Maximilian Raoul Steiner, born in Vienna on 10 May 1888, emerged from a prominent theatrical family to become a foundational figure in American cinematic music. After emigrating to the United States and moving to Hollywood in 1929, he pioneered the tradition of composing original scores, ultimately producing over 300 works that shaped the auditory landscape of early film.
Early Development and Training
A child prodigy, Steiner conducted his first operetta at age twelve and attained professional proficiency in composition and conducting by fifteen. He studied at the Imperial Academy of Music under tutors including Robert Fuchs and Gustav Mahler, completing a four-year curriculum in only one year. His early exposure to the theater, influenced by his father, Gábor Steiner, and his grandfather, Maximilian Steiner, provided him with a rigorous education in musical structure, violin, organ, and his primary instrument, the piano.
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Take the IQ test →Transition to Hollywood
Prior to his film career, Steiner spent years in London working as a conductor for various theatrical productions at venues such as Daly's Theatre and the London Pavilion. Following the outbreak of World War I, which threatened him with internment, he moved to Broadway before arriving in Hollywood. There, he became one of the first composers to create integrated music scores for motion pictures, collaborating with major studios including RKO Pictures and Warner Bros.
Legacy and Accolades
Steiner’s contribution to film music includes scores for titles such as King Kong, Casablanca, and Gone with the Wind. Over his career, he received 24 Academy Award nominations, winning three times: for The Informer (1936), Now, Voyager (1942), and Since You Went Away (1944). He also received the first Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for his work on Life with Father. Steiner died on 28 December 1971 in Beverly Hills and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Fast facts
- Born: 10 May 1888, Vienna, Austria-Hungary
- Died: 28 December 1971, Beverly Hills, California
- Primary occupations: Composer, conductor, screenwriter
- Education: University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
- Academy Award wins: 1936, 1943, 1945
- Citizenship: Austria-Hungary, United States
- Known works: King Kong, Gone with the Wind, Casablanca
Questions readers ask
How many Academy Awards did Max Steiner win?
He won three Academy Awards for Best Original Dramatic or Comedy Score and Best Original Score, Adaptation or Treatment.
What was his primary instrument?
While he was trained in several instruments, including violin, trumpet, and organ, he considered the piano his preferred instrument.
Achievements
- Academy Award for Best Score, Adaptation or Treatment — 1936
- Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic or Comedy Score — 1945
- Genres: opera
