Introduction

Henry Chapier (sometimes also referred to as Henri Chapier) is known to many as the director of some of the earliest films that Vangelis scored in the early seventies in France. But there is more to this familiar but at the same time unknown name than meets the eye. In France Henry Chapier (1931-2019) is well known as a journalist, cinema critic and TV personality. Outside of France however his name is mostly associated with Vangelis, who made the filmscores to three of his four contributions to French filmmaking in the early seventies.

All of the films that Henry Chapier directed are mysterious in the sense that they have been unreleased for decades after their initial production, and it took about 40 years before they ultimately received a deserved release (on DVD). Some of the films were shown on film festivals, and at least "Sex Power" and "Amore" have played in French cinemas at the time.

Vangelis' scores for the three films he cooperated on with Henry Chapier are relatively scarce, as the scores for "Sex Power" (1970) and "Amore" (1973) are only released on LP, the first by Philips at time of release in 1970, the second by Monster Melodies Music in 2015. The music made for "Salut, Jérusalem" remains unreleased until this day.

In an interview in 2011 Henry Chapier explained how he met Vangelis (apx. in November 1969): "Vangelis Papathanassiou was the composer of the group Aphrodite's Child, he composed the band's music and the songs of Demis Roussos. The first time, it was at the Olympia, at the band’s concert. I found the music to be trippy and wonderful, I, who above all, loved the Pink Floyd. I thought the Pink Floyd, I could never get them for my films. So I stormed in backstage at the Olympia, I said to Vangelis: “Listen you are made to be an independent composer”. Things clicked between us instantly and so I asked if he wanted the script. He told me “no, we will see, me, I improvise from images”. This is a technique that is practiced today, but back then, it was unheard of. We did not have people like him, who recorded the sound on sixteen tracks, playing all the instruments themselves and who already had in mind how hey would edit the soundtrack. The sound always interested me enormously. After Vangelis made the music for my films, he made the soundtrack for Frederic Rossif’s films, but thereafter he became famous from the soundtrack of the Chariots Of Fire. At the Cannes Festival, his music had really been noticed and acclaimed. Often on the Internet, people ask me for the film’s soundtrack before even asking me how they can get the images”.

Biography
Born in Bucarest (Romania) as Henri Julien Shapiro, Henry moved with his parents to France in 1947. In 1959 he won the first prize for the best upcoming journalist in France while publishing for "L'Express" and "Les Lettres Nouvelles". At the end of the sixties while establishing a name as a controversial crtitic, Henry followed his love for cinema and set out to direct two short films and two movies.

In 1974 Henry Chapier took the position of chief-editor at "Quotidien de Paris", while in 1978 he moved on to the French television channel FR3 as an director and editor. There he establishes a name as "Monsieur Cinema".

From 1987 to 1995 Henry Chapier hosted the TV-show "Le Divan", where he interviewed mostly French but also several nternational celebrities. Vangelis also appeared on the show in 1991. In 1996 Henry joined the jury of the film festival in Cannes, while in the same year taking on the position of president of the European House of Photography (MEP). More recently, in 2003 Henry Chapier presented a show on CANAL+ titled "Merci Pour l'Info".

Henry Chapier passed away on the 27th of January 2019 in Paris, France.

Filmography

Media
Some 40 years after their original production, Henry Chapier's films "Sex Power", "Salut, Jérusalem" and "Amore" were officially released on DVD.

DVD

• Sex Power / Un Été Americain (3700246904397 Doriane Films) France (2010)
• Henry Chapier Cinéaste,  includes Amore and Salut Jerusalem (BQHL Éditions) France (2012)

Links

• Wikipedia
• Le Divan episode with Vangelis