Jewish composers who made it big in Hollywood

By Arlene Stolnitz

Every summer, I am asked, “Where was your article in the Federation paper? I looked for it and couldn’t find it!”

I am always honored to know that my articles have been missed! This year, I thought an explanation is due. During the summer months, I try to find topics of Judaic musical interest for my monthly column.

Luckily, this summer, I found a fascinating series of programs online that forced me to ask myself the question, “How is it that so many of the composers and musicians I read about are Jewish?” Even after viewing the online programs, I still had no answer.

These lectures dealt with many topics related to Judaic and secular music alike and were accompanied with audiovisual and musical clips. Programs included subjects such as Music and the Holocaust, Music of Terezin, The Search for an American Sound, The Impact of Jews on Classical Music, Rhythm and Jews, Hollywood Scores and Film Music Composers from the ’50s to the ’90s.

Some programs dealt with those musicians who escaped WWII and their displacement after the war years. The U.S., and especially Hollywood, was fertile ground for these composers. The program, “Hollywood Scores,” spoke to the emphasis of the huge contribution these composer/ musicians made in the ’40s and ’50s, creating scores of so many of our favorite films.

I learned about Mario Castelnuovo- Tedesco, a prolific Italian composer of Jewish heritage, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1939 and eventually worked at M.G.M. Studios. I never knew of him, and I am sure you didn’t either! He surely will be the subject of a future article.

In an earlier column (unrelated to my summer research), I wrote about a gentleman named Leon Levitch, a classically trained musician from Belgrade, Yugoslavia. He was lucky enough to be one of the WWII Jewish refugees who came to Safe haven in Oswego, New York under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s token plan (“The Legacy of Leon Levitch,” The Jewish News, October 27, 2017). Like Tedesco, he, too, landed in Hollywood where he had a prolific career as a composer in film.

One series, “From The Ten Commandments to The Truman Show,” dealt with film composers from the ’50s to the ’90s. Many of these were Jewish composers born in America, who created music for westerns, action films, comedy and romance. They included Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Elmer Bernstein (no relation), and members of the remarkable Newman family, including Lionel, Alfred, Randy, David and Thomas.

Many of the clips were familiar and so enjoyable, I thought I even might like to see some of these films again. Movies such as “The Defiant Ones,” “On the Beach” and “Exodus” credited names of composers with Jewish backgrounds. Ernest Gold (1921-1999), Johnny Mandel (1925-2020), André Previn (1929 - 2019) and Marvin Hamlisch (1944- 2012) are a just a few names I encountered. It was interesting to learn of their struggles and successes working in the film industry.

I still have no answer to my question and the mystery remains regarding how a tiny group, like the Jewish people, has been so creative. I would welcome any thoughts you may have. My email address is arlenestolnitz@gmail.com.

This year, my column will deal with many of these musicians, their impact on the film industry, and maybe help answer the “how is it …” question.

Arlene Stolnitz, a retired educator, has been a regular contributor to Federation papers in Southwest Florida. Her interest in all kinds of Judaic music has led to this series of articles.