Hugo Riesenfeld

Hugo Riesenfeld (January 26, 1879(1879-01-26) – September 10, 1939) was a pioneering Austrian-American film composer as well as violinist and conductor.

Riesenfeld was born in Vienna and began composing professionally in his native Austria. In 1907 he moved to the United States with Oscar Hammerstein and worked from 1907 to 1911 in Hammerstein's Manhattan Opera Company.

Riesenfeld broke into film music as composer of the score for Raoul Walsh's silent version of Carmen in 1915. From 1917 to 1925 he was general musical director in charge of musical productions for United Artists Pictures. He also worked at Fox, Paramount Pictures and other movie studios. All together he composed music for 61 films, the last in 1938. He also produced four films and directed a silent film in 1918.

Hugo Riesenfeld died in Los Angeles in 1939 after a lengthy illness. He was 60 years old. He had one daughter Janet, born about 1912, from his marriage with Mabel Gertrude Dunning.^[1]

Riesenfeld received Oscar nominations for Musical Director and Best Music for the 1937 film Make a Wish.^[2] He is remembered, among other things, for his skillful blending of classical music and popular themes in the creation of film scores.^[1] He had a special interest in the ability of the motion picture theater to introduce audiences to classical music.^[3]

Selected filmography

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)
• Beau Geste (1926)
• The Sorrows of Satan (1926)
• The Cat and the Canary (1927)
• The King of Kings (1927)
• Sunrise (1927)
• The Cavalier (1928)
• The Rescue (1929)
• One Romantic Night (1930)
• White Zombie (1932)
• The Wandering Jew (1935)
• Revolt of the Zombies (1936)
• Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island (1936)

Notes

External links

• Dr. Hugo Riesenfeld
• Hugo Riesenfeld at the Internet Movie Database
• Hugo Riesenfeld at Find A Grave

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