Silver Screen Book Club discussion
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Music by Max Steiner
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SEPT 2023: Music by Max Steiner by Steven C. Smith
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Great choice!
My favorite Steiner score is Casablanca, probably because that movie has the whole package. It's not a very original choice since the movie makes the top of most "favorite" lists, but it's a great score for a great movie.
While Steiner was the pioneer for original movie scores, my all-time favorite is probably John Williams--Star Wars, Superman, Schindler's List, and even 1941. Huge commercial successes, but also great music.
Casablanca would be my vote for a group discussion.
By the way, the streaming app MAX (formerly HBOMax) currently has a documentary about Max Steiner. It's quite informative.
My favorite Steiner score is Casablanca, probably because that movie has the whole package. It's not a very original choice since the movie makes the top of most "favorite" lists, but it's a great score for a great movie.
While Steiner was the pioneer for original movie scores, my all-time favorite is probably John Williams--Star Wars, Superman, Schindler's List, and even 1941. Huge commercial successes, but also great music.
Casablanca would be my vote for a group discussion.
By the way, the streaming app MAX (formerly HBOMax) currently has a documentary about Max Steiner. It's quite informative.
Mod
There is an episode of the Gilbert Gottfried Amazing Colossal Podcast with Michael Giacchino and he cited Steiner as the father of motion picture scores. He said King Kong holds up as well as it does largely because of the score.
After completing this book, I’ve become a bigger fan of Max Steiner and his music, and I’ve become a new fan of Steven C. Smith. I frequently read biographies, mostly about political and historical figures, but this is one of the more engaging biographies I’ve read. My review is posted at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
One of the benefits of the book was the discovery of new scores. For instance, I don’t care for the movie They Died With Their Boots On, but as Smith suggests in his book, I looked up “Libby’s Theme” on the internet, and discovered a beautiful score. I wouldn’t have bothered if Smith hadn’t suggested it.
Smith also points out that the condenser microphones in the early 1930s didn’t do justice to the orchestrations. Take King Kong as an example. A current recording of that score reveals a richness that isn’t apparent to me when viewing the original movie.
I also wasn’t that familiar with Steiner’s personal story such as his early relationships to Johann Strauss, Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler while growing up in Vienna. I also wasn’t aware of his failure as a husband and father. His son’s tragic story seems to make some of his music more poignant and personal.
Again, great choice on the month’s book.
One of the benefits of the book was the discovery of new scores. For instance, I don’t care for the movie They Died With Their Boots On, but as Smith suggests in his book, I looked up “Libby’s Theme” on the internet, and discovered a beautiful score. I wouldn’t have bothered if Smith hadn’t suggested it.
Smith also points out that the condenser microphones in the early 1930s didn’t do justice to the orchestrations. Take King Kong as an example. A current recording of that score reveals a richness that isn’t apparent to me when viewing the original movie.
I also wasn’t that familiar with Steiner’s personal story such as his early relationships to Johann Strauss, Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler while growing up in Vienna. I also wasn’t aware of his failure as a husband and father. His son’s tragic story seems to make some of his music more poignant and personal.
Again, great choice on the month’s book.
September 28, 2023
Absolutely fine! Of course I know Steiner's work and have seen dozens of the films he scored, but I learned so much more. Max had a very interesting life, many great moments in Europe and in Hollywood, but he had difficulties--both personal (some tragic) and financial. Smith does not gloss over them but puts them in the context of Steiner's work.
Steiner wrote film scores from the 1930's to the 1960's and I know a lot about Hollywood in those years, but the book goes deep into the politics and ups and downs of the studio system--from RKO to Selznick and of course to Warners.
I'm not very conversant with the technical ins and outs of music scoring, and Smith does a great job of describing them in an understandable way. I also really liked how Steiner's filmography was presented, each chapter had its own rather than one long list at the end. (And there is even a brief shout out to the 1933 RKO film DIPLOMANIACS, one of my very favorites which Steiner scored.)
Most highly recommended!
Absolutely fine! Of course I know Steiner's work and have seen dozens of the films he scored, but I learned so much more. Max had a very interesting life, many great moments in Europe and in Hollywood, but he had difficulties--both personal (some tragic) and financial. Smith does not gloss over them but puts them in the context of Steiner's work.
Steiner wrote film scores from the 1930's to the 1960's and I know a lot about Hollywood in those years, but the book goes deep into the politics and ups and downs of the studio system--from RKO to Selznick and of course to Warners.
I'm not very conversant with the technical ins and outs of music scoring, and Smith does a great job of describing them in an understandable way. I also really liked how Steiner's filmography was presented, each chapter had its own rather than one long list at the end. (And there is even a brief shout out to the 1933 RKO film DIPLOMANIACS, one of my very favorites which Steiner scored.)
Most highly recommended!
Mod
For our group watch, we will discuss the iconic classic Casablanca. I hope you will join us.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Which of Max Steiner's scores is your favorite?
Who are some of your other favorite score composers or film scores?
Which Steiner film would you like to watch together and discuss with the group?