The Madwoman of Chaillot Director
Bryan Forbes
Starring: Katharine Hepburn
Danny Kaye
Yul Brynner
Donald Pleasence
Richard Chamberlain
Oscar Homolka
Paul Henreid
Edith Evans
Margaret Leighton
Nanette Newman
Charles Boyer
Claude Dauphin
John Gavin
Giulietta Masima
This star-studded extravaganza was Lewis' film debut and
brought the composer immediate international recognition and England's premiere
music award, the Ivor Novello Award for Best Film Score 1969/70. Irma's Theme is a
gentle lilting tune used in the Parisian square outside the Cafe Francais. The
Palais de Chaillot is a percussion tour de force (brilliantly played on this new
recording by M.B. Gordy) that highlights one of the movies' most dramatic
moments. Aurelia's Theme is one of three principal melodies used throughout this
work and ranks with the all-time great romantic melodies of the film music
repertoire, proving that Lewis is one of the few great melodists working in film
today. At the world premiere in Freeport, Bahamas, in June 1969, Danny Kaye rose
to his feet half-way through the seven minute title sequence and cried aloud,
"This music is sensational".
