Henry Mancini

 

 

[1924 - 1994] Possibly the composer who most had popular success composing for films. Joining musical quality and commercial success, Enrico Mancini made history as one of the most famous composers of American cinema for its sophisticated themes, easy to listen and to remember. The success of Moon River of Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) preceded the fever of films associated with musical themes of popular appeal.

 

Encouraged to music by his father, Mancini started flute and piano studies in childhood. Began career as a pianist and arranger for jazz orchestras such as Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. Trying his hand at Universal Studios compose for Abbott & Costello comedys as Lost in Alaska. In Universal would still do some horror films, including Tarantula (1956) and the sequences of Creature From the Black Lagoon (1955). With the TV series Peter Gunn (1958) started to be recognized for attractive themes. The Orson Welles classic Touch of Evil (1958) had special relevance in a period when soundtracks were replacing the orchestral idiom for jazz soundtracks. After Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Mancini´s list of successes was remarkable: Days of Whine and Roses (1962), Charade (1963), The Pink Panther (1964 ), The Great Race (1965), Two For the Road (1967), The Party (1968). The famous dramatic music for Sunflower (1970) possibly finished his golden age. In the following decade the composer adapt his style to current musical requirements as in the music for of The Thief Who Came to Dinner (1973), The Return of the Pink Panther (1974 ), The Great Waldo Pepper (1975) or Silver Streak (1976) among others. The partnership of many years with director Blake Edwards (of The Pink Panther series) was extend to other works as 10 (1979), SOB (1981) and Victor or Victoria (1982).