The news of film composer Michel Legrand's passing on January 26 (2019) at eighty six years old saddens me. When I think of Legrand, it was his defiance of the norm. For Never Say Never Again, there was a creative decision not to employ the James Bond theme, created by John Barry, Monty Norman and guitarist Vic Flick.

That was bold. Yet for me, Legrand's crowning glory came via The Mountain Men, a rambunctious assortment of travelling cues and wildly creative flamboyance. I wrote about this in Score Season 5. Here's the link: 

http://www.reeltalkreviews.com/browse/viewitem.asp?type=feature&id=986

Legrand won three Academy Awards, including the song "The Windmills of Your Mind." This was featured in the Steve McQueen/Faye Dunaway caper The Thomas Crown Affair.

Overall, Legrand contributed a dynamic style, at once singular and unique. 

I will miss him greatly.

Michel Legrand (1932-2019)