Legendary film composer Max Steiner (1888-1971) wrote the music scores for four of the greatest films ever made: KING KONG, GONE WITH THE WIND, CASABLANCA, and THE SEARCHERS. If these were the only movie soundtracks he created, he would still have a place in Hollywood history--but he did far much more than that. Steiner's life and career are the subject of a 2021 documentary, MAX STEINER: MAESTRO OF MOVIE MUSIC, which I viewed on HBO Max. The documentary was produced, directed, and edited by Diana Friedberg.
The film charts Steiner's life from his birth in Vienna, to his becoming a young musical prodigy, and then his success with musical theater in England and Europe. When World War One broke out Steiner managed to travel to the United States, where he found work in the silent film industry, and then acclaim in the world of Broadway productions in the 1920s.
Steiner was brought out to Hollywood, and in the early 1930s, as sound on film was being perfected, his innovations on the use of music to enhance what was on the screen would have far reaching effect. Steiner's belief in the power of a properly scored film story enabled him to take part in several outstanding productions, and to gain work and respect from such Hollywood big-wigs as David O. Selznick, Bette Davis, and Jack Warner.
The documentary presents Steiner as a man devoted to his music and his work--in 1939 he wrote an astounding eleven film scores. Even in late middle age Steiner kept up a punishing schedule. The film suggests that Steiner's unrelenting work ethic might have affected his personal life--he was married four times, and his only son committed suicide at a young age. Despite this the film details that Steiner was well-liked among those he worked alongside with.
MAX STEINER: MAESTRO OF MOVIE MUSIC is two hours long, which gives it plenty of time to delve into the subject's extensive career, while also giving background and detail on the history and importance of movie musical scores overall. The documentary for the most part has a traditional tone to it, avoiding flashy camera or editing techniques.
Among the mementos from Steiner's career which are shown are the actual music cues he wrote for some of his most famous film scores. (Many of these include brief notes written by Steiner that display his quirky humor.)
Fans of the Golden Age of Hollywood will certainly enjoy this documentary--it's a thorough examination of a man who made a major and lasting contribution to the era.
Being the highly intelligent person I know you are, you are well aware that John Ford was an old curmudgeon. He said that the score for THE SEARCHERS was more fitting for a film about Russian cossacks. I once read an interview with Steiner in Film Score Monthly, and he seemed to have an enormous ego.
ReplyDelete