= MUSIC FROM THE FILMS OF AUDREY HEPBURN =

I have had great pleasure in listening to the music of my colleagues on this CD. The emotional range is quite extensive. Judging from the list of film titles included in this collection, it seems my friend Audrey Hepburn brought out the best in the people she worked with. I can, of course, speak only for myself, but I am sure that all of the composers drew great inspiration from her presence.

In the case of "Moon River" from "Breakfast At Tiffany's" it is very difficult to imagine that I would have written that melody and Johnny Mercer those lyrics had Audrev not been involved. I have never been more inspired by an image on the screen. Blake Edwards directed and George Axelrod wrote the screenplay from Truman Capote's novella. "Moon River" was written for Audrey. No one else has ever understood it so completely. There have been more than a thousand versions of "Moon River," but hers is unquestionably the definitive one. When we previewed the film, the head of Paramount was there and said, "One thing for sure. That f--g song's gotta go." Audrey shot right up out of her chair. Mel Ferrer had to put his hand on her arm to restrain her. That's the closest I have every seen her come to losing control.

Our next film together was "Charade" in 1963. Stanley Donen directed Peter Stone's screenplay. There is a scene in the movie where Audrey returns from a happy winter holiday to her Paris flat to find it stripped of everything of value. Bare floors and the walls are all that remain. Her loutish husband had absconded with all of her worldly goods. She enters the dimly-lit apartment with her suitcase and surveys the scene. Her feelings are of sadness, loneliness, and vulnerability. To me, it translated into a sad little Parisian waltz. With that image of Audrey in my mind, I went to the piano and within less than an hour "Charade" was written. I played it for Audrey and Stanley. Both felt it was just right for the movie. Johnny Mercer added his poetry, and the song was nominated for an Oscar that year.

"Charade" was followed in 1967 by "Two For The Road," another Stanley Donen film, this time with screenplay by Frederic Raphael. To illustrate the graciousness of the lady, the following is a telegram she sent to me:

Dearest Hank: 

Please won't you do the music for "Two For The Road, " the Stanley Donen picture I am now doing with Albert Finney?

It is the best script l have ever had, wonderfully tender, funny and romantic. Can't imagine anyone else but you scoring. I am at Hotel La Pinede Saint Tropez, France. All my love to you both. 

Audrey

Of course I accepted. Leslie Bricusse added lyrics to the theme. The song is my personal favourite among the music I have written for films.

"Wait Until Dark", directed later that same year by Terence Young, was a complete turn-about for Audrey the actress. She portrayed a young blind lady, ruthlessly harassed by an evil character played by Alan Arkin. It was a highly-charged dramatic film. I greatly relished this chance to take leave of the "romantic comedy" genre for a while. The picture was highly praised, especially Audrey's role which won her an Academy Award nomination.

I have come to feel that Audrey was my good luck charm. Because of her I approached each of these films as being something very special. The music I wrote for her "had" to be my best. She deserved no less.

- Henry Mancini

Transcribed by Stefan Huber. Thanks !