The Lost Man


The Lost Man is a 1969 American crime film, written and directed by Robert Alan Aurthur, loosely based on British author F.L. Green's 1945 novel Odd Man Out, which was previously made into a 1947 film directed by Carol Reed and starring James Mason.

Plot

Former US Army lieutenant Jason Higgs, after becoming a black militant during the 1960s Black Revolutionary Movement, is wounded as he pulls a payroll heist to help imprisoned brothers, and has to hide from the police. Social worker Cathy Ellis falls in love with Higgs while helping him elude capture.

Cast

New York Times critic Vincent Canby called the film "Poitier's attempt to recognize the existence and root causes of black militancy without making anyone — white or black — feel too guilty or hopeless." Roger Ebert wrote that "Poitier has seldom been stronger or more human." but criticized the film for "a tendency to smooth corners and tinker with the plot."

Musical score and soundtrack

The film score was composed by Quincy Jones and conducted by Stanley Wilson, and the soundtrack album was released on the Uni label in 1969.

Reception

's Brandon Burke said the soundtrack had "In the strict sense of the word, The Lost Man was not a blaxploitation film, but its soundtrack might lead you to think otherwise.... Jones takes the sparse, groove-oriented route heard on the J.J. Johnson scores for Cleopatra Jones and Across 110th Street. This is most evident on downtempo numbers like the sultry "Sweet Soul Sister" and the opening theme. "Main Squeeze," however, is a funk bomb if ever there was one and, thankfully, its bass-driven motif runs throughout the LP. Recommended if you can find it".

Track listing

All compositions by Quincy Jones except where noted
  1. "The Lost Man " – 2:35
  2. "Sweet Soul Sister" – 2:48
  3. "Slum Creeper" – 3:22
  4. "Rap, Run It on Down" – 2:31
  5. "He Says He Loves Me" – 3:45
  6. "Main Squeeze" – 2:48
  7. "Try, Try, Try" – 2:46
  8. "Need to Be Needed" – 4:46
  9. "Up Against the Wall" – 4:20
  10. "He'll Wash You Whiter than Snow" – 2:15
  11. "End Title" – 1:58

    Personnel