Program notes
The story of Max Steiner, the inventor of the symphonic film music.
Shaped by the musical world of Vienna, Max Steiner brought the music of Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler to Hollywood, where he established a new musical genre for the nascent "talkies":symphonic film music. He produced musical scores for over 300 films, including classics such as Gone with the Wind and Casablanca. He was recognised with three Oscars and still has an influence on film music composers – such as the Austrian composer Gerrit Wunder – today.
This documentary uses previously unpublished materials and contemporary witnesses to tell the story of the astonishing career of composer Max Steiner.