Les veces etaient fermes de l'interieur / Le Chasseur de chez Maxim’s

In collaboration with Larghetto Music, Music Box Records is pleased to present the premiere CD release of two Paul Misraki scores: Les vécés étaient fermés de l'intérieur (directed by Patrice Leconte) and Le Chasseur de chez Maxim's (directed by Claude Vital).

With its nonsensical spirit reminiscent of British humour, Patrice Leconte's first feature film, Les vécés étaient fermés de l'intérieur, tells the story of police chief Pichard who investigates the death of a toilet attendant. Such is the synopsis of this cult film inspired by the adventures of Bougret and Charolles, two characters from the French comic book series Rubrique-à-brac. The script was co-written by Leconte and the author of said series, Marcel Gottlieb aka Gotlib. Paul Misraki's music pays tribute to the refined codes of Hollywood film noir (the recurring use of cellos, spooky crescendo strings tremolos, the solo saxophone conveying a feeling of dangerous and toxic seduction…) with some offbeat and elegant style representing his lighter side.

For Le Chasseur de chez Maxim's (Maxim's Porter), Paul Misraki composed a rejoicing collection of light dance pieces typical of the interwar period, in which the film is set. From the tango to the blues, to the fox-trot and the Charleston, the wide diversity of styles presented here is characteristic of Misraki's work.

This present edition features the previously unreleased and complete score to Les vécés étaient fermés de l'intérieur and the remastered original LP program for Le Chasseur de chez Maxim's (previously issued by Pathé Marconi EMI). The 8-page booklet features an essay by Nicolas Magenham discussing both films and scores.