Composer
Bernhard Kaun
Born 5 April 1899 · Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA — died 3 January 1980
Bernhard Kaun (1899–1980) was a Milwaukee-born American composer and orchestrator. He worked on many Hollywood films of the 1930s, especially crime dramas and horror pictures. He is best remembered for the main title theme of Universal's Frankenstein (1931).
Key films
Frankenstein (1931)On Cinespective
His main title theme is the music most closely associated with this landmark horror film.
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
A celebrated social-problem drama, showing his work on gritty 1930s crime and prison stories.
Doctor X (1932)
Early colour horror film that placed him in the genre's first Hollywood wave.
Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
Another classic early horror title, notable for its two-strip Technicolor look.
The Petrified Forest (1936)
Prestigious drama with Bette Davis, Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart, showing his range beyond horror.
Key awards
No major awards are documented here.
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 91
- 1931FrankensteinComposer
- 1931Platinum BlondeComposer
- 1931Heaven on EarthComposer
- 1932I Am a Fugitive from a Chain GangComposer
- 1932A Farewell to ArmsComposer
- 1932Doctor XComposer
- 193220,000 Years in Sing SingComposer
- 1932Jewel RobberyComposer
- 1932Haunted GoldComposer
- 1932Tiger SharkComposer
- 1932The Big StampedeComposer
- 1932Big City BluesComposer
- 1932Man WantedComposer
- 1932Lawyer ManComposer
- 1932The MouthpieceComposer
- 1932High PressureComposer
- 1932The Match KingComposer
- 1932A Successful CalamityComposer
- 1932The CrashComposer
- 1932The Woman from Monte CarloComposer
- 1932Scarlet DawnComposer
- 1933Mystery of the Wax MuseumComposer
- 1933The Kennel Murder CaseComposer
- 1933Wild Boys of the RoadComposer
- 1933The Story of Temple DrakeComposer
- 1933Lady KillerComposer
- 1933Private Detective 62Composer
- 1933Heroes for SaleComposer
- 1933Our BettersComposer
- 1933I Loved a WomanComposer
- 1933Ever in My HeartComposer
- 1933College CoachComposer
- 1933Central AirportComposer
- 1933The Mind ReaderComposer
- 1933Girl MissingComposer
- 1933The Narrow CornerComposer
- 1933The House on 56th StreetComposer
- 1933The World ChangesComposer
- 1933The Silk ExpressComposer
- 1934Death Takes a HolidayComposer
- 1934Jimmy the GentComposer
- 1934Gambling LadyComposer
- 1934British AgentComposer
- 1934Fog Over FriscoComposer
- 1934Heat LightningComposer
- 1934SpitfireComposer
- 1934The Big ShakedownComposer
- 1934The Secret BrideComposer
- 1934The Man with Two FacesComposer
- 1934Hi, Nellie!Composer
- 1934BoleroComposer
- 1934Murder on the BlackboardComposer
- 1934Success at Any PriceComposer
- 1934Murder in the CloudsComposer
- 1934Dark HazardComposer
- 1934The St. Louis KidComposer
- 1934DesirableComposer
- 1934Man of Two WorldsComposer
- 1935'G' MenComposer
- 1935DangerousComposer
- 1935BordertownComposer
- 1935Black FuryComposer
- 1935The Case of the Curious BrideComposer
- 1935The Woman in RedComposer
- 1935Special AgentComposer
- 1935The Last OutpostComposer
- 1935Frisco KidComposer
- 1935Dr. SocratesComposer
- 1935Traveling SalesladyComposer
- 1935In CalienteComposer
- 1935StrandedComposer
- 1935Don't Bet on BlondesComposer
- 1936The Petrified ForestComposer
- 1936Bullets or BallotsComposer
- 1936Satan Met a LadyComposer
- 1936Two Against the WorldComposer
- 1936Man HuntComposer
- 1937Marked WomanComposer
- 1937Black LegionComposer
- 1937Internes Can't Take MoneyComposer
- 1937Missing WitnessesComposer
- 1938When Were You BornComposer
- 1938The Invisible MenaceComposer
- 1939The Return of Doctor XComposer
- 1939Code of the Secret ServiceComposer
- 1939Smashing the Money RingComposer
- 1939On TrialComposer
- 1940Money and the WomanComposer
- 1941Shadows on the StairsComposer
- 1941The Case of the Black ParrotComposer
- 1957All Roads Lead HomeComposer
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.