Classic Movie Musicals: Composers L

Alan Jay Lerner was born in New York City on August 31, 1918. His father, Joseph J. Lerner, was the founder of Lerner Stores, Inc. He attended Bedales School in Hampshire, England; Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut; Julliard School of Music in New York City; and Harvard University, where he graduated with a B.S. in 1940.

Lerner wrote for radio, including the "Philco Hall of Fame," between about 1940 and 1942. In 1942, he met Frederick Loewe, and they began collaborating on music, book and lyrics for a number of stage plays. Their first big hit was "Brigadoon" (1947), which won the New York Drama Critics Circle Best Musical award. They continued with "Paint Your Wagon" (1951), "My Fair Lady" (1956) (one of the all-time most successful stage musicals) and "Camelot" (1960). They also wrote music, lyrics and book for the MGM film, Gigi (1958).

Lerner also had limited success on his own with Kurt Weill's "Love Life" (1948), and winning an Academy Award for his screenplay for An American in Paris (1951). Lerner died June 14, 1986 in New York City.

Films:
An American in Paris (book only, 1951)
Brigadoon (1954)
Gigi (1958)
My Fair Lady (1964)
Camelot (1967)
Paint Your Wagon (1969)

Lyrics:
Compositions used in films on Class Act:
Almost Like Being in Love
Ascot Gavotte
Before I Gaze at You Again
Best Things
Brigadoon
C'est Moi
Camelot
Come Back to Me
Down on MacConnachy Square
Every Night at Seven
First Thing You Know, The
Follow Me
Get Me to the Church On Time
Gigi
Go to Sleep
Gold Fever
Gospel of No Name City, The
Guenevere
Hand Me Down That Can o' Beans
Happiest Day of My Life, The
He Isn't You
Heather on the Hill, The
How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You When You Know I've Been a Liar All My Life?
How to Handle a Woman
Hurry! It's Lovely Up Here
Hymn to Him, A
I Could Have Danced All Night
I Don't Understand the Parisians
I Left My Hat in Haiti
I Loved You Once in Silence
I Remember It Well
I Still See Elisa
I Talk to the Trees
I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight
I'll Go Home with Bonnie Jean
I'm an Ordinary Man
I'm Glad I'm Not Young Any More
I'm On My Way
I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face
If Ever I Would Leave You
It's a Bore
Jousts, The
Just You Wait
Love with All the Trimmings
Lusty Month of May, The
Melinda
Million Miles Away Behind the Door, A
Night They Invented Champagne, The
On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
On the Street Where You Live
Open Your Eyes
Rain in Spain, The
Say a Prayer for Me Tonight
Servants' Chorus (Poor Professor Higgins)
Seven Deadly Virtues, The
Show Me
Simple Joys of Maidenhood, The
Thank Heaven for Little Girls
Then You May Take Me to the Fair
There's a Coach Comin' In
They Call the Wind Maria
Too Late Now
Waiting for My Dearie
Waltz at Maxim's (She Is Not Thinking of Me)
Wand'rin' Star
What a Lovely Day for a Wedding
What Did I Have That I Don't Have?
What Do the Simple Folk Do?
Whoop-Ti-Ay
Why Can't the English
With a Little Bit of Luck
Without You
Wouldn't It Be Loverly
You Did It
You're All the World to Me