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Music by Max Steiner: The Epic Life of Hollywood's Most Influential Composer
During a seven-decade career that spanned from 19th century Vienna to 1920s Broadway to the golden age of Hollywood, three-time Academy Award winner Max Steiner did more than any other composer to introduce and establish the language of film music. Indeed, revered contemporary film composers like John Williams and Danny Elfman use the same techniques that Steiner himself perfected in his iconic work for such classics as Casablanca, King Kong, Gone with the Wind, The Searchers, Now, Voyager, the Astaire-Rogers musicals, and over 200 other titles. And Steiner's private life was a drama all its own. Born into a legendary Austrian theatrical dynasty, he became one of Hollywood's top-paid composers. But he was also constantly in debt--the inevitable result of gambling, financial mismanagement, four marriages, and the actions of his emotionally troubled son.
Throughout his chaotic life, Steiner was buoyed by an innate optimism, a quick wit, and an instinctive gift for melody, all of which would come to the fore as he met and worked with luminaries like Richard Strauss, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, the Warner Bros., David O. Selznick, Bette Davis, Frank Sinatra, and Frank Capra. In Music by Max Steiner, the first full biography of Steiner, author Steven C. Smith interweaves the dramatic incidents of Steiner's personal life with an accessible exploration of his composing methods and experiences, bringing to life the previously untold story of a musical pioneer and master dramatist who helped create a vital new art with some of the greatest film scores in cinema history.
Throughout his chaotic life, Steiner was buoyed by an innate optimism, a quick wit, and an instinctive gift for melody, all of which would come to the fore as he met and worked with luminaries like Richard Strauss, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, the Warner Bros., David O. Selznick, Bette Davis, Frank Sinatra, and Frank Capra. In Music by Max Steiner, the first full biography of Steiner, author Steven C. Smith interweaves the dramatic incidents of Steiner's personal life with an accessible exploration of his composing methods and experiences, bringing to life the previously untold story of a musical pioneer and master dramatist who helped create a vital new art with some of the greatest film scores in cinema history.
496 pages, Hardcover
Published May 1, 2020
15 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Steven C. Smith
25 books24 followersIndie Author, hailing from the not so sunny United Kingdom.
I have always considered myself a creative zany person, expressing my idea's through writing and art. This led me on a journey to release my first ever self-published book late September 2016. The Dragon's Reclaim series is set to be an 8-part Fantasy saga, and as I edge closer to the series end, I know that new chapters will open out for me to create a diverse range of e-books and paperbacks in the years to come.
I find myself fascinated by dragons and all thing's fantasy fiction, so, was only a matter of time before I wrote my own idea's down.
As time passed by my ideas were combined, thus creating a whole world for my character's to live in, and soon I had an entire saga spinning round in my head.
I continue to tell my fairy tale adventure, and each and every day I become more and more inspired as the adventure grows.
More recently I have delved into publishing a Crime Novel, and a double-header Fantasy set of books, which are ten times more brutal and hard-hitting than any of my previous works. (18+)
Future works will include sequels to the above, and of course the conclusion of Dragon's Reclaim. Not to mention some other fantasy genre's including Vampires, Werewolves & Zombies. Stay tuned.
I have always considered myself a creative zany person, expressing my idea's through writing and art. This led me on a journey to release my first ever self-published book late September 2016. The Dragon's Reclaim series is set to be an 8-part Fantasy saga, and as I edge closer to the series end, I know that new chapters will open out for me to create a diverse range of e-books and paperbacks in the years to come.
I find myself fascinated by dragons and all thing's fantasy fiction, so, was only a matter of time before I wrote my own idea's down.
As time passed by my ideas were combined, thus creating a whole world for my character's to live in, and soon I had an entire saga spinning round in my head.
I continue to tell my fairy tale adventure, and each and every day I become more and more inspired as the adventure grows.
More recently I have delved into publishing a Crime Novel, and a double-header Fantasy set of books, which are ten times more brutal and hard-hitting than any of my previous works. (18+)
Future works will include sequels to the above, and of course the conclusion of Dragon's Reclaim. Not to mention some other fantasy genre's including Vampires, Werewolves & Zombies. Stay tuned.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 14, 2022
Before I read music by Max Steiner I had no idea who he was and I had never given movie music or the people who wrote music for the movies much thought. I was missing out.
What do I want to say about Music by Max Steiner? Max was an amazing man. During his childhood his father owned a theme park called Venice in Vienna. I had never heard of it before. The book talks about Gabor max's father and his Grandfather Max who I also thought were amazing.
So in Music by Max Steiner I learned about Max's childhood, his early career before he went into the movies and then his movie career. One of the things I learned about max is that he worked hard. And for years and years that did not pay off. He had to pay money to the IRS.
I never thought a person in movie music had to work so hard. However that hard work took a toll on his personal life. He was married 4 times. The first 3 times he got divorced. And his some was troubled.
I had no idea Max worked on King Kong, or Casablanca. I don't think I have seen either of those movies.
From reading the book I also earned about the studios Max worked for and the people he worked with and worked for.
So I am saying that I thought Music by Max Steiner was an page turning biography about a interesting person. And I hope that because of having read it I will pay more attention to the music in the movies I watch.
What do I want to say about Music by Max Steiner? Max was an amazing man. During his childhood his father owned a theme park called Venice in Vienna. I had never heard of it before. The book talks about Gabor max's father and his Grandfather Max who I also thought were amazing.
So in Music by Max Steiner I learned about Max's childhood, his early career before he went into the movies and then his movie career. One of the things I learned about max is that he worked hard. And for years and years that did not pay off. He had to pay money to the IRS.
I never thought a person in movie music had to work so hard. However that hard work took a toll on his personal life. He was married 4 times. The first 3 times he got divorced. And his some was troubled.
I had no idea Max worked on King Kong, or Casablanca. I don't think I have seen either of those movies.
From reading the book I also earned about the studios Max worked for and the people he worked with and worked for.
So I am saying that I thought Music by Max Steiner was an page turning biography about a interesting person. And I hope that because of having read it I will pay more attention to the music in the movies I watch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2021
You do not have to know anything about Max Steiner or film score composing to enjoy this book. On the other hand, if you know a lot about either of these subjects, you will still not be disappointed. The author has made a wealth of archival information available to us, and has done so in a way that is both accessible to newcomers and informative for musicians. There are lots of illustrations of Max's pencil sketches, but the author also describes the most important features of each score in a way that can be understood even if you don't read music. On top of all this, he has weaved in Max's personal life without turning the book into a soap opera.
I wouldn't be surprised if people started putting a visit to BYU on their bucket lists, just to browse Max's pencil sketches. I certainly have.
I wouldn't be surprised if people started putting a visit to BYU on their bucket lists, just to browse Max's pencil sketches. I certainly have.
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November 17, 2023"Culturally and genealogically, Steiner satisfies the criteria of being a Jew. Spiritually, Max's only true religion was music."
Steven C. Smith signed my copy of his book at the Columbus Moving Picture Show in May 2023. I read it with the Silver Screen Book Club.
Steven C. Smith signed my copy of his book at the Columbus Moving Picture Show in May 2023. I read it with the Silver Screen Book Club.
March 24, 2025
I think there are two parts to this book, and for one of them you really need to know how to read and play music. One part is most certainly the biography of film composer Max Steiner, with wonderful information about some of the great movies that he scored, including “Casablanca“ and “Gone With The Wind”. And maybe 100 more.
But for each film score, the author goes into detail about motives, tempos, etc. He basically tries to turn musical scores into words, and if you don’t read and play music, which I don’t, some of the elements are lost.
One of the things I found myself doing, was going into Spotify, or some other music service to find a recording of the score, of the scene, of whatever element the author is describing, and tried to listen to it as I read about it. Sometimes, that actually worked!
It’s a good book, perhaps a little bit too much a paen to Steiner, maybe a little too laudatory, even as it describes the warts as well.
In the end, my initial desire to read this book was not miss placed; it was a good read.
Oh, by the way, Jack Warner, at Warner Brothers seems like quite a bit of an SOB.
But for each film score, the author goes into detail about motives, tempos, etc. He basically tries to turn musical scores into words, and if you don’t read and play music, which I don’t, some of the elements are lost.
One of the things I found myself doing, was going into Spotify, or some other music service to find a recording of the score, of the scene, of whatever element the author is describing, and tried to listen to it as I read about it. Sometimes, that actually worked!
It’s a good book, perhaps a little bit too much a paen to Steiner, maybe a little too laudatory, even as it describes the warts as well.
In the end, my initial desire to read this book was not miss placed; it was a good read.
Oh, by the way, Jack Warner, at Warner Brothers seems like quite a bit of an SOB.
June 14, 2021
Biographer Steven Smith's A Heart At Fire's Centre, chronicling Bernard Hermann's life and musical career, was a fascinating page turner. So I had high hopes for Smith's tome on Max Steiner, a true father of film music.
It turned into a real rollercoaster of a read, the detail of Max's early life and encounters with showbiz people in London and his first few years in America was utterly enthralling.
I got a bit bogged down in the middle, as I only have a passing knowledge of a lot of the era he was most active in (despite having been the writer for The Golden Age series of articles in the late, lamented printed magazine Soundtrack!).
The chronicle of Max's personal life was a mixture of laughs (Max was a very witty person) and tears. But one was left with an overall fascinating portrait of Max Steiner, THE most important composer of film music, without whom the art would not have been the same, with his art and facility echoing down through the years of the world of music for the screen and beyond, with so many fine melodies and orchestral prowess.
It turned into a real rollercoaster of a read, the detail of Max's early life and encounters with showbiz people in London and his first few years in America was utterly enthralling.
I got a bit bogged down in the middle, as I only have a passing knowledge of a lot of the era he was most active in (despite having been the writer for The Golden Age series of articles in the late, lamented printed magazine Soundtrack!).
The chronicle of Max's personal life was a mixture of laughs (Max was a very witty person) and tears. But one was left with an overall fascinating portrait of Max Steiner, THE most important composer of film music, without whom the art would not have been the same, with his art and facility echoing down through the years of the world of music for the screen and beyond, with so many fine melodies and orchestral prowess.
June 23, 2023
I don't usually do very well, reading biographies (autobiographies doubly so), but having seen a few of Steven C. Smith's online presentations, in which he demonstrates an astonishing breadth and death of All Things Entertainment, my girlfriend bought me a copy of this book. It's been a while since I read an actual physical book (rather than an e-book), so not being able to instantly look up the meanings of words took a bit of getting used to!
This is a book that tells the story of a forgotten maestro, yet one whose work we are all aware of, from King Kong to Gone With The Wind, Casablanca and A Summer Place. There are insights into his creative processes, his working life, his home life and the ups and downs of an Austrian in Hollywood. Informative, insightful, intelligently written, it is a fine book indeed. The author has put a huge amount of effort into researching Max Steiner's life and has produced what to me is a fascinating study of the life of the man that put music on the film map.
This is a book that tells the story of a forgotten maestro, yet one whose work we are all aware of, from King Kong to Gone With The Wind, Casablanca and A Summer Place. There are insights into his creative processes, his working life, his home life and the ups and downs of an Austrian in Hollywood. Informative, insightful, intelligently written, it is a fine book indeed. The author has put a huge amount of effort into researching Max Steiner's life and has produced what to me is a fascinating study of the life of the man that put music on the film map.
December 30, 2021
If you’re a fan of cinema, music, or the amalgam of both, Music by Max Steiner is essential reading. From his days as a rambunctious boy in Vienna to his arrival in Hollywood as a hungry musician to his rise as filmland’s most heralded composer, Steiner’s life is presented in stunning, pull-no-punches detail. Author Steven Smith (A Heart at Fire’s Center: The Life and Music of Bernard Herrmann) has mastered the ‘Biography’ art form, conducting deep-dive research, interviewing contemporaries, and piecing it all together to paint amazing portraits of the men behind the music. His attention to detail, masterful prose, and intricate knowledge of film and composition make for truly unforgettable reads. As a result, I walk away from Music by Max Steiner with a new appreciation for the medium, a desire to watch (or re-watch) every title on his five-decade reel, and, most importantly, a sense of knowing the man personally. I guarantee you’ll feel the same.
July 25, 2020
Who else could have composed film scores as contrasting as King Kong, Gone with the Wind, and A Summer Place? Someone as gifted, hard-working and as flawed as Max Steiner, a Viennese emigre to Hollywood in the late 1920s. Smith devotes equal time to biography and musical analysis, but the tragic course of a broken family life, perennial financial woes and love/hate battles with moguls like Jack Warner, David O. Selznick and the pressures of the picture business are the real grist for the mill.
July 28, 2024
A real Ride down memory lane
Being a musician and great fan of movie soundtracks I greatly enjoyed this book and listening to my CDs of Steiner's music. It all takes me back to growing up in the 50s and seeing Kong Kong from under my blanket in the back seat of my aunt's Studabaker in 51 when I was 4. It's great the old masters of creating movie musical magic have not been totally forgotten.
Being a musician and great fan of movie soundtracks I greatly enjoyed this book and listening to my CDs of Steiner's music. It all takes me back to growing up in the 50s and seeing Kong Kong from under my blanket in the back seat of my aunt's Studabaker in 51 when I was 4. It's great the old masters of creating movie musical magic have not been totally forgotten.
July 10, 2020
One of the best biographies I've ever read and not to be missed by anyone interested in film music and the Golden Age of Hollywood. Glad to place this on my shelf next to Smith's earlier and equally excellent biography of Bernard Herrmann.
March 12, 2021
This is an exceptional biography of and exceptional man.Having read the authors great book on Bernard Herrmann I knew what to expect.Every facet of this great musicians life,including tragedy are fully covered, and this is a book which will be of interest to film and music lovers alike.
January 24, 2023
Fantastic read! It gets fairly dense at times, and it definitely helps to have some background in music theory for this book, but it's so well written and so full of great information that it's well worth the effort.
February 24, 2021
If you love the old Golden Age of Hollywood and film music you will enjoy this detailed story of the great Max Steiner.
December 10, 2021
Excellent and thorough survey of Steiner's life and music.
September 17, 2021
This is a very well-written book. If you are interested in Max Steiner, the Golden Age of Hollywood, film music, etc. then read it. That said, it is not a particularly happy book. There were parts where I didn't really care for the man. A musical genius, good to his musicians, and a generous and loyal friend. But also arrogant, whiny, and with a great many personal faults (drinking, smoking, gambling, a workaholic, in debt most of his life). It was a difficult read at times, and I doubt I'll ever reread it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews