Composer
Harold Arlen
Born 15 February 1905 · Buffalo, New York, USA — died 23 April 1986
Harold Arlen (1905–1986) was an American composer born in Buffalo, New York, the son of a cantor. He moved from jazz and Cotton Club revues to Broadway and Hollywood, and wrote standards such as "Over the Rainbow" and "One for My Baby." He is regarded as one of the great American songwriters.
Key films
The Wizard of Oz (1939)On Cinespective
Arlen's score, with lyricist E.Y. Harburg, includes "Over the Rainbow" and became his most celebrated work.
A Star Is Born (1954)
He composed its songs, including "The Man That Got Away," a signature number for Judy Garland.
The Sky's the Limit (1943)
A wartime Fred Astaire musical with Arlen and Johnny Mercer, featuring the standard "One for My Baby."
Casbah (1948)
A late-1940s Hollywood musical for which Arlen composed the score.
Key awards
- 1940 – Academy Award for Best Original Song, "Over the Rainbow" (The Wizard of Oz)
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 7
- 1939The Wizard of OzComposer
- 1940Cavalcade of the Academy Awards · as SelfActor
- 1943The Sky's the LimitComposer
- 1943They Got Me CoveredComposer
- 1948CasbahComposer
- 1954A Star Is BornComposer
- 2007Berlin Jazz Piano Workshop 1965Composer
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.