Paul Sawtell
Encyclopedia
Paul Sawtell was a Polish
-born film score composer in the United States.
Sawtell began his career with RKO, and eventually joined Universal Pictures
. Sawtell worked on many western and horror films, and also scored the Sherlock Holmes
films The Pearl of Death
and The Scarlet Claw
. In the late 1940s, Sawtell returned to RKO. He also worked for various independent producers, including Eagle-Lion Films
' production of T-Men
(1947). His also composed and arranged the uncredited music for the Venice
, Italy
sequences in This is Cinerama
(1952). In the late 1950s, Sawtell struck up an alliance with fellow film composer Bert Shefter
and they produced many film scores together. Most notably they provided the music to classic science fiction and horror films including Kronos
, The Fly
, Curse of the Fly
, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
(in cooperation with producer Irwin Allen
), and It! The Terror from Beyond Space
in 1958. In 1965 they composed some scores for the director Russ Meyer
, such as the cult classic Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! and Motorpsycho
. The last score they provided was for the Mexican film Emiliano Zapata
in 1970 shortly before Sawtell's death.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
-born film score composer in the United States.
Sawtell began his career with RKO, and eventually joined Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
. Sawtell worked on many western and horror films, and also scored the Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
films The Pearl of Death
The Pearl of Death
The Pearl of Death is a 1944 Sherlock Holmes film starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson. The story is loosely based on Conan Doyle's short story "The Adventure of the Six Napoleons" but features some additions, such as Evelyn Ankers as an accomplice of the villain, played...
and The Scarlet Claw
The Scarlet Claw
The Scarlet Claw is a 1944 Sherlock Holmes movie directed by Roy William Neill, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. It is the eighth film of the Rathbone/Bruce series. The device of a killer using a supernatural entity to cover up his crimes is borrowed from The Hound of the Baskervilles,...
. In the late 1940s, Sawtell returned to RKO. He also worked for various independent producers, including Eagle-Lion Films
Eagle-Lion Films
Eagle-Lion Films was a British film production company owned by J. Arthur Rank intended to release British productions in the United States. In 1947 it acquired PRC Pictures, a small American production company, to produce B Pictures to accompany the British releases...
' production of T-Men
T-Men
T-Men is a semidocumentary style 1947 film noir shot in black-and-white. The film was directed by Anthony Mann with cinematography by noted noir cameraman John Alton....
(1947). His also composed and arranged the uncredited music for the Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
sequences in This is Cinerama
This is Cinerama
This is Cinerama is a 1952 full-length film designed to introduce the then-new widescreen process Cinerama, which broadens the aspect ratio so the viewer's peripheral vision is involved...
(1952). In the late 1950s, Sawtell struck up an alliance with fellow film composer Bert Shefter
Bert Shefter
Bert Shefter was a Russian film composer who worked primarily in America.His first work in film was as musical director for the production One Too Many in 1950....
and they produced many film scores together. Most notably they provided the music to classic science fiction and horror films including Kronos
Kronos (film)
Kronos is a 1957 black and white science fiction film directed by Kurt Neumann, starring Jeff Morrow and Barbara Lawrence. The film is also known as Kronos, Destroyer of the Universe...
, The Fly
The Fly (1958 film)
The Fly is a 1958 American science-fiction horror film, directed by Kurt Neumann. The screenplay was written by James Clavell , from the short story "The Fly" by George Langelaan...
, Curse of the Fly
Curse of the Fly
Curse of the Fly is the second and final sequel to the 1958 version of The Fly. It was released in 1965, and unlike the other films in the series was produced in England. Directed by Don Sharp. Screenplay by Harry Spalding. Starring Brian Donlevy, George Baker, Carole Gray, Burt Kwouk, Yvette...
, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is an American science fiction film, produced and directed by Irwin Allen, released by 20th Century Fox in 1961. The story was written by Irwin Allen and Charles Bennett. Walter Pidgeon starred as Admiral Harriman Nelson, with Robert Sterling as Captain Lee Crane...
(in cooperation with producer Irwin Allen
Irwin Allen
Irwin Allen was a television and film director and producer nicknamed "The Master of Disaster" for his work in the disaster film genre. He was also notable for creating a number of television series.- Biography :...
), and It! The Terror from Beyond Space
It! The Terror from Beyond Space
It! The Terror from Beyond Space is a 1958 black and white science fiction film directed by Edward L. Cahn.-Plot:The film opens with a nuclear-powered spaceship perched on the cratered surface of an alien world. A voice-over tells us that the year is 1973 and that this is the planet, Mars. This...
in 1958. In 1965 they composed some scores for the director Russ Meyer
Russ Meyer
Russell Albion "Russ" Meyer was a U.S. motion picture director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, actor and photographer....
, such as the cult classic Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! and Motorpsycho
Motorpsycho
Motorpsycho is a band from Trondheim, Norway. Their music can generally be defined as psychedelic rock, but they also mix in elements from metal, jazz, rock, pop and many other musical styles. The members of the band are Bent Sæther , Hans Magnus "Snah" Ryan and Kenneth Kapstad...
. The last score they provided was for the Mexican film Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata Salazar was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South, during the Mexican Revolution...
in 1970 shortly before Sawtell's death.
External links
- Paul Sawtell at the Internet Movie Database
- Find-A-Grave profile for Paul Sawtell
See also
- 1906 in film1906 in filmThe year 1906 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*26 December - The world's first feature film, The Story of the Kelly Gang, is released.-Films released in 1906:*The Automobile Thieves*The Dream of a Rarebit Fiend...
- 1971 in film1971 in filmThe year 1971 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 8 - Bob Dylan's hour long documentary film, Eat the Document, premieres at New York's Academy of Music...