Biography

Elmer Bernstein (April 4, 1922 – August 18, 2004) was an American composer and conductor best known for his many film scores. In a career which spanned fifty years, he composed music for hundreds of film and television productions. His most popular works include the scores to The Magnificent Seven, The Ten Commandments, The Great Escape, To Kill a Mockingbird, Ghostbusters, The Black Cauldron, Airplane!, and The Rookies. Bernstein won an Oscar for his score to Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) and was nominated for fourteen Oscars in total. He also won two Golden Globes and was nominated for two Grammy Awards. Bernstein wrote the theme songs or other music for more than 200 films and TV shows, including The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Ten Commandments (1956), The Man with the Golden Arm, To Kill a Mockingbird, Robot Monster, and the fanfare used in the National Geographic television specials. His theme for The Magnificent Seven is also familiar to television viewers, as it was used in commercials for Marlboro cigarettes. Bernstein also provided the score to many of the short films of Ray and Charles Eames. In 1961 Bernstein co-founded Äva Records an American record label based in Los Angeles together with Fred Astaire, Jackie Mills and Tommy Wolf.

Photos

Filmography

View The Oscars
The Oscars

The Oscars

1953Series
7.0
View From Noon Till Three
From Noon Till Three

From Noon Till Three

1976Film
5.9
View Innocence and Experience: The Making of 'The Age of Innocence'
Innocence and Experience: The Making of 'The Age of Innocence'

Innocence and Experience: The Making of 'The Age of Innocence'

1993Film
5.5
View The Making of 'Cape Fear'
The Making of 'Cape Fear'

The Making of 'Cape Fear'

2001Film
7.3
View Making 'Taxi Driver'
Making 'Taxi Driver'

Making 'Taxi Driver'

1999Film
6.9
View The Yearbook: An Animal House Reunion
The Yearbook: An Animal House Reunion

The Yearbook: An Animal House Reunion

1998Film
7.0
View Music for the Movies: Bernard Herrmann
Music for the Movies: Bernard Herrmann

Music for the Movies: Bernard Herrmann

1992Film
6.5
View Frank Sinatra Memorial
Frank Sinatra Memorial

Frank Sinatra Memorial

2000Film0
View Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven'
Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven'

Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven'

2000Film
6.8
View The Bible According to Hollywood
The Bible According to Hollywood

The Bible According to Hollywood

1994Film
6.0
View The Hollywood Soundtrack Story
No Image

The Hollywood Soundtrack Story

1995Film0
View Fearful Symmetry
Fearful Symmetry

Fearful Symmetry

1998Film
4.3