Composer
Dimitri Tiomkin
Born 10 May 1894 · Kremenchug, Poltava governorate, Russian Empire — died 11 November 1979
Dimitri Tiomkin was a Russian-born American film composer and conductor, trained in St. Petersburg before settling in Hollywood around 1929. He is best known for sweeping Western scores and for his long collaboration with Frank Capra. His music helped define the sound of classic Hollywood.
Key films
High Noon (1952)
His ballad-driven score won two Oscars and reshaped how songs could be used in Westerns.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)On Cinespective
Scored one of Frank Capra's most beloved films, central to his Capra partnership.
Red River (1948)
Provided the epic score for Howard Hawks' landmark cattle-drive Western.
The Old Man and the Sea (1958)
Earned him his third Academy Award for Best Original Score.
Strangers on a Train (1951)
Showed his range in Hitchcock's suspense thriller.
Key awards
- 1952 Academy Award, Best Original Score (High Noon)
- 1952 Academy Award, Best Original Song ("The Ballad of High Noon")
- 1954 Academy Award, Best Original Score (The High and the Mighty)
- 1958 Academy Award, Best Original Score (The Old Man and the Sea)
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 114
- 1933Alice in WonderlandComposer
- 1935Mad LoveComposer
- 1935The Casino Murder CaseComposer
- 1935I Live My LifeComposer
- 1937Lost HorizonComposer
- 1937The Road BackComposer
- 1938You Can't Take It with YouComposer
- 1938Spawn of the NorthComposer
- 1939Mr. Smith Goes to WashingtonComposer
- 1939Only Angels Have WingsComposer
- 1940The WesternerComposer
- 1940Lucky PartnersComposer
- 1940Men Without SoulsComposer
- 1941Meet John DoeComposer
- 1941Flying BlindComposer
- 1941Forced LandingComposer
- 1941Scattergood Meets BroadwayComposer
- 1942The Moon and SixpenceComposer
- 1942The Corsican BrothersComposer
- 1942Twin BedsComposer
- 1942A Gentleman After DarkComposer
- 1943Shadow of a DoubtComposer
- 1943Why We Fight: The Battle of RussiaComposer
- 1943Report from the AleutiansComposer
- 1943The Unknown GuestComposer
- 1944When Strangers MarryComposer
- 1944Why We Fight: The Battle of ChinaComposer
- 1944The ImpostorComposer
- 1944The Bridge of San Luis ReyComposer
- 1944Ladies CourageousComposer
- 1944Attack! The Battle for New BritainComposer
- 1945DillingerComposer
- 1945War Comes to AmericaComposer
- 1945Pardon My PastComposer
- 1945China's Little DevilsComposer
- 1945Forever YoursComposer
- 1946It's a Wonderful LifeComposer
- 1946Duel in the SunComposer
- 1946The Dark MirrorComposer
- 1946Let There Be LightComposer
- 1946Angel on My ShoulderComposer
- 1946Whistle StopComposer
- 1946Black BeautyComposer
- 1947The Long NightComposer
- 1948Red RiverComposer
- 1948Portrait of JennieComposer
- 1948Tarzan and the MermaidsComposer
- 1948The Dude Goes WestComposer
- 1948So This Is New YorkComposer
- 1949D.O.A.Composer
- 1949ChampionComposer
- 1949Canadian PacificComposer
- 1949Red LightComposer
- 1949Home of the BraveComposer
- 1950The MenComposer
- 1950Cyrano de BergeracComposer
- 1950Guilty BystanderComposer
- 1950Champagne for CaesarComposer
- 1950Dakota LilComposer
- 1951Strangers on a TrainComposer
- 1951The Thing from Another WorldComposer
- 1951The WellComposer
- 1951Drums in the Deep SouthComposer
- 1951Mister UniverseComposer
- 1951Peking ExpressComposer
- 1952High NoonComposer
- 1952The Big SkyComposer
- 1952The Steel TrapComposer
- 1952The Happy TimeComposer
- 1952Bugles in the AfternoonComposer
- 1952MutinyComposer
- 1952The Four PosterComposer
- 1952My Six ConvictsComposer
- 1952Lady in the Iron MaskComposer
- 1953I ConfessComposer
- 1953Angel FaceComposer
- 1953JeopardyComposer
- 1953Return to ParadiseComposer
- 1953Blowing WildComposer
- 1953Take the High Ground!Composer
- 1953Cease Fire!Composer
- 1954Dial M for MurderComposer
- 1954The High and the MightyComposer
- 1954A Bullet Is WaitingComposer
- 1954The CommandComposer
- 1954His Majesty O'KeefeComposer
- 1954The Adventures of Hajji BabaComposer
- 1955Land of the PharaohsComposer
- 1955The Court-Martial of Billy MitchellComposer
- 1955Strange Lady in TownComposer
- 1956GiantComposer
- 1956Friendly PersuasionComposer
- 1956Tension at Table RockComposer
- 1957Gunfight at the O.K. CorralComposer
- 1957Night PassageComposer
- 1957Wild Is the WindComposer
- 1957Search for ParadiseComposer
- 1958The Old Man and the SeaComposer
- 1959Rio BravoComposer
- 1959Last Train from Gun HillComposer
- 1959The Young LandComposer
- 1960The AlamoComposer
- 1960The UnforgivenComposer
- 1960The SundownersComposer
- 1961The Guns of NavaroneComposer
- 1961Town Without PityComposer
- 196355 Days at PekingComposer
- 1964The Fall of the Roman EmpireComposer
- 1964Circus WorldComposer
- 196436 HoursComposer
- 1967The War WagonComposer
- 1968Great CatherineComposer
- 1970TchaikovskyComposer
- 1997Merry Christmas, George BaileyComposer
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.