Cinematic Sound Radio

During a seven-decade career that spanned from 19th century Vienna to the golden age of Hollywood, Max Steiner did more than any other composer to help introduce and establish the language of film music. In July 2020, the book MUSIC BY MAX STEINER: THE EPIC LIFE OF HOLLYWOOD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL COMPOSER was published interweaving the dramatic incidents of Steiner’s personal life with a highly accessible exploration of his composing methods and experiences. In June 2021, for TALKING SOUNDTRACKS, Jason Drury talks to author, four-time Emmy nominated journalist, writer, and producer of over 200 documentaries about music and cinema, Steven C. Smith, via Zoom at his home in Southern California. In part one of this two-part edition, they talked about how the book came about, and begin to delve into the musical career of Max Steiner. In part two, Smith talks about Steiner’s music for the films of Humphrey Bogart and Errol Flynn, his friendship with Victor Young, and at the twilight of his career, an unexpected hi