Leo Shuken

Leo Shuken

Composer. Born 8 December 1906 in Los Angeles. Died 24 July 1976.

ComposerAmerican
2
Titles on Fi1m
89
Average Fi1m score
Born
8 December 1906, Los Angeles
Died
24 July 1976

Biography

Leo Shuken (8 December 1906 – 24 July 1976) was an American film composer, arranger and orchestrator. Born in Los Angeles, he worked under contract to Paramount Pictures from 1937 to 1944.

During his Paramount years he contributed music to several films directed by Preston Sturges, including The Lady Eve (1941) and Sullivan's Travels (1941). He shared an Academy Award for the score of Stagecoach (1939) and was later nominated for The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964).

After leaving Paramount he worked extensively as an orchestrator, contributing to scores including Sunset Boulevard (1950), Roman Holiday (1953), The Magnificent Seven (1960), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). With Jack Hayes he also composed for television western series such as Gunsmoke and The Virginian.

Films and series

Beyond what we have reviewed, Leo Shuken is known for Sunset Boulevard (1950), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Roman Holiday (1953), The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Ace in the Hole (1951) and Shane (1953).