Pioniere der Filmmusik - Europas Sound für Hollywood

The story

Hollywood film music has its roots in Europe. Three composers who fled war and National Socialism to the USA created the sound that still shapes film music today: Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Max Steiner and Franz Waxman. In the early 20th century, these classically trained composers transformed the methods acquired in Vienna and Berlin into a new American art form: film music. They balanced the relationship between image and sound and developed techniques and dramaturgical tricks to achieve the greatest possible effect on the viewer. Their influence is visible in the work of contemporary US composers such as John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith. Today, Oscar winner Hans Zimmer, Ramin Djawadi and Harold Faltermeyer continue this tradition. Their melodies are part of humanity's collective memory and reflect the combined traditions of European and American musical history. The documentary accompanies composers in their work and explores the European roots of Hollywood.

Cast & crew

Hans ZimmerSelf - Interviewee

Ramin DjawadiSelf - Interviewee

Harold FaltermeyerSelf - Interviewee

Cliff EidelmanSelf - Interviewee

Bruce Botnick

Bruce BotnickSelf - Interviewee

Sam Schwartz

Sam SchwartzSelf - Interviewee

John W. Waxman

John W. WaxmanSelf - Interviewee

Steven C. SmithSelf - Interviewee

Brendan G. Carroll

Brendan G. CarrollSelf - Interviewee

Lis Malina

Lis MalinaSelf - Interviewee

Erich Wolfgang KorngoldSelf (archive footage)

Franz WaxmanSelf (archive footage)