WESTERN SOUNDTRACKS—THE PROFESSIONALS

WESTERN SOUNDTRACKS

THE PROFESSIONALS

MAURICE JARRE

French composer Maurice-Alexis Jarre (1924—2009) is best known for his film scores composed in collaboration with film director David Lean. His other notable scores include, The Train (1964), Mohammad, Messenger of God (1976), Lion of the Desert (1981), Witness (1985), Fatal Attraction (1987), Ghost (1990)—and of course, The Professionals (1966). Jarre was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning three in the Best Original Score category, all three for his work on David Lean films—Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965), and A Passage to India (1984).

 

With its Latin rhythms, The Professionals was a departure from Jarre's previous sweeping epic scores, but perfectly suited to the film it represents. Jarre’s Latin influenced main theme takes on the beat of a train, which weaves through the film at various tempos as it cues the action before rising to an enthusiastic, rousing finale signaling mission accomplished. In all, Jarre’s soundtrack for The Professionals, while not as iconic as Elmer Bernstein’s theme for The Magnificent Seven, it none-the-less should have a home on the turntables of all Western movie soundtrack enthusiasts...