Elmer Bernstein

Composer

Elmer Bernstein was a renowned composer known for his impactful film scores, including 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'To Kill a Mockingbird.'

Born
April 4, 1922
Died
August 18, 2004
Quotes
10
Rank
#2985

About Elmer Bernstein

Elmer Bernstein — Life and Legacy

Elmer Bernstein was a celebrated American composer whose work transformed film scoring. Known for his distinctive ability to evoke emotion through music, Bernstein's scores for films like 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'To Kill a Mockingbird' have left a lasting legacy. His quote, 'Music is the shorthand of emotion,' encapsulates his belief that music can convey feelings more effectively than words, reflecting the psychological depth he brought to his compositions. Bernstein often challenged the conventions of film music, blending orchestral traditions with innovative techniques to enhance storytelling. His work not only shaped the sound of cinema but also influenced how audiences connect emotionally with films. Today, Bernstein's scores continue to resonate, demonstrating the profound impact music can have on our understanding of narrative and character.

Quote collection

Elmer Bernstein quotes

10 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Elmer Bernstein Composer
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"I'm generally pessimistic about the dumbing down of America - especially with summer movies."

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Elmer Bernstein Composer
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"I made my way on to a grey list, a black list even. That's something I'm very proud of, actually."

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Elmer Bernstein Composer
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"I would do the occasional score. I thought it was the most thrilling thing. It was instant. You made the music and they played it right away to millions of people. I found it thrilling."

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Elmer Bernstein Composer
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"I did 10 years of comedies and 10 years of Westerns. I really like to stay away from car chases. I prefer the more intimate film. You have a much more direct association with the emotions."

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Elmer Bernstein Composer
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"Victor Young had been hired to write the score for the dances of The Ten Commandments but he became very ill. You were then hired to write the score. But at the same time you'd written The Man with the Golden Arm score."

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Elmer Bernstein Composer
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"Today you have something like A Film by Joe Harry. That is patently asinine and ridiculous."

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Elmer Bernstein Composer
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"One of the things that happens in the business is that success is a very strange thing in that if you are involved in something very successful the next person wants you to repeat it."

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Elmer Bernstein Composer
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"There's no way I can compete with someone who can write rap or rock and roll. Nor do I wish to. But I've always kept up to date with music changes. I worked very hard not to type myself."

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Elmer Bernstein Composer
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"All of a sudden I found myself doing things like 'Robot Monster' and 'Cat-Women of the Moon,' and I didn't know what the devil was going on. But if you're going to do areally bad movie, at least you do one that is at the top of the all-time bad-movie list."

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Elmer Bernstein Composer
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"Jerry Goldsmith is the #1 composer working now. He's open to new ideas and always inventing."

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