965) 🏆

🎭 Nominated – Best Film Music

  • Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
  • Witness (1985)

🎵 Grammy Awards

🎭 Nominated – Best Original Score

  • Doctor Zhivago (1965)
  • A Passage to India (1984)
  • Witness (1985)

🎖 César Awards (France’s National Film Awards)

🎭 Nominated – Best Music Written for a Film

  • Les Uns et les Autres (1981)

🏅 Other Honors & Recognitions

⭐ Hollywood Walk of Fame – Awarded a star in 2009 for his contributions to film music.
⭐ ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award – Recognizing his outstanding contributions to film scoring.
⭐ International Film Music Critics Award (IFMCA) – Honored for his legacy in film music.

Personal Life & Legacy

Maurice Jarre was married four times and had a son, Jean-Michel Jarre, a famous electronic music composer. He spent his later years in Los Angeles and continued composing until his retirement in the early 2000s.

He passed away on March 28, 2009, due to cancer, but his music continues to inspire filmmakers and musicians worldwide.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS : 

YOUTUBE : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8b9WROddE0&pp=ygUYTWF1cmljZSBKYXJyZSAgbGlmZXN0b3J5