Maurice Jarre

1924–2009

David Lean's epics: Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago

Maurice Jarre was born in Lyon, France, in 1924. His father expected him to become an engineer, but Jarre switched to music in his late teens and studied at the Paris Conservatoire, specializing in percussion. After the war he became music director for Jean Vilar's Théâtre National Populaire, writing incidental music for classical plays, and he began scoring French films, including Georges Franju's Eyes Without a Face.

His big break came when producer Sam Spiegel and director David Lean hired him for Lawrence of Arabia (1962). Jarre had only weeks to write music for one of the grandest films ever made. The result, with its vast desert theme, exotic percussion and rousing march, won him his first Academy Award and made him internationally famous.

Lean called on Jarre again for Doctor Zhivago (1965), and its haunting melody, known as Lara's Theme, became a worldwide hit. Played on balalaikas for a Russian flavor, it was later turned into the song "Somewhere, My Love." It brought Jarre his second Oscar, and a third followed for Lean's final film, A Passage to India (1984), making their partnership one of the most successful in film history.

Jarre also scored Is Paris Burning?, The Man Who Would Be King and Jesus of Nazareth, and later embraced electronic sounds in Witness, Dead Poets Society and Ghost. His son is electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre. Maurice Jarre died in Los Angeles in 2009.

THE ART

Music by Maurice Jarre

Art celebrating his film scores. Click any piece to view it larger.

THE FILMS

The Story and the Score

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

The Story

British officer T. E. Lawrence, sent to Arabia during World War I, unites rival Arab tribes in revolt against the Ottoman Turks. His bold desert campaigns make him a legend, but violence and politics take their toll on him. Peter O'Toole stars in David Lean's epic, winner of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

The Music

Jarre's Oscar-winning score captures the vastness of the desert with its sweeping main theme and exotic percussion. A rousing march and Arab colors give the film its grandeur. Jarre's music makes the desert itself a character, helping turn Lawrence's story into one of the greatest epic adventures ever filmed.

Doctor Zhivago (1965)

The Story

Physician and poet Yuri Zhivago lives through World War I, the Russian Revolution and civil war. Though married, he falls in love with the beautiful Lara, and the two are repeatedly separated by war and politics. Omar Sharif and Julie Christie star in David Lean's adaptation of Boris Pasternak's novel.

The Music

Jarre's Oscar-winning score features Lara's Theme, played on balalaikas for a Russian flavor, which became a worldwide hit. The theme represents Zhivago's love for Lara and returns throughout the sweeping story, giving the epic its romance and becoming one of the most famous melodies ever written for film.