Jarre established himself as a serious composer and writer of theatrical scores in the 1950s and earned a reputation for feature film scoring in the following decade. He has demonstrated a particular flair for sweeping, epic spectacles, winning Oscars for three of his four collaborations with David Lean (LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, 1962, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, 1965, A PASSAGE TO INDIA, 1984).
Other notable (non-nominated) credits in a body of work encompassing over 150 films include THE LONGEST DAY (1962), BEHOLD A PALE HORSE and THE TRAIN (both 1964), THE COLLECTOR (1965), GRAND PRIX, THE NIGHT OF GENERALS, THE PROFESSIONALS and GAMBIT (all 1966), THE FIXER and ISADORA (both 1968), TOPAZ (1969), RYAN'S DAUGHTER (1970), PLAZA SUITE (1971), ISLAND AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD (1974), THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING (1975), THE LAST TYCOON (1976), RESURRECTION, LION OF THE DESERT, THE BLACK MARBLE and the TV mini-series "Shogun" (all 1980), TAPS (1981), FIREFOX and THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY (both 1982), ENEMY MINE and MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME (both 1985), TAI-PAN, SOLARBABIES and THE MOSQUITO COAST (all 1986), NO WAY OUT, FATAL ATTRACTION and GABY: A TRUE STORY (all 1987), CHANCES ARE, DEAD POETS SOCIETY and ENEMIES: A LOVE STORY (all 1989), JACOB'S LADDER (1990), and I DREAMED OF AFRICA (2000). Jarre has of late become a frequent collaborator with director Peter Weir.
Jarre's son, Jean-Michel Jarre (b. 1948), is a successful composer of popular electronic music. His younger son, Kevin Jarre, is a screenwriter (GLORY, TOMBSTONE, THE MUMMY, et al.).
Music Scoring Awards (Music Score Substantially Original) 1962: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of Music Adaptation or Treatment) 1963: SUNDAYS AND CYBELE
Music Scoring Awards (Music Score Substantially Original) 1965: DOCTOR ZHIVAGO
Nominated for Music Best Song 1972: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN "Marmalade, Molasses & Honey" - Music
Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Best Original Score) 1977: MOHAMMAD, MESSENGER OF GOD
Music Scoring Awards (Best Original Score) 1984: A PASSAGE TO INDIA
Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Best Original Score) 1985: WITNESS
Nominated for Best Achievement in Music (Original Score) 1988: GORILLAS IN THE MIST
Nominated for Best Achievement in Music (Original Score) 1990: GHOST
9 nominations, 3 Awards