Papillon

Infos :

Based on Henri Charrière’s massively successful memoir of life in a French prison camp in Guyana, Papillon can boast the star power of Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman and Franklin J. Schaffner’s film is an entertaining story.

Jerry Goldsmith’s storied career featured many highlights – he personally considered his body of work for Schaffner (who gave the composer almost total freedom to do as he saw fit) as his best. 

The somewhat Debussy-like main theme, given a concert arrangement to start the album, is not really like any other in the Goldsmith canon: a nostalgic Parisian waltz, accordion and strings carrying the melody, constant support on hand from a harpsichord and the rest of the orchestra, it is one of the finest themes any film has ever received.  Outrageously beautiful, instantly memorable, it is one of the most lyrical pieces ever written by one of cinema’s most lyrical composers.

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