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Michel Legrand

Sound Born Feb 24, 1932 Died Jan 26, 2019 Bécon-les-Bruyères, Paris, France 273 credits

Biography

Michel Jean Legrand (24 February 1932 – 26 January 2019) was a French musical composer, arranger, conductor, jazz pianist, and singer. Legrand was a prolific composer, having written more than 200 film and television scores, in addition to many songs. His scores for two of the films of French New Wave director Jacques Demy, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) and The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967), earned Legrand his first Academy Award nominations. Legrand won his first Oscar for the song "The Windmills of Your Mind" from The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), and additional Oscars for Summer of '42 (1971) and Barbra Streisand's Yentl (1983).

Legrand was born in Paris, France, to his father, Raymond Legrand, who was himself a conductor and composer, and his mother, Marcelle Der-Mikaëlian, who was the sister of conductor Jacques Hélian. Raymond and Marcelle were married in 1929. His maternal grandfather was Armenian.

Legrand composed more than two hundred film and television scores. He won three Oscars and five Grammys. He studied music at the Conservatoire de Paris from the age of 11, working with, among others, Nadia Boulanger and graduated with top honors as both a composer and a pianist. He burst upon the international music scene at 22 when his 1954 album I Love Paris became a surprise hit. He established his name in the United States by working with such jazz stars as Miles Davis and Stan Getz. His sister Christiane Legrand was a member of The Swingle Singers and his niece Victoria Legrand is a member of the dream pop band Beach House.

Legrand composed music for Jacques Demy's films The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) (from which Recit de Cassard came and in turn, in English became the standard Watch What Happens) and The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967), from which the relyricized "You Must Believe in Spring" is considered a jazz standard. Legrand appeared and performed in Agnès Varda's Cléo from 5 to 7 (1961). He also composed music for Joseph Losey's Eva (1962), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) (which features "The Windmills of Your Mind"), Ice Station Zebra (1968), The Picasso Summer (1969), The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun (1970), The Go-Between (1971), Summer of '42 (1971), Clint Eastwood's Breezy (1973), The Three Musketeers (1973), Orson Welles's last-completed film F for Fake (1974), TriStar Pictures 1998 family film Madeline, and would later compose the score for Welles's posthumously released movie The Other Side of the Wind (2018). He also composed the score for Yentl (1983), as well as the film score for Louis Malle's film Atlantic City (1980). His instrumental version of the theme from Brian's Song charted 56th in 1972 on the Billboard's pop chart.

Legrand died of sepsis, during the night of 25–26 January 2019, at the American Hospital of Paris in Neuilly-sur-Seine, where he had been hospitalized for two weeks for a pulmonary infection. His funeral was held in Paris at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on 1 February 2019. He was interred at the Père Lachaise Cemetery. He remained active until his death and had concerts scheduled to take place in the spring. ...

Source: Article "Michel Legrand" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.

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Known for

Film

May December

2023
Film

Love Lasts Three Years

as Self

Vivement dimanche

as Self
Film

Prêt-à-Porter

1994
Film

Carry On Cowboy

1965
Film

Switching Channels

1988

Sacrée soirée

as Self

Nulle part ailleurs

as Self

Once Upon a Time... Life

1987
Film

Casanova

1987

Victoires de la musique

as Self
Film

Going and Coming Back

1985

Frequent co-stars

Masakazu Tamura 5 shared titles
Yūko Mochizuki 4 shared titles
Tokuji Kobayashi 4 shared titles
Vladimir Konkin 3 shared titles
Toshiko Kobayashi 3 shared titles
Keiji Sada 3 shared titles
Jason Morell 2 shared titles
Viktor Pavlov 2 shared titles
Lev Perfilov 2 shared titles
Danièle Delorme 2 shared titles

Career timeline

Quincy Jones, Music Man
Jacques Demy: The Pink and the BlackOnce Upon a Time Michel Legrand
May December · Music
Il était une fois Champs-ÉlyséesDans les pas de Jean-Paul RappeneauMichel Legrand, la musique enchantée · Original Music ComposerMichel Legrand, enchanted music · Original Music ComposerMichel Legrand, enchanted music · Author
Hommage à Michel Legrand et Jacques Demy au festival Sœurs JumellesFrançoise Dorléac, from The Man from Rio to The Young Girls of Rochefort
La La LaThe Other Side of the Wind · Original Music ComposerI Lost Albert · Original Music ComposerMichel Legrand, sans demi-mesureA Final Cut for Orson: 40 Years in the Making
The Guardians · Original Music Composer
The Price of Fame · Original Music ComposerLes Parapluies de Cherbourg · Music DirectorLes Parapluies de Cherbourg · Author
Love Lasts Three YearsMichel Legrand and the Cinema
Oscar and the Lady in Pink · Original Music Composer
Once Upon a Time... Planet Earth · Original Music ComposerThe Beaches of AgnèsDisco · Original Music ComposerLa chanson 'Lola'Once Upon a Time... The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Callas Assoluta
Frankie Laine: An American DreamerDeadly Lessons · Original Music Composer
Cavalcade · Original Music Composer
The Young Girls of Rochefort · Music Arranger
Un film et son époqueAmber Wings · Original Music Composer
And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen... · Original Music Composer
Season's Beatings · Original Music Composer
Vivement dimancheMadeline · Original Music Composer
Once Upon a Time... The Explorers · Original Music ComposerThe Ring · Original Music Composer
The Real Shlemiel · Original Music ComposerThe World of Jacques DemyThe World of Jacques Demy · Original Music ComposerLes Miserables · Original Music Composer
Once Upon a Time... The Discoverers · Original Music ComposerPrêt-à-Porter · Original Music Composer
The Pickle · Original Music ComposerThe Young Girls Turn 25The Young Girls Turn 25 · Original Music Composer
Love at First Sight · DirectorOnce Upon a Time... The Americas · Original Music Composer
Mountain of Diamonds · Original Music ComposerDingo · Original Music Composer
Flight from Paradise · Original Music ComposerEternity · Original Music ComposerEternity · ConductorGaspard and Robinson · Original Music ComposerNot a Penny More, Not a Penny Less · Original Music Composer
The Jeweller's Shop · Original Music ComposerFive Days in June · DirectorFive Days in June · Writer
Switching Channels · Original Music ComposerThree Seats for the 26th · Original Music ComposerUn coupable · Original Music Composer
Sacrée soiréeLe monde est à vousNulle part ailleursOnce Upon a Time... Life · Original Music ComposerCasanova · Original Music Composer
As Summers Die · Original Music ComposerYou've Got Beautiful Stairs, You Know... · Original Music Composer

Full filmography

  • Quincy Jones, Music Man (2025) as Self (archive footage)
  • Jacques Demy: The Pink and the Black (2024)
  • Once Upon a Time Michel Legrand (2024) as Self
  • May December (2023) Music
  • Il était une fois Champs-Élysées (2022) as Self (archive footage)
  • Dans les pas de Jean-Paul Rappeneau (2022) as Self
  • Michel Legrand, la musique enchantée (2022) Original Music Composer
  • Michel Legrand, enchanted music (2022) Original Music Composer
  • Michel Legrand, enchanted music (2022) Author
  • Michel Legrand, enchanted music (2022) Compositor
  • Le cinéma de Michel Legrand (2022) Original Music Composer
  • Hommage à Michel Legrand et Jacques Demy au festival Sœurs Jumelles (2021) as Self (archive footage)
  • Françoise Dorléac, from The Man from Rio to The Young Girls of Rochefort (2021) as self
  • La La La (2018) as Self - Music Composer
  • The Other Side of the Wind (2018) Original Music Composer
  • I Lost Albert (2018) Original Music Composer
  • Michel Legrand, sans demi-mesure (2018) as Self
  • A Final Cut for Orson: 40 Years in the Making (2018) as Self - Composer
  • Françoise Dorléac, une promesse (2018) as Self
  • The Guardians (2017) Original Music Composer
  • The Price of Fame (2015) Original Music Composer
  • Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (2015) Music Director
  • Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (2015) Author
  • Love Lasts Three Years (2011) as Self
  • Michel Legrand and the Cinema (2011) as Musician
  • Oscar and the Lady in Pink (2009) Original Music Composer
  • Once Upon a Time... Planet Earth (2008) Original Music Composer
  • The Beaches of Agnès (2008) as Self (archive footage)
  • Disco (2008) Original Music Composer
  • La chanson 'Lola' (2008) as Self
  • Once Upon a Time... The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (2008) as Self
  • Callas Assoluta (2007) as Self (archive footage)
  • Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer (2006) as Self
  • Deadly Lessons (2006) Original Music Composer
  • Cavalcade (2005) Original Music Composer
  • The Young Girls of Rochefort (2004) Music Arranger
  • Un film et son époque (2003) as Self
  • Amber Wings (2003) Original Music Composer
  • And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen... (2002) Original Music Composer
  • Season's Beatings (1999) Original Music Composer
  • Vivement dimanche (1998) as Self
  • Madeline (1998) Original Music Composer
  • Once Upon a Time... The Explorers (1996) Original Music Composer
  • The Ring (1996) Original Music Composer
  • The Real Shlemiel (1995) Original Music Composer
  • The World of Jacques Demy (1995) as Self
  • The World of Jacques Demy (1995) Original Music Composer
  • Les Miserables (1995) Original Music Composer
  • Once Upon a Time... The Discoverers (1994) Original Music Composer
  • Prêt-à-Porter (1994) Original Music Composer
  • The Pickle (1993) Original Music Composer
  • The Young Girls Turn 25 (1993) as Self
  • The Young Girls Turn 25 (1993) Original Music Composer
  • Love at First Sight (1992) Director
  • Once Upon a Time... The Americas (1992) Original Music Composer
  • Mountain of Diamonds (1991) Original Music Composer
  • Dingo (1991) Original Music Composer
  • Flight from Paradise (1990) Original Music Composer
  • Eternity (1990) Original Music Composer
  • Eternity (1990) Conductor
  • Gaspard and Robinson (1990) Original Music Composer
  • Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less (1990) Original Music Composer
  • Carnaval (1990) Main Title Theme Composer
  • The Jeweller's Shop (1989) Original Music Composer
  • Five Days in June (1989) Director
  • Five Days in June (1989) Writer
  • Switching Channels (1988) Original Music Composer
  • Three Seats for the 26th (1988) Original Music Composer
  • Un coupable (1988) Original Music Composer
  • Sacrée soirée (1987) as Self
  • Le monde est à vous (1987) as Self
  • Nulle part ailleurs (1987) as Self
  • Once Upon a Time... Life (1987) Original Music Composer
  • Casanova (1987) Original Music Composer
  • Spiral (1987) Original Music Composer
  • As Summers Die (1986) Original Music Composer
  • You've Got Beautiful Stairs, You Know... (1986) Original Music Composer
  • Victoires de la musique (1985) as Self
  • Going and Coming Back (1985) Original Music Composer
  • Palace (1985) Original Music Composer
  • Parking (1985) Original Music Composer
  • Zoom the White Dolphin (1985) Original Music Composer
  • Promises to Keep (1985) Original Music Composer
  • Hell Train (1985) Original Music Composer
  • The Jesse Owens Story (1984) Original Music Composer
  • Paroles et musique (1984) Original Music Composer
  • Secret Places (1984) Original Music Composer
  • Never Say Never Again (1983) Original Music Composer
  • Yentl (1983) Original Music Composer
  • Yentl (1983) Songs
  • A Love in Germany (1983) Original Music Composer
  • Revenge of the Humanoids (1983) Original Music Composer
  • Champs-Elysées (1982) as Self - Main Guest
  • Champs-Elysées (1982) as Self
  • Once Upon a Time… Space (1982) Original Music Composer
  • A Woman Called Golda (1982) Original Music Composer
  • Slapstick of Another Kind (1982) Original Music Composer
  • The Button (1982) Original Music Composer
  • Bankers Also Have Souls (1982) Original Music Composer
  • Best Friends (1982) Music
  • Best Friends (1982) Original Music Composer
  • Best Friends (1982) Songs
  • Your Ticket Is No Longer Valid (1981) Original Music Composer
  • Bolero (1981) Original Music Composer
  • The Mountain Men (1980) Original Music Composer
  • Atlantic City (1980) Original Music Composer
  • Atlantic City (1980) Conductor
  • Falling in Love Again (1980) Original Music Composer
  • The Hunter (1980) Original Music Composer
  • Lady Oscar (1979) Original Music Composer
  • The Fabulous Adventures of the Legendary Baron Munchausen (1979) Original Music Composer
  • Once Upon a Time… Man (1978) Original Music Composer
  • The Phoenix (1978) Original Music Composer
  • Roads to the South (1978) Original Music Composer
  • One Can Say It Without Getting Angry (1978) Original Music Composer
  • The Other Side of Midnight (1977) Original Music Composer
  • Gulliver's Travels (1977) Original Music Composer
  • 30 millions d'amis (1976) as Self
  • Cérémonie des César (1976) as Self - Presenter
  • Cérémonie des César (1976) as Self - Host
  • La Décharge (1976) Original Music Composer
  • Gable and Lombard (1976) Original Music Composer
  • Ode to Billy Joe (1976) Original Music Composer
  • Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
  • Numéro un (1975) as Self
  • Système 2 (1975) as Self
  • The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (1975) Original Music Composer
  • Lovers Like Us (1975) Original Music Composer
  • Ann-Margret Smith (1975) as Self
  • Cage Without a Key (1975) Original Music Composer
  • Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York (1975) Original Music Composer
  • Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self
  • It's Good to Be Alive (1974) Original Music Composer
  • Give Me Liberty (1974) Music
  • Our Time (1974) Original Music Composer
  • Our Time (1974) Conductor
  • The Three Musketeers (1973) Original Music Composer
  • Le Temps de vivre... Le Temps d'aimer (1973) Original Music Composer
  • 40 Carats (1973) Original Music Composer
  • F for Fake (1973) Original Music Composer
  • A Slightly Pregnant Man (1973) Original Music Composer
  • Cops and Robbers (1973) Original Music Composer
  • Breezy (1973) Original Music Composer
  • Impossible Object (1973) Original Music Composer
  • The Hostage Gang (1973) Original Music Composer
  • Bequest to the Nation (1973) Original Music Composer
  • A Doll's House (1973) Original Music Composer
  • A Doll's House (1973) Conductor
  • The Adventures Of Don Quixote (1973) Original Music Composer
  • Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self
  • Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self - Main Guest
  • ABC Afterschool Special (1972) as Self
  • ABC Afterschool Special (1972) Book
  • ABC Afterschool Special (1972) Original Music Composer
  • The Old Maid (1972) Original Music Composer
  • The Old Maid (1972) Conductor
  • Not Dumb, the Bird (1972) Original Music Composer
  • One Is a Lonely Number (1972) Conductor
  • One Is a Lonely Number (1972) Original Music Composer
  • The Outside Man (1972) Original Music Composer
  • Lady Sings the Blues (1972) Original Music Composer
  • Hearth Fires (1972) Original Music Composer
  • A Time for Loving (1972) as Grondin
  • A Time for Loving (1972) Original Music Composer
  • Portnoy's Complaint (1972) Original Music Composer
  • La Vie sentimentale de Georges le tueur (1972) Original Music Composer
  • Samedi soir (1971) as Self
  • Summer of '42 (1971) Original Music Composer
  • The Go-Between (1971) Original Music Composer
  • Le Mans (1971) Original Music Composer
  • Brian's Song (1971) Original Music Composer
  • The Married Couple of the Year Two (1971) Original Music Composer
  • Touch and Go (1971) Original Music Composer
  • A Little Sun in Cold Water (1971) Original Music Composer
  • Donkey Skin (1970) Original Music Composer
  • Donkey Skin (1970) Songs
  • Wuthering Heights (1970) Original Music Composer
  • To Catch a Pebble (1970) Original Music Composer
  • The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun (1970) Original Music Composer
  • Pieces of Dreams (1970) Original Music Composer
  • Pieces of Dreams (1970) Songs
  • The Swimming Pool (1969) Original Music Composer
  • Play Dirty (1969) Conductor
  • Play Dirty (1969) Original Music Composer
  • Castle Keep (1969) Conductor
  • Castle Keep (1969) Original Music Composer
  • The Happy Ending (1969) Original Music Composer
  • The Happy Ending (1969) Songs
  • The Picasso Summer (1969) Original Music Composer
  • The Picasso Summer (1969) Conductor
  • The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) Original Music Composer
  • The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) Conductor
  • Ice Station Zebra (1968) Original Music Composer
  • Ice Station Zebra (1968) Conductor
  • The Man in the Buick (1968) Music Director
  • The Man in the Buick (1968) Original Music Composer
  • Sweet November (1968) Original Music Composer
  • How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life (1968) Original Music Composer
  • A Hatful of Rain (1968) Original Music Composer
  • The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) Songs
  • The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) Original Music Composer
  • The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) Other
  • The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) Music Director
  • Pretty Polly (1967) Original Music Composer
  • Pretty Polly (1967) Conductor
  • La Chinoise (1967) Original Music Composer
  • The Oldest Profession (1967) Original Music Composer
  • 1999 A.D. (1967) Original Music Composer
  • Behind the Screen (1966) as Self
  • A Matter of Resistance (1966) Original Music Composer
  • Who Are You, Polly Maggoo? (1966) Original Music Composer
  • Funny Money (1966) Original Music Composer
  • The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean (1966) Original Music Composer
  • The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean (1966) Conductor
  • Behind the screens : Les demoiselles de Rochefort (1966) as Self
  • L’Or et le plomb (1966) as Musician
  • The Spy Who Went Into Hell (1965) Original Music Composer
  • The Botanical Avatar of Mademoiselle Flora (1965) Original Music Composer
  • The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) as Jean (singing voice) (uncredited)
  • The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) Original Music Composer
  • The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) Conductor
  • The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) Songs
  • Band of Outsiders (1964) Original Music Composer
  • Agent 38-24-36 (1964) Original Music Composer
  • The Lovers of the France (1964) Original Music Composer
  • From a Distant Gaze (1964) Original Music Composer
  • The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers (1964) Original Music Composer
  • Le Grand Escroc (1964) Original Music Composer
  • The Danny Kaye Show (1963) as Self
  • Maigret Sees Red (1963) Original Music Composer
  • The Lovely Month of May (1963) Original Music Composer
  • Illuminations (1963) Music
  • Bay of Angels (1963) Original Music Composer
  • L'Amérique lunaire (1963) Music
  • Love is a Ball (1963) Original Music Composer
  • Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962) as Bob, the Pianist
  • Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962) Original Music Composer
  • Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962) Songs
  • Vivre Sa Vie (1962) Original Music Composer
  • The Seven Deadly Sins (1962) Original Music Composer
  • La Paresse (1962) Original Music Composer
  • Lust (1962) Original Music Composer
  • La Gourmandise (1962) Sound
  • The Gentleman from Epsom (1962) Original Music Composer
  • Eva (1962) Original Music Composer
  • Playtime in Paris (1962) Original Music Composer
  • Fiancés on the Bridge (1962) Original Music Composer
  • Fiancés on the Bridge (1962) Musician
  • A Swelled Head (1962) Original Music Composer
  • L'Envie (1962) Music
  • La Colère (1962) Music
  • The Counterfeiters of Paris (1961) Original Music Composer
  • Lola (1961) Original Music Composer
  • A Woman Is a Woman (1961) Original Music Composer
  • Melancholia (1961) Original Music Composer
  • It Means That Much to Me (1961) Original Music Composer
  • America as Seen by a Frenchman (1960) Original Music Composer
  • Jack of Spades (1960) Original Music Composer
  • The Door Slams (1960) Original Music Composer
  • The French Game (1960) Original Music Composer
  • Discorama (1959) as Self
  • Jours de mes années (1959) Music
  • Sinners of Paris (1958) Original Music Composer
  • The Tricyclist (1957) Original Music Composer
  • Too Many Lovers (1957) Conductor
  • Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee
  • Cinépanorama (1956) as Self
  • Razzia (1955) Music Director
  • Razzia (1955) Music Arranger
  • Lovers' Net (1955) Original Music Composer
  • Visages de Paris (1955) Original Music Composer
  • The Oscars (1953) as Self
  • Her Last Christmas (1952) as Conductor (uncredited)