Composer
Bernard Herrmann
Born 29 June 1911 · New York City, New York, USA — died 24 December 1975
Bernard Herrmann (1911–1975) was an American composer and conductor who became one of film music's most distinctive voices. He scored Orson Welles's early work and, most famously, many of Alfred Hitchcock's thrillers. His tense, inventive orchestrations shaped suspense and fantasy scoring, and his final score was for Taxi Driver.
Key films
Citizen Kane (1941)On Cinespective
His first film score, written for Orson Welles, marked a striking debut in Hollywood.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
A landmark science-fiction score, notable for its eerie electronic instruments such as the theremin.
Vertigo (1958)On Cinespective
Among his greatest Hitchcock scores, capturing obsession and dread through swirling, hypnotic music.
Psycho (1960)On Cinespective
Its shrieking strings-only score is one of the most famous and imitated in film history.
Taxi Driver (1976)
His final score, a moody, jazz-tinged work for Martin Scorsese's drama.
Key awards
- 1941 Academy Award for Best Score (Dramatic), for The Devil and Daniel Webster (All That Money Can Buy)
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 60
- 1941Citizen KaneComposer
- 1941All That Money Can BuyComposer
- 1942The Magnificent AmbersonsComposer
- 1943Jane EyreComposer
- 1945Hangover SquareComposer
- 1946Anna and the King of SiamComposer
- 1947The Ghost and Mrs. MuirComposer
- 1951The Day the Earth Stood StillComposer
- 1951On Dangerous GroundComposer
- 19525 FingersComposer
- 1952The Snows of KilimanjaroComposer
- 1953Beneath the 12-Mile ReefComposer
- 1953King of the Khyber RiflesComposer
- 1953White Witch DoctorComposer
- 1954The EgyptianComposer
- 1954Garden of EvilComposer
- 1955The Trouble with HarryComposer
- 1955The KentuckianComposer
- 1955Prince of PlayersComposer
- 1956The Man Who Knew Too Much · as Conductor at Albert Hall (uncredited)Actor
- 1956The Man Who Knew Too MuchComposer
- 1956The Wrong ManComposer
- 1956The Wrong Man · as Stork Club Piano Player (uncredited)Actor
- 1956The Man in the Gray Flannel SuitComposer
- 1957A Hatful of RainComposer
- 1958VertigoComposer
- 1958The 7th Voyage of SinbadComposer
- 1958The Naked and the DeadComposer
- 1959North by NorthwestComposer
- 1959Journey to the Center of the EarthComposer
- 1959Blue DenimComposer
- 1960PsychoComposer
- 1960The 3 Worlds of GulliverComposer
- 1961Mysterious IslandComposer
- 1962Cape FearComposer
- 1962Tender Is the NightComposer
- 1963Jason and the ArgonautsComposer
- 1964MarnieComposer
- 1964A Talk with Hitchcock · as SelfActor
- 1966Fahrenheit 451Composer
- 1968The Bride Wore BlackComposer
- 1968Twisted NerveComposer
- 1968Death in the AfternoonComposer
- 1968Companions in NightmareComposer
- 1969The Battle of NeretvaComposer
- 1969ObsessionsComposer
- 1971The Road BuilderComposer
- 1972Endless NightComposer
- 1973SistersComposer
- 1974It's AliveComposer
- 1976Taxi DriverComposer
- 1976ObsessionComposer
- 1978It Lives AgainComposer
- 1983Cada ver es...Composer
- 1987The Story of a RecluseComposer
- 1991Cape FearComposer
- 1998PsychoComposer
- 2008Back to Room 666Composer
- 2019The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary CelebrationComposer
- 2020Matthew Bourne's The Red ShoesComposer
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.