‘Austin Powers’ director Jay Roach salutes Burt Bacharach
Ladies and gentleman, Mr. Burt Bacharach!
The celebrated pop composer made cameos in all three “Austin Powers” films, with star Mike Myers throwing to him on the finish of Jay Roach’s 1997 espionage spoof “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.” Bacharach, as himself, serenaded Myers’ titular spy and co-star Elizabeth Hurley whereas driving in an open-air tour bus making its approach via the streets of Las Vegas.
In a tribute to the 94-year-old Bacharach, who died Wednesday, the “Bombshell” and “Recount” filmmaker mirrored on capturing the ultimate scene of his sophomore movie with the legendary musician.
“On the last night of filming, Burt Bacharach performed ‘What the World Needs Now Is Love’ over and over, sitting at a piano on top of a double decker bus going up and down the Vegas strip, while Mike and Elizabeth danced,” Roach stated in a Thursday electronic mail to The Times.
“The early takes were great, but I couldn’t bring myself to say, ‘cut, move on’— it was just too sublime. We only stopped when the sun came up,” he added. “Elizabeth, Mike and I all went up and kissed Burt with tears in our eyes. That night his song became the heart of our film. Burt’s love — which the world does desperately need — will live on through his music, as will our love for Burt.”
While his indelible music earned him three Oscars and 6 Grammys, Bacharach’s cameos endeared him to a brand new technology of followers. They additionally turned the most effective operating gags within the “Austin Powers” franchise. Bacharach returned for the 1999 sequel to carry out “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” with Elvis Costello and made a short look within the closing credit of “Austin Powers in Goldmember” (2002) — each additionally directed by Roach.
“Because Burt’s songs were so essentially aligned with Austin’s own personal mantras, Burt had to be part of every film,” Roach stated. “Mike just kept writing great moments for him and Burt kept showing up! We felt so lucky to get to collaborate with the maestro.”
A consultant for Myers didn’t instantly reply Thursday to The Times’ requests for remark.
Bacharach’s “I’ll Say a Little Prayer for You” — one among many hits he wrote for Dionne Warwick along with his songwriting associate Hal David — additionally notably acquired the big-screen remedy in 1997. The basic 1967 track discovered its technique to new listeners when Rupert Everett dutifully carried out it for Julia Roberts in “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and initiated the romantic comedy’s memorable impromptu sing-along.
The composer earned Academy Awards for the track “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” and scoring 1969’s “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” in addition to composing “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” from 1981’s “Arthur.” Bacharach additionally was given the Recording Academy’s 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award and the 1997 Grammys Trustees Award.