"The Thomas Crown Affair" is a DeLuxe Color 1968 film directed and produced by Norman Jewison starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. It was nominated for two Academy Awards and won Best Original Song for Michel Legrand's "Windmills of Your Mind".
The films use of split screen to show simultaneous actions a technique inspired by the breakthrough Expo 67 films “In the Labyrinth” and “A Place to Stand,” that latter of which pioneered the use of Christopher Chapman's "multi-dynamic image technique," images shifting on moving panes.

The film also featured a chess scene, with McQueen and Dunaway playing a game of chess, silently flirting with each other, which included Dunaway sensually caressing the “bishops” hat.
The lyrics of “Windmills of your Mind,” were written by Americans Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and performed in the original film by Noel Harrison, son of Rex Harrison. In keeping with the ‘60s, the lyrics contained surrealistic imagery to match the rather disjointed plot line of the film. The film "possibly the most under-plotted, underwritten, over-photographed film of the year. Which is not to say it isn't great to look at."

Critics also praised the chemistry between McQueen and Dunaway and Jewison’s direction.

Besides the songs “win,” Legrand’s score for The Thomas Crown Affair was also nominated for an Academy Award. Throughout his career, Legrand has been nominated for 13 Oscars and received three for: the song “Windmills of Your Mind"; the score of “The Summer of 42” (1971); and the song and score for “Yentle (1983).

Today, Legrand maintains an active jazz performing career producing more than of one hundred jazz, popular and classical music albums.