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Michael Winner used Francis Lai for HANNIBAL BROOKS a World War II story with a difference about. Oliver Reed and Michael J. Pollard escaping from a prisoner of war camp - with an elephant, and their attempt to reach the Swiss border. Lai's main title music is not the sort one would expect from a war movie, but set against the wonderful scenery and a train speeding along the tracks it works superbly and is music that one remembers a long time after you have seen the film. In fact Bernard Drew writing for Garrett News in USA, said 'Winner's direction is as sure as ever, he is much abetted by a witty screenplay, and the lovely music by Francis Lai."
Winner followed this with a film for Fox, THE GAMES about athletes from different parts of the world and their plans to win the marathon in Rome at the Olympic Games. Lai's score contained a variety of themes like WHAT'S 'IS NAME, culminating in an extensive pull out all the stops 'Marathon Suite'. Sadly THE GAMES was the last collaboration between Francis Lai and Michael Winner and I asked Francis Lai about his three films for Winner.
"In the lively field of filmaking, one may find traditional directors and, in the true sense of the word, extraordinary directors.
Michael Winner is a member of the latter category, his technique englobing a wide variety of the cinematographic arts; excessive, enthusiastic, contraster of romanticism and violence, imagination and reality, greatness and intimate details.
The music accompanying these films also follows these liberal constraints. For example the score of the film "I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT'S 'IS NAME" contains a violin concerto, a crooners song, a pop song and even some Indian music.
Apart from widely varying styles, this artistic world heralds many suprises. In the film THE GAMES, we had an absolutely fantastic experience; Michael wanted to include a vocalised pop song and hence we began looking for a suitable singer. Finally after searching in vain for a time, the choral director told us she knew a singer who could learn the song quickly.
After having rehearsed the song once or twice, we brought him in to attempt a first practice session. In the recording cabin we watched him prepare, and then as he began to sing, we turned to look at each other, dumbfounded; a superb voice, a brilliant style. The singer was Elton John. If only I had been a music producer at that moment !!!
Then later on, due to my fear of flying, my working relationship with Michael came to an end, now of course, much to my regret."
© John Williams
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