s there a person anywhere in a very influential film, and there the world who was around in the were many imitators who followed A Man and a Woman was only I1960s and 1970s who could not suit, none achieving anywhere Lai’s third film score, but it put him instantly recognize the theme from near the success of what they on the map and he has not A Man and a Woman? Doubtful, were imitating. It wasn’t only other stopped working since, and that in - unless you were living under a rock movies it inspired – it was com - cludes scoring close to thirty films in a cave in Siberia, and even then mercials, other film scores, print for director Lelouch. Just a few you’d probably have heard it. In ads, etc. short years later, in 1970, Lai fact, it became one of the most would win the Oscar for Best Score beloved movie themes ever written The movie is simple and direct, for Love Story . His music for A almost instantly. It was the right stylish (in both black-and-white Man and a Woman speaks for it - theme from the right film at the and color), haunting, beautiful, ro - self – the melodies are stunningly right time. Upon its release in mantic, touching, and it’s almost beautiful. Part and parcel of the 1966, A Man and a Woman be - impossible not to be caught up in score are the wonderful vocals of came a sensation everywhere it its spell. It’s basically the story of Pierre Barouh and Nicole Croisille, played. It became the film to see two people whose spouses have along with Barouh’s lyrics. The for anyone who considered that died. They meet at their children’s score and songs have been loved they had a romantic bone in his or school and begin a romance. What by lovers all over the world and her body. The soundtrack record - Lelouch does with that simple with good reason – this is simply ing was as popular as the film, so story is, of course, the film. Anouk some of the most romantic and popular, in fact, that a second Aimee and Jean-Louis Trintignant heartfelt music ever. soundtrack album was released are perfect as two people trying to with the lyrics in English (sung by come together. A Man and a Woman was origi - the same singers as the original nally issued on a United Artists LP. French). The film was fresh, The huge success of the film re - There have been three previous unique, and beguiling, and so was sulted in several Oscar nomina - CD issues of the French version – its score by Francis Lai. It was the tions, including Best Foreign two imports from Europe and a perfect marriage of image and Language Film, Best Writing, Story stateside release by DRG. How - music. and Screenplay – Written Directly ever, all three were issued from for the Screen, Best Actress, and sources many generations away Claude Lelouch had been kicking Best Director. It would win for Best from the original album masters, around for a few years to no suc - Foreign Language film and for its and, shockingly, all three were in cess whatsoever. In reviewing screenplay. Shockingly, the score mono. We are pleased to finally Lelouch’s first film, Le Propre de by Francis Lai was not even nomi - present the first authentic presen - l’Homme , Cahiers du Cinema said, nated, and neither were any of its tation of A Man and a Woman on “Claude Lelouch, remember this songs, but it was a very strong CD – in stereo from the original name well, because you will not year for film music – the nominated album masters housed in the hear it again.” Oops. Beginning scores that year were Born Free MGM vaults. It’s such a pleasure to with A Man and a Woman, Lelouch (which won), Who’s Afraid of Vir - hear the score as it was meant to would become a wildly prolific film - ginia Woolf, The Bible, Hawaii, and be heard. maker – at this point in time he’s The Sand Pebbles , all excellent made over fifty films and he’s still scores. But Francis Lai’s score is — Bruce Kimmel going strong. His work is always right up there with them and it has idiosyncratic, and unmistakably endured as a classic since the day Lelouch. A Man and a Woman was it was issued.