ELMER BERNSTEIN

Elmer Bernstein – Full Biography

Early Life & Education

  • Born: April 4, 1922, in New York City, USA
  • Died: August 18, 2004, in Ojai, California, USA
  • Background: Born to Jewish immigrant parents from Ukraine, he showed early musical talent.
  • Education: Studied at the Juilliard School and New York University. Initially trained as a classical pianist and composer.

Career Overview

Elmer Bernstein was one of Hollywood’s most influential film composers, with a career spanning over five decades. He scored more than 150 films and numerous television shows, covering a wide range of genres.

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Elmer Bernstein was a prolific American composer and conductor whose career spanned over five decades, during which he composed scores for more than 150 films and numerous television productions. His work encompassed a wide range of genres, from epic dramas to comedies, leaving an indelible mark on the world of film music.

Below is a chronological overview of some of his notable film scores:

1950s:

  • Saturday’s Hero (1951)
  • Sudden Fear (1952)
  • Cat-Women of the Moon (1953)
  • Robot Monster (1953)
  • The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)
  • The Ten Commandments (1956)
  • Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
  • The Buccaneer (1958)
  • Some Came Running (1958)

1960s:

  • The Magnificent Seven (1960)
  • The Comancheros (1961)
  • To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
  • Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
  • The Great Escape (1963)
  • Hud (1963)
  • The Carpetbaggers (1964)
  • The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
  • Hawaii (1966)
  • Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
  • True Grit (1969)

1970s:

  • Big Jake (1971)
  • The Magnificent Seven Ride! (1972)
  • Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973)
  • McQ (1974)
  • The Shootist (1976)
  • National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)
  • Zulu Dawn (1979)
  • Meatballs (1979)

1980s:

  • Airplane! (1980)
  • The Blues Brothers (1980)
  • Stripes (1981)
  • Trading Places (1983)
  • Ghostbusters (1984)
  • Spies Like Us (1985)
  • ¡Three Amigos! (1986)
  • My Left Foot (1989)

1990s:

  • The Grifters (1990)
  • Cape Fear (1991)
  • The Age of Innocence (1993)
  • Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
  • The Rainmaker (1997)
  • Bringing Out the Dead (1999)
  • Wild Wild West (1999)

2000s:

  • Far from Heaven (2002)

This selection highlights only a portion of Bernstein’s extensive body of work. For a comprehensive list of his film and television credits, you may refer to his official filmography.

Elmer Bernstein – Awards & Honors

Elmer Bernstein received numerous prestigious awards and nominations throughout his career, recognizing his immense contributions to film music. Below is a summary of his major awards:

Academy Awards (Oscars)

  • Winner:
    • Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) – Best Original Score
  • Nominations (14 times total):
    • The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)
    • The Ten Commandments (1956)
    • To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
    • The Great Escape (1963)
    • Hawaii (1966)
    • True Grit (1969)
    • Trading Places (1983)
    • The Age of Innocence (1993)
    • Far from Heaven (2002), among others
  • Honorary Oscar (1996): Recognized for his lifetime achievement and contributions to film music.

Golden Globe Awards

  • Winner:
    • Hawaii (1966) – Best Original Score
  • Nominations:
    • The Ten Commandments (1956)
    • Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
    • Gold (1974)
    • The Great Santini (1979)

Grammy Awards

  • Winner:
    • Hawaii (1966) – Best Original Score
  • Nominations:
    • The Magnificent Seven (1960)
    • To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
    • The Great Escape (1963)
    • Ghostbusters (1984)

BAFTA Awards (British Academy Film Awards)

  • Winner:
    • The Amazing Mr. Blunden (1972) – Best Music
  • Nominations:
    • The Grifters (1990)
    • The Age of Innocence (1993)

Primetime Emmy Awards

  • Winner:
    • Hollywood and the Stars (1963) – Best Music Composition
  • Nominations:
    • The Making of ‘The Ten Commandments’ (1989)

Other Honors & Recognition

  • ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award (1999)
  • Hollywood Walk of Fame Star (1996)
  • American Film Institute (AFI) Recognition – The Magnificent Seven theme included in AFI’s list of greatest film scores.
  • BMI Film & TV Awards – Multiple lifetime achievement honors.

Personal Life & Legacy

  • Bernstein was passionate about music education and often mentored young composers.
  • He was also active in rescuing and preserving classic film scores.
  • Passed away at the age of 82 due to cancer.
  • His influence is still felt in modern film scoring, with composers like John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and James Newton Howard citing him as an inspiration.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS : 

YOUTUBE : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSd9W-Z4OcE&pp=ygUaRWxtZXIgQmVybnN0ZWluIExJRkUgU1RPUlk%3D