Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Few composers carved out a legacy quite like Maurice Jarre did — three Academy Awards across two decades, and every single one of them attached to a David Lean epic. That Lean collaboration alone would be enough to cement a career: Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, A Passage to India. "Lara's Theme" is one of those melodies that seeps into your brain and just stays there, timeless in a way that very few film cues manage. What I find genuinely impressive is how Jarre adapted as the decades shifted — he wasn't just a golden-age relic; he scored Witness and Dead Poets Society and kept evolving his palette. A Frenchman who became the sound of sweeping Hollywood grandeur. He passed in 2009, but honestly, his music never left the room.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Maurice Jarre
- Name (Japanese)
- モーリス・ジャール
- Reading
- もーりす・じゃーる
- Born
- September 13, 1924 – March 28, 2009
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Rat
- Origin
- 5th arrondissement of Lyon, Rhône, France
- Occupation
- composer / conductor / film score composer / musician / bandleader
2. Background
- University
- University of Paris
Awards & achievements
- 1963 Academy Award for Best Original Score
- 1966 Academy Award for Best Original Score
- 1965 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
- 1966 Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
- 1985 Academy Award for Best Original Score
- 1986 Honorary César
- 1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
- 1986 BAFTA Award for Best Original Music
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Lara's Theme | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Maurice Jarre born?
September 13, 1924 – March 28, 2009.
Where is Maurice Jarre from?
Maurice Jarre is from 5th arrondissement of Lyon, Rhône, France.
What does Maurice Jarre do?
Maurice Jarre works as composer, conductor, film score composer, musician, bandleader.
What is Maurice Jarre known for?
Notable works include Lara's Theme.
Composer — see all → · Conductor — see all → · More people from France →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.