Premiere CD release of magnificent Michel Legrand score for Charles Jarrott filming of Sidney Sheldon novel. Based on Sidney Sheldon’s 1974 bestseller, The Other Side of Midnight stars Marie-France Pisier (Cousin Cousine) as Noelle Page, a young actress who beds her way into becoming the mistress of a wealthy Greek tycoon (Raf Vallon), all the while plotting revenge on the pilot who deserted her in World War II Paris, Larry Douglas (John Beck), and his wife (Susan Sarandon).Opulant, ravishing beauty of France locale, lush romanticism of story tinged with overtones of murder, generous montage sequences relying on music all inspire Legrand to create one of his all-time most sweeping, lovingly melodic film scores. Richly orchestrated by composer, individual cues both support, sometimes even lead action of film itself. 20th Century Fox movie captured a certain profile by being released into theaters right after debut of Fox’s Star Wars. As with the latter’s mega-watt score, the studio’s own label released The Other Side Of Midnight on generous, lengthy LP, beautifully produced by composer to spotlight virtually every major thematic idea. To present that program on CD, Intrada was given access to original stereo album masters vaulted in pristine condition by UMG. All 12 tracks appear in exact sequence as sumptuous 1977 album. Legrand fashions lush waltz in “Chanson Pour Noelle”, classically drawn strings for “Late Dinner At Demeris'” & “Demeris’ Party”, but no matter how far he takes music, magnificent main theme stays close by. Now epic, now tender, always memorable. Striking original album artwork appears on booklet cover, Jim Lochner offers informative liner notes inside. Keith Grant, Peter Mews record score in London, Lionel Newman supervises for Fox, Michel Legrand conducts.
Producer Frank Yablans was enamored of Michel Legrand’s score for The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, which he considered “one of the great scores of all time. We needed that kind of feel in [Midnight]. … I just felt he was the right person for it.” After scoring the cat-and-mouse love games of The Thomas Crown Affair and the yearning obsession of Summer of ’42 (and winning two Oscars in the process), Legrand was indeed the “right person” to bring a contemporary flair to this period melodrama. The film opens with soaring shots of decaying Greek ruins and the sunlit Mediterranean blue of the Aegean with a bouzouki setting the musical stage. As the camera pans to the prison, Legrand’s lush main theme soars in the strings. With Legrand trademarks like repeated chromaticism, intervallic sequences and unexpected modulations, the theme provides a romantic backdrop to the vengeful machinations that are brewing. The film also features a number of silent montages that allows Legrand’s score to breathe.
For this long-overdue CD premiere of The Other Side of Midnight, Intrada was provided access to the original two-track stereo album master prepared by the composer in 1977 for the 20th Century Records LP, vaulted in beautiful condition by UMG. The twelve tracks of the CD are presented in the same order as the original album.
INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 290
TRACKLIST
01. Prologue (Noelle’s Story) (3:25)
02. Chanson Pour Noelle (2:05)
03. The Other Side Of Midnight (Noelle’s Theme) (3:50)
04. Larry’s Return (3:23)
05. Late Dinner At Demeris’ (2:56)
06. Paris Montage (6:43)
07. The Other Side Of Midnight (Noelle’s Theme) (5:25)
08. Drive To Demeris’ (3:05)
09. Larry And Noelle (2:08)
10. After Dinner At Demeris’ (2:48)
11. Demeris’ Party (2:47)
12. Epilogue (Adieu Noelle) (2:50)
