Max Steiner

Max Steiner, born on May tenth, eighteen eighty-eight, was an Austrian composer and conductor who made a significant impact on the world of film music after emigrating to America. A child prodigy, he conducted his first operetta at the tender age of twelve and by fifteen, he was already a full-time professional, excelling in composing, arranging, and conducting.

During World War I, Steiner faced the threat of internment in England, prompting his move to Broadway. In nineteen twenty-nine, he transitioned to Hollywood, where he became one of the pioneering composers to create music scores for films. Often hailed as the 'father of film music,' Steiner played a crucial role in establishing the tradition of film scoring alongside notable contemporaries such as Dimitri Tiomkin and Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

Throughout his illustrious career, Steiner composed over three hundred film scores for major studios like RKO Pictures and Warner Bros. He received twenty-four Academy Award nominations, winning three for his exceptional work on 'The Informer' in nineteen thirty-five, 'Now, Voyager' in nineteen forty-two, and 'Since You Went Away' in nineteen forty-four. His renowned scores include classics such as 'King Kong,' 'Little Women,' 'Jezebel,' and 'Casablanca,' although he did not compose its iconic love theme, 'As Time Goes By.'

Steiner's score for 'Gone with the Wind' remains one of his most celebrated works, ranking second on the AFI's list of best American film scores. He was also the inaugural recipient of the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for 'Life with Father.' His collaborations with legendary directors like Michael Curtiz and John Ford, as well as actors such as Errol Flynn and Bette Davis, further solidified his legacy in the film industry.