Composer
Francis Lai
Born 26 April 1932 · Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France — died 7 November 2018
Francis Lai (1932–2018) was a French composer from Nice, best known for romantic, melodic film scores. His long collaboration with director Claude Lelouch began with A Man and a Woman, and his theme for Love Story became a worldwide hit and won him an Oscar.
Key films
A Man and a Woman (1966)On Cinespective
His breakthrough score, and the start of his long partnership with director Claude Lelouch.
Love Story (1970)
His best-known score; its theme became a global hit and earned him an Academy Award.
Rider on the Rain (1970)
A well-known French thriller score showing his range beyond romantic themes.
Bilitis (1977)
A soft, dreamy score for David Hamilton's film, typical of his lyrical style.
A Man and a Woman: 20 Years Later (1986)
Brought him back to his signature theme for Lelouch's sequel.
Key awards
- 1970 Academy Award for Best Original Score (Love Story)
- 1970 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score (Love Story)
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 83
- 1965Fragilité, ton nom est femmeComposer
- 1966A Man and a WomanComposer
- 1967Action ManComposer
- 1967Live for LifeComposer
- 1967I'll Never Forget What's'isnameComposer
- 1967The BoboComposer
- 1967My Love, My LoveComposer
- 1968MayerlingComposer
- 1968House of CardsComposer
- 196813 Days in FranceComposer
- 1968Tender MomentComposer
- 1969Love Is a Funny ThingComposer
- 1969Hannibal BrooksComposer
- 19693 Into 2 Won't GoComposer
- 1970Love StoryComposer
- 1970Rider on the RainComposer
- 1970The CrookComposer
- 1970Hello-GoodbyeComposer
- 1970The GamesComposer
- 1970Eyes Full of SunComposer
- 1970The ModificationComposer
- 1971The Legend of Frenchie KingComposer
- 1971Smic, Smac, Smoc · as Blind AccordionistActor
- 1971IranComposer
- 1972And Hope to DieComposer
- 1973Happy New YearComposer
- 1973ReigenComposer
- 1973Killing in the SunComposer
- 1974Loving in the RainComposer
- 1974MarriageComposer
- 1974Child Under a LeafComposer
- 1974By the Blood of OthersComposer
- 1975Emmanuelle: The Joys of a WomanComposer
- 1975Cat and MouseComposer
- 1975The BabysitterComposer
- 1976The Good and the BadComposer
- 1976StripteaseComposer
- 1977BilitisComposer
- 1977Lost SoulComposer
- 1977Another Man, Another ChanceComposer
- 1978International VelvetComposer
- 1978Boarding SchoolComposer
- 1979Us TwoComposer
- 1979Beyond the ReefComposer
- 1981BoleroComposer
- 1983Edith and MarcelComposer
- 1984My New PartnerComposer
- 1984I Believe in Santa ClausComposer
- 1985Marie: A True StoryComposer
- 1985AIDS: Love in DangerComposer
- 1985No More God, No More LoveComposer
- 1986A Man and a Woman: 20 Years LaterComposer
- 1987Dark EyesComposer
- 1987BanditsComposer
- 1988Itinerary of a Spoiled ChildComposer
- 1988BernadetteComposer
- 1988Keys to FreedomComposer
- 1989Too Beautiful for YouComposer
- 1990My New Partner IIComposer
- 1990There Were Days... and MoonsComposer
- 1990The Passion of BernadetteComposer
- 1990Le ProvincialComposer
- 1991I'll Be Going NowComposer
- 1991Les Clés du ParadisComposer
- 1992Stranger in the HouseComposer
- 1992The Beautiful StoryComposer
- 1993All That... for This?!Composer
- 1993Le Voleur et la menteuseComposer
- 1995Les MiserablesComposer
- 1996Men, Women: A User's ManualComposer
- 1998Chance or CoincidenceComposer
- 1999One 4 AllComposer
- 2005The Courage to LoveComposer
- 2006Amore e libertà - MasanielloComposer
- 2010What War May BringComposer
- 2011D'un film à l'autreComposer
- 2014We Love You, You BastardComposer
- 2015Un + uneComposer
- 2017Everyone's LifeComposer
- 2019The Best Years of a LifeComposer
- 2020In The Tracks Of - Special Edition · as SelfActor
- 2022Shoot to Live · as SelfActor
- 2026The Cinema of Francis LaiComposer
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.