Hugo Friedhofer
Encyclopedia
Hugo Wilhelm Friedhofer was an American film music composer born in San Francisco. His father was a cellist trained in Dresden, Germany; his mother, Eva König, was born in Germany.
Friedhofer began playing cello at the age of 13. After taking lessons in harmony and counterpoint at University of California, Berkeley
, he was employed as a cellist for the People's Symphony Orchestra.
Because he could speak German, Warner Bros. assigned Friedhofer to work with the Austrian composers Erich Wolfgang Korngold
and Max Steiner
. Despite his own strong skills, he remained in their shadow for many years.
In 1929, he relocated to Hollywood, where he performed as a musician for Fox Studios
productions such as Sunny Side Up (1920) and Grand Canary
(1934). Later, he was hired as an orchestrator for Warner Bros. and worked on over 50 films for the studio. While at Warners, he largely worked with Max Steiner
and Erich Wolfgang Korngold
. Steiner, in particular, relied on Friedhofer's skill in turning his sketches into a full orchestral score.
In 1937, Friedhofer composed his first full-length film score, The Adventures of Marco Polo
. Though he still worked as an orchestrator through the 30s and into the 40s, he gradually received more assignments as a composer. In 1942, he composed the score for the film Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas
. In 1946, at the behest of Alfred Newman
, Friedhofer was hired to compose the score for the 1946 William Wyler
directed film, The Best Years of Our Lives
, which earned him an Oscar for Best Original Score at the 1947 Academy Awards
. A new recording of the score, released in 1979 by Entr'acte Recording Society
, was favorably received at the time. Friedhofer was also nominated for other films, including The Bishop's Wife
, Joan of Arc
, Above and Beyond
, Between Heaven and Hell
, Boy on a Dolphin
, An Affair to Remember
, and The Young Lions
.
Friedhofer, who was greatly admired by his colleagues, was also noted for his caustic, self-deprecating wit. When asked by fellow composer David Raksin
as to the progress he was making on his score for Joan of Arc
, he replied, "I've just started on the barbecue!". In reply to an interview by the late Page Cook of Films in Review magazine about his place in the pantheon of film musicians, Friedhofer said, "I am just a fake giant among real pygmies."
A biographical collection of essays, letters and interviews has been edited by Linda Danly.
He died in Los Angeles
on May 17, 1981.
Friedhofer began playing cello at the age of 13. After taking lessons in harmony and counterpoint at University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, he was employed as a cellist for the People's Symphony Orchestra.
Because he could speak German, Warner Bros. assigned Friedhofer to work with the Austrian composers Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Erich Wolfgang Korngold was an Austro-Hungarian film and romantic music composer. While his compositional style was considered well out of vogue at the time he died, his music has more recently undergone a reevaluation and a gradual reawakening of interest...
and Max Steiner
Max Steiner
Max Steiner was an Austrian composer of music for theatre productions and films. He later became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Trained by the great classical music composers Brahms and Mahler, he was one of the first composers who primarily wrote music for motion pictures, and as...
. Despite his own strong skills, he remained in their shadow for many years.
In 1929, he relocated to Hollywood, where he performed as a musician for Fox Studios
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
productions such as Sunny Side Up (1920) and Grand Canary
Grand Canary (film)
Grand Canary is a 1934 Fox film of A. J. Cronin's novel of the same title. The film was produced by Jesse L. Lasky and directed by Irving Cummings.-Cast:*Warner Baxter as Dr. Harvey Leith*Madge Evans as Lady Mary Fielding...
(1934). Later, he was hired as an orchestrator for Warner Bros. and worked on over 50 films for the studio. While at Warners, he largely worked with Max Steiner
Max Steiner
Max Steiner was an Austrian composer of music for theatre productions and films. He later became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Trained by the great classical music composers Brahms and Mahler, he was one of the first composers who primarily wrote music for motion pictures, and as...
and Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Erich Wolfgang Korngold was an Austro-Hungarian film and romantic music composer. While his compositional style was considered well out of vogue at the time he died, his music has more recently undergone a reevaluation and a gradual reawakening of interest...
. Steiner, in particular, relied on Friedhofer's skill in turning his sketches into a full orchestral score.
In 1937, Friedhofer composed his first full-length film score, The Adventures of Marco Polo
The Adventures of Marco Polo
The Adventures of Marco Polo is a 1938 drama-adventure genre film, and one of the most elaborate and costly of Samuel Goldwyn's productions.-Plot:...
. Though he still worked as an orchestrator through the 30s and into the 40s, he gradually received more assignments as a composer. In 1942, he composed the score for the film Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas
Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas
Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas was a major war film made by Twentieth Century Fox in 1943. The film starred Philip Dorn, Anna Sten, and Martin Kosleck. The movie, originally titled The Seventh Column, was directed by Louis King based on a story by Jack Andrews, who also co-wrote the screenplay....
. In 1946, at the behest of Alfred Newman
Alfred Newman
Alfred Newman was an American composer, arranger, and conductor of music for films.In a career which spanned over forty years, Newman composed music for over two hundred films. He was one of the most respected film score composers of his time, and is today regarded as one of the greatest...
, Friedhofer was hired to compose the score for the 1946 William Wyler
William Wyler
William Wyler was a leading American motion picture director, producer, and screenwriter.Notable works included Ben-Hur , The Best Years of Our Lives , and Mrs. Miniver , all of which won Wyler Academy Awards for Best Director, and also won Best Picture...
directed film, The Best Years of Our Lives
The Best Years of Our Lives
The Best Years of Our Lives is a 1946 American drama film directed by William Wyler, and starring Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, and Harold Russell, a United States paratrooper who lost both hands in a military training accident. The film is about three United States...
, which earned him an Oscar for Best Original Score at the 1947 Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
. A new recording of the score, released in 1979 by Entr'acte Recording Society
Entr'acte Recording Society
Entr'acte Recording Society is an independent record label. The music term entr'acte is derived from the French, which translates as 'between acts'...
, was favorably received at the time. Friedhofer was also nominated for other films, including The Bishop's Wife
The Bishop's Wife
The Bishop's Wife is a 1947 Samuel Goldwyn romantic comedy feature film starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven in a story about an angel who helps a bishop with his problems. It was released by RKO. The film was adapted by Leonardo Bercovici and Robert E...
, Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc (1948 film)
Joan of Arc is a 1948 Technicolor film directed by Victor Fleming; starring Ingrid Bergman as the French religious icon and war heroine. It was produced by Walter Wanger. It is based on Maxwell Anderson's successful Broadway play Joan of Lorraine, which also starred Bergman, and was adapted for the...
, Above and Beyond
Above and Beyond (film)
Above and Beyond is a 1952 film about Paul Tibbets, the pilot of the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb. It starred Robert Taylor as Tibbets and Eleanor Parker as his wife. James Whitmore played security officer Major Bill Uanna.-Cast:...
, Between Heaven and Hell
Between Heaven and Hell (film)
Between Heaven and Hell is a 1956 20th Century Fox Cinemascope colour war film based on the novel The Day the Century Ended by Francis Gwaltney that the film follows closely...
, Boy on a Dolphin
Boy on a Dolphin
Boy on a Dolphin is a 1957 20th Century Fox romantic film set in Greece and made in CinemaScope. It was directed by Jean Negulesco and produced by Samuel G. Engel from a screenplay by Ivan Moffat and Dwight Taylor, based on the novel by David Divine....
, An Affair to Remember
An Affair to Remember
An Affair to Remember is a 1957 film starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, and directed by Leo McCarey. It was distributed by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation....
, and The Young Lions
The Young Lions
The Young Lions is a 1958 war drama film directed by Edward Dmytryk, based upon the 1949 novel of the same name by Irwin Shaw, and starring Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, and Dean Martin.-Outline:...
.
Friedhofer, who was greatly admired by his colleagues, was also noted for his caustic, self-deprecating wit. When asked by fellow composer David Raksin
David Raksin
David Raksin was an American composer born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With over 100 film scores and 300 television scores to his credit, he became known as the "Grandfather of Film Music." One of his earliest film assignments was as assistant to Charlie Chaplin in the composition of the score...
as to the progress he was making on his score for Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc (1948 film)
Joan of Arc is a 1948 Technicolor film directed by Victor Fleming; starring Ingrid Bergman as the French religious icon and war heroine. It was produced by Walter Wanger. It is based on Maxwell Anderson's successful Broadway play Joan of Lorraine, which also starred Bergman, and was adapted for the...
, he replied, "I've just started on the barbecue!". In reply to an interview by the late Page Cook of Films in Review magazine about his place in the pantheon of film musicians, Friedhofer said, "I am just a fake giant among real pygmies."
A biographical collection of essays, letters and interviews has been edited by Linda Danly.
He died in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on May 17, 1981.
External links
- The Fishko Files: Hugo Friedhofer from WNYC's Sara Fishko's radio segments about the arts.