Max Steiner
Maximilian Raoul Steiner, born on May 10, 1888, in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, was an Austrian composer and conductor who became one of Hollywood's most celebrated musical composers. A child prodigy, Steiner conducted his first operetta at the age of twelve and was a full-time professional by fifteen. During World War I, he moved to Broadway to avoid internment in England, and in 1929, he relocated to Hollywood. Known as "the father of film music," Steiner was instrumental in establishing the tradition of composing music scores for films.
He composed over 300 film scores for RKO Pictures and Warner Bros., and was nominated for 24 Academy Awards, winning three for "The Informer" (1935), "Now, Voyager" (1942), and "Since You Went Away" (1944). Among his notable works are scores for "King Kong" (1933), "Little Women" (1933), "Jezebel" (1938), and "Casablanca" (1942). His score for "Gone with the Wind" (1939) is particularly renowned, ranking second on the AFI's list of best American film scores. Steiner was also the first recipient of the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for "Life with Father."
Throughout his career, Steiner collaborated with legendary directors like Michael Curtiz, John Ford, and William Wyler, and scored films featuring stars such as Errol Flynn, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, and Fred Astaire. He passed away on December 28, 1971, in Los Angeles, California, leaving behind a significant legacy in the world of film music.
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