L´Alpagueur

L´Heretier

Le Hasard et la Violence

Music by Michel Colombier

Three films of director Philippe Labro with Michel Colombier music are featured on this CD of remarkable series Ecoutez Le Cinema from French Universal.

After the adventures that Jean-Paul Belmondo starred in the 60s as L'Homme Du Rio (1964) or Le Cerveau (1969) the actor found in the police adventures of the 70s the perfect vehicle for his acrobatic gifts and unbeatable sympathy in front of camera. From filmic standarts reached in films as Le Scoumoune (1972) and especially Peur Sur La Ville (1975), the actor dedicated the following years (until the mid-80) to police adventures often welcomed by the audiences. L'Alpagueur (1976) was one of the films that guaranteed this trajectory. Colombier´s music follows the movie in short vignettes that emphasize important moments. Musical monosyllables. Economic but intense the soundtrack of L'Alpagueur displays surprising moments as the energy in pop-march main theme (L'Alpagueur), a waltz for "street organ" (Valse de L'Epervier) and even a stylized samba (Bossa Botola), among suspense vignettes.

More varied in arrangements (over the same theme), the music for L'Heretier (1973) ties with the popular vanguard music of the period (progressive rock, jazz-rock). Colombier walks between the dramatic and the popular, but goes beyond the models in quite unique moments as in the ethereal Rêve. Incredible music almost forgotten within the film.

Completing the edition is the music for Le Hasard Et La Violence (1974), with dramatic variations on the same theme, and according to the director himself, an irregular drama wich had in Colombier music one of his greatest virtues. Including reference to popular cinema via cop movies, plus instrumental inventiveness and the appeal of kitsch drama, the edition is a curious sample of vices and virtues of the 70 decade.