Steiner, Max Maximilian Raoul Steiner, geb. 1888#

Steiner, Max (Maximilian Raoul S.), b. Vienna, May 10, 1888, d.  Beverly Hills (USA), Dec. 28, 1971, composer (film music); grandson of Maximilian Steiner. His family had very close connections to the (musical) theatre: his grandfather was the owner of the Theater an der Wien, his father, Gabor S. (1858-1944) was managing director of several theatres in Vienna. During his youth S. studied at the Vienna Academy and 1903 wrote the operetta "Die schoene Griechin"; 1904-1914 conductor and arranger in the United Kingdom; moved to America, where he initially worked as conductor and composer of music for musicals, operettas, shows, revues etc.; 1916 wrote his first piece of film music, 1929 went to Hollywood and 1933 gained outstanding success with the music for "King Kong"; during these years he also wrote music for numerous musical films featuring F. Astaire and G. Rogers. 1935 first won the Academy Award for the music of the film ´The Informer´ by J. Ford. 1937-1953 worked for Warner Bros., and received two further Academy Awards for the best film music: in 1942 for ´Now, Voyager´ ("Reise aus der Vergangenheit") and in 1944 for ´Since you went away´ ("Als du Abschied nahmst"). Had also written the music for three films which were winners of the Oscar for best film: ´The Life of Emile Zola´ (1937), "Gone with the Wind" (1939) and "Casablanca" (1943). 1953 S. founded his own music company and from then on worked for various film studios. All in all he wrote and conducted the music for more than 300 films and is considered one of the busiest and most successful composers Hollywood has seen.