Bronisław Kaper
Bronisław Kaper was a renowned Polish film composer born on February 5, 1902, in Warsaw, Poland, and passed away on April 26, 1983, in Beverly Hills, California, U.S. He was of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and demonstrated prodigious musical talent from a young age, beginning piano at six. Kaper pursued studies in composition and piano at the Warsaw Conservatory and studied law at Warsaw University to honor his father's wishes.
In the late 1920s, Kaper moved to Berlin, a cultural hub where he collaborated with Austrian composer Walter Jurmann. Due to the rise of Nazism, Kaper relocated to Paris in 1933, continuing his work in film and cabaret music. His career took a significant turn when MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer offered him a seven-year contract, prompting Kaper's move to the United States in 1935.
Kaper's early work in Hollywood included composing songs for films like the Marx Brothers' "A Night at the Opera" (1935) and "A Day at the Races" (1937). He eventually transitioned to scoring full films, creating memorable scores for "Gaslight" (1944), "Them!" (1954), and "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1962). He is best remembered for composing the jazz standards "On Green Dolphin Street" and "Invitation," and for winning an Academy Award for Best Original Score for the film "Lili" (1953).
Kaper was part of a vibrant community of European refugees in Los Angeles during the 1940s, which included notable figures like Thomas Mann and Arnold Schoenberg. His legacy includes the Bronisław Kaper Awards, celebrating his contributions to film music.
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