HENRY MANCINI: Before "Moon River" It Was "The Creature From The Black Lagoon"

In 1962, Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer received the "Academy Award for Best Song", "Moon River", from the 1961 motion picture "Breakfast at Tiffany's". 

Mancini had started his motion picture music career as one of the composers, without on-screen credit, of several memorable pieces of music for "Universal International Pictures" classic 1950's Horror and Science Fiction movies. 

This is a short look at his contribution to scaring the crap out of a pre-teen Lloyd!

 

 

 

 

 

Above, Henry Mancini in the "Music Department" of "Universal International Pictures" circa the 1950's.

A Brief Biography:

Enrico Nicola Mancini was born in the "Little Italy" neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, on April 16, 1924. According to his, June 15, 1994, "New York Times" obituary by Richard Severo, Henry Mancini, at the age of eleven, while the family now lived in West Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, went to a local movie theater to see Cecil B. DeMille's 1935 "The Crusades".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listening to the score composed by the uncredited, Rudolph G. Kopp, caused the young piccolo player to want to compose musical scores for motion pictures. He learned to play the piano and, still in high school, studied musical composition and arrangements at Pittsburgh's "Stanley Theatre (Benedum Center)" under conductor Max Atkins. Which led to composing for the theatre and an up-and-coming orchestra leader named Benny Goodman. 

In 1942, Mancini was a music student at New York City's "Juilliard School", but in 1943 he enlisted in the "United States Army Air Forces" and met "Captain Glenn Miller", whose recommendation led to an assignment as part of the "28th Air Force Band". Two-years-later, he was reassigned to the "1306th Engineers Brigade", located in France, and helped liberate "Mauthausen-Gusen" concentration camp in Austria.

In 1946, the now discharged Henry Mancini, became a pianist and music arranger for the newly formed Jazz ensemble, the "Glenn Miller Orchestra", under the leadership of Tex Beneke, to  keep Miller's memory alive.  

This story now picks up in 1952, when Henry Mancini joined the "Universal International Pictures" music department.


Starting to Compose for the Movies:

Like all the motion picture studios, it was the head of each department that received the on-screen credit, and not necessarily those who performed the actual work. During the 1950's, for the "Universal International Pictures Music Department", that position was called, interchangeably, either the "Music Director", or "Music Supervisor".

The "Oxford Dictionary" defines the position as:

a professional hired to supervise and direct the music selected for a film

The "Music Director" for the studio at the time Henry Mancini started, was Joseph Gershenson. Both the "IMBd" and "Fandango" websites list him as the studio's "Music Director" since 1940. 

However, what is interesting is Gershenson did not get his first "Universal Pictures Music Department" credit, until November 17, 1949, for the Tex Williams Western short, "Coyote Canyon". Which does not show him as either "Director" or Supervisor", but as the uncredited, "Joe Gershenson, Music arranger and conductor".

Prior to March 5, 1939, when "Universal Pictures" released the short, "Bank Notes", until after his death on March 2, 1950, with the April 27, 1950 release of Scott Brady's, "I Was a Shoplifter", the studio's "Music Director" was Milton Schwarzwald. 

So, what was Joseph Gershenson really doing since 1940?

The answer was being either an "Associate Producer", "Producer", or "Executive Producer" on motion picture projects assigned to him by the studio and using the name of "Joseph G. Sanford". 

Both Gershenson and Schwarzwald were friends, composers, but mostly written by Milton, and motion picture orchestra conductors. The two men worked together on short subjects made by small independent studios that were distributed by "RKO". The correct year that both men were hired, together, by "Universal Pictures" wasn't 1940, but mid-1939. 

It appears both websites apparently overlooked Gershenson's studio assignments under the name of Joseph G. Sandord. His first motion picture work for "Universal Pictures" was the "B" Western, "West of Carson City", starring Johnny Mack Brown, released on January 19, 1940, with Joseph G. Sandford listed as the movie's "Producer"

In short, Joseph Gershenson apparently became the head of the "Music Department", because he used to conduct motion picture orchestras prior to 1939 and was available, on site, for a promotion after his friend's death. 

All this being said, it was Joseph Gershenson that Henry Mancini reported too on his first day of work.

Look at almost every motion picture Mancini worked for Gershenson, and you will probably see the words: "Stock Music". 

Which can also be known as "Production Music", or just "Library Music". This is music composed by someone within the "Music Department" for a specific motion picture, but can be licensed to somebody else for their use. As a result, some of the most recognizable pieces of Henry Mancini's work, during his time under Joseph Gershenson, appears in other motion pictures he had no connection with.

Depending on the motion picture, Henry Mancini would be credited as either under the "Music Department" reading "Henry Mancini: composer; stock music", or another heading reading "Music By". 

The first designation could mean he worked on orchestrations of "Stock Music" and may not have composed new music, but blended selections of old music to fit scenes in the movie. It could also mean a composition by Henry Mancini was being used from the "Universal Pictures Library" in a picture he never worked upon.

While, the second designation meant Mancini either composed a major portion of original music, or rearranged music used in a specific motion picture. 

"Meet Danny Wilson", released on April 1, 1952, starring Frank Sinatra, Shelley Winters, and Alex Nichol, and featuring Raymond Burr in one of his early mobster roles, was the first motion picture Henry Mancini worked upon.

Somebody in the publicity department was having an inside joke referring to Sinatra and Winters as "that DYNAMITE pair", because they hated each other and their fights during production become somewhat legendary.

 The tag-line in the yellow circle on the above poster reads:

Frankie Sings 9 All-Time Favorite Song Hits!

None of the composers for those songs, or the titles are on the "Official Film Listing", but under the heading, "Music Department". There are nine uncredited names next to the words "stock music" including Henry Mancini. One of those other uncredited stock music composers was Miklos Rozsa, illustrating that even sections of "Oscar Winning Composers" music could be licensed to another studio as "stock music". 

Science Fiction, Comedy Horror and Two Band Leaders 1953-1956:


Six motion pictures and a Walt Disney cartoon followed, before Henry Mancini's compositions entered the world of "Universal Science Fiction and Horror", but in two movies from a classic comedy duo.


ABBOTT AND COSTELLO GO TO MARS released on April 6, 1953

Let's get one thing straight, Bud and Lou never went to Mars, they went to Venus. Somebody at "Universal International Pictures", who obviously hadn't previewed the motion picture, or read the screenplay, thought Mars sounded better than Venus. Above, is one of the American posters and below is the Italian poster for the movie "Journey to the Planet Venus". Another point is that the Italian's renamed Bud Abbott as "Gianni" and Lou Costello as "Pinotto".

Above, Bud Abbott, Mari Blanchard as "Queen Allura of Venus", and Lou Costello.

There were three uncredited names under the heading of "Music By". The first was Henry Mancini, the second was Milton Rosen, 1951's "Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man", 1952's "Meet Danny Wilson", and the comedy duo's "Lost in Alaska". The third was Herman Stein, both 1956's "I Lived Before" and "The Mole People", and 1957's "The Incredible Shrinking Man".

The "Music Department" heading shows Joseph Gershenson as "Musical Director" and with him are three other names:

The first was, Ethmer Roten, who would have a list of 795 motion pictures playing his flute between 1937, starting with Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", and ending with 2019's Walt Disney/Pixar's "Toy Story 4", released two months after his death. Roten was a founding member of Henry Mancini's orchestra.

Number two was Frank Skinner, who composed music for both 1939's "Son of Frankenstein" and "Tower of London", and 1940's "The Invisible Man Returns".  

While the third was Alexandre aka: Alexander Tansman, he had only 18 films and 4 were foreign films. Tansman did score the Rosalind Russell 1946 "Sister Kenny" and the All-Star anthology picture, 1943's "Flesh and Fantasy".  

ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE premiered on August 12, 1953, in Los Angeles, California

The motion picture was the third in a series of four comedies with the boys taking on most of the "Universal" monsters, although "Dr. Jekyll" wasn't one of them. My article, "Abbott and Costello Meet the Universal Studio Classic Monsters" may be read at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2015/04/abbott-and-costello-meet-universal.html

For this motion picture, not one member of the "Music Department", there were twelve uncredited employees including Henry Mancini listed, was shown as a single composer working for the credited Joseph Gershenson.

Above, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello with Boris Karloff, and below Boris Karloff as "Dr. Jekyll" and the uncredited stunt man, Eddie Parker as "Mr. Hyde".

 

Henry Mancini's first "Music By" was in another Bud Abbott and Lou Costello feature film, the previously mentioned, "Lost in Alaska", released on August 13, 1952. However, the only on-screen credit went to Joseph Gershenson, but for this picture Mancini's credit was separate from those listed under "Music Department".

IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE premiered in Los Angeles, California, on June 5, 1953

Above, one of the many American film posters, and below the retitled "Destination Earth" for Italy.

The film starred Richard Carlson and Barbara Rush. My article, "Richard Carlson the Academic Turned Actor", will be found at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2015/08/richard-carlson-academic-turned-actor.html

There were three names under the heading: "Music By", without credit were Irving Gertz, both 1959's "The Alligator People" and "Curse of the Undead", and Henry Mancini, and, Herman Stein.

While under the heading "Music Department" with the credited Gershenson are only listed two uncredited musicians, Ethmer Roten on the flute, and Samuel Hoffman on the electronic instrument called the theremin. 

On January 4, 1954 in Japan, the world premiere of "Universal International's" fictional biography "The Glenn Miller Story" starring James Stewart and June Allyson took place. On January 28th the picture had its London premier, and the picture finally arrived in the United States in New York City, on February 10, 1954.

All the music heard in the motion picture was rearranged by the one person in the "Music Department" who had met Glenn Miller during the war, the uncredited Henry Mancini. When the 45 RPM records were released for sale, the credit on the record sleeve read:

Recorded by the Universal-International studio orchestra, conducted by Joseph Gershenson.

It should also be noted that the musical score rearranged by the uncredited Henry Mancini, was nominated for the Academy Award, but  because he was the "Music Director". The nomination reads:

Henry Mancini and Joseph Gershenson.

THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON premiered in Denver, Colorado, on February 12, 1954

Above, one of the American posters for "The Creature from the Black Lagoon", and below the retitled "The woman and the monster" for Spain.

The motion picture again starred Richard Carlson, but co-starred Julia Adams before she changed her name to Julie Adams. The picture co-starred Richard Denning and my article, "Richard Denning, His Science Fiction and Horror Films", will be read at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2020/08/richard-denning-his-science-fiction-and.html

Holding a knife to Richard Denning's chin is character actor Nestor Pavia. My article, "NESTER PAIVA: Skipper of the 'Rita' vs The Creature from the Black Lagoon", is available for reading at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2020/02/nestor-paiva-skipper-of-rita-vs.html

Under "Music By" were three uncredited composers of music for this picture. That eerie theme music, which would be "licensed out" by "Universal International Pictures" to many other film companies over the years, was written by the main film composer, Henry Mancini.

The second composer was Hans J. Salter, among his "Music By" compositions are 1940's "Black Friday", starring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, 1940's "The Mummy's Hand", 1941's "The Black Cat", and 1942's "The Ghost of Frankenstein".

The "Third Composer" was once again Herman Stein.

The "Music Department" with credited Joseph Gershenson had three people working on the picture. One was Ethmer Roten on the flute, and the other two were "Stock Music" employees, Robert Emmett Dolan, and Milton Rosen.

REVENGE OF THE CREATURE premiered in Detroit, Michigan, on March 29, 1955

The motion picture has a group of scientists returning to the "Black Lagoon" on the "Rita 2" skippered by "Lucas", played by Nestor Paiva, the only returning character from the first motion picture to actually capture it.

The motion picture stars John Agar and Lori Nelson. My article, "John Agar His Fall That Led to Science Fiction Cult Status", is available for reading at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2015/03/john-agar-his-fall-that-led-to-science.html

Above John Agar speaks to an unknown, uncredited actor, named Clint Eastwood in his first on-screen appearance. It is Eastwood that this motion picture is most remembered for, and my article, "Clint Eastwood: 2 Monsters 2 Ghosts" will be found at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/09/clint-eastwood-2-monsters-2-ghosts.html

There original music for this motion picture came from the uncredited Herman Stein and William Lava, a composer of 1930's and 1940's "B" Westerns and Drama's. In 1955, Lava moved to Walt Disney and worked on all the television episodes of "The Mickey Mouse Club", and "Zorro". Lava also worked on the music for the "Pink Panther" animated series incorporating Henry Mancini's theme music into the cartoons.

Speaking of Henry Mancini, his only contribution to this motion picture was a revised version of "The Creature from the Black Lagoon Theme".

THIS ISLAND EARTH premiered on June 10, 1955 in New York City, New York

Above, the American poster for the motion picture, and below the German poster for the retitled "Metaluna 4 is not responding".

The motion picture was based upon Raymond F. Jones' novel "The Alien Machine", a science fiction allegory about the defense of the Philippine Islands during the Second World War.

Above the three stars of the motion picture:

On the far left is Faith Domergue, my article, "Faith Domergue: 1955 A.D.", can be read at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/09/faith-domergue-1955-ad.html

Next to her is Rex Reason, you can read my article, "Rex and Rhodes Reason: Acting Brothers Often Confused By the Audience" at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2018/10/rex-and-rhodes-reason-acting-brothers.html

Next to Rex is Jeff Morrow, my article, "Jeff Morrow An Icon of 1950's Science Fiction: This Island Earth, KRONOS, and the Giant Claw" will be found at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/10/jeff-morrow-exeter-of-metaluna-icon-of.html


The music was again by the uncredited Henry Stein, Henry Mancini, and Hans J. Salter. Other than the credit going to Joseph Gershenson as "Music Supervisor". The only other member of the "Music Department" heard on the picture's musical score was the flute of Ethmer Roten.

However, another uncredited composer on the sound track was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for the use of "Eine kleine Nachmusik: 2nd movement". One wonders if he received a check from the studio payroll department?



ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEETS THE MUMMY released on June 23, 1955

Above, the American poster for the motion picture, and below the Belgium retitled "2 Idiots Among the Pharaohs".

Joining the uncredited Irving Gertz, Henry Mancini, and Hans J. Salter, was the uncredited Lou Maury, 1955's "Cult of the Cobra" and the biography of , and starring Audie Murphy, "To Hell and Back". As for the "Music Department", joining "Music Supervisor" Joseph Gershenson and flutist Ethmer Roten was the uncredited choral singer and future Grammy nominated choral conductor and Los Angeles Master Chorale Music Director Emeritus Paul Salamunovich.

TARANTULA premiered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 4, 1955

Above left, John Agar, center Leo G. Carroll, televisions "Topper" 1953-1955 and "Alexander Waverly" "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." 1964-1968, and Mara Corday, both 1957's "The Giant Claw" and "The Black Scorpion".

The "Music By" was composed by the uncredited Henry Mancini and Herman Stein. Henry Mancini got a second uncredited credit under the "Music Department" with the uncredited Ethmer Roten and his ever-present flute. Along with uncredited orchestrator David Tamkin, 1956's "The Mole People", 1960's "Spartacus", 1963's "Cleopatra", and 1964's "The Fall of the Roman Empire".

Once again, premiering first in Japan on January 3, 1956, was another fictional music biography from "Universal International Picture's", "The Benny Goodman Story", starring Steve Allen and Donna Reed. The musical was next released in Chicago, Illinois, on February 2, 1956, and in Canada the same day.

 

Joseph Gershenson turned to Henry Mancini, who as I mentioned had written music for Goodman, to compose "all the additional music" for the motion picture. Benny Goodman, himself, was assigned to Gershenson's "Music Department" to record his own music conducted by the "Music Supervisor". Along with Stan Getz, Gene Krupa, and other members of  Goodman's original orchestra. The only other member of the actual "Universal International Pictures Music Department" working on the motion picture was Ethmer Roten and his flute.

This time no one from the "Music Department" received credit on the album, except for the tag line:

Music Recorded For The Sound Track Of The Universal-International Motion Picture

THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US released on April 26, 1956

Above left to right, Rex Reason, Jeff Morrow, and Leigh Snowden, and below uncredited Don Megowan as the "Land Creature".

My article, "DON MEGOWAN: Portraying William Barret Travis and 'The Creature from the Black Lagoon", may interest my reader at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2021/12/don-megowan-portraying-william-barret.html

The music for the motion picture was by the uncredited Irving Gertz, Henry Mancini, and Heinz Roemheld. 

How the great have fallen was reflected in Roemheld being just another member of "Music Supervisor Joseph Gershenson's" "Music Department". The composer had won an Academy award for the score to James Cagney's 1942 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", and composed music for the 1931 sound reissue of Lon Chaney's 1923 "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". Heinz Roemheld was the uncredited "Music Supervisor" on both the English and Spanish language 1931 "Dracula", did the same on both 1932's "Murder in the Rue Morgue" and "The Old Dark House", was an uncredited composer of the score for 1933's "The Invisible Man", in 1939 he worked on the musical score for "Gone with the Wind". When he retired in 1966, Roemheld had worked on the music for 419 films.

Also working uncredited for "Music Supervisor" Joseph Gershenson were Han J. Slater, Herman Stein, and of course Ethmer Roten and his flute.

FRANCIS IN THE HAUNTED HOUSE released July 9, 1956

This was the seventh and final picture in the "Francis the Talking Mule" series that was started back in 1950 with Donald O'Connor for the first six pictures. Now, Mickey Rooney was taking over and the series ended, not Rooney's fault. The plot was an old stand-by from the silent era, about a reporter, Rooney, with the help of the mule, "Francis", now voiced by uncredited Paul Frees doing his best Chill Wills imitation, solving a murder connected to an inheritance, all in a spooky old house at the end of town that's said to be haunted.

The composed music was by uncredited Henry Mancini, Herman Stein, and Frank Skinner. There were only two entries under the heading of the "Music Department", Gershenson as "Music Supervisor" and Roten with his flute.

Science Fiction, Horror and Orson Welles 1957-1959

THE DEADLY MANTIS premiered in Los Angeles, California, on May 1, 1957

When I saw this feature opening weekend, it was on a double bill with a forgotten "Cold War" thriller, "Girl in the Kremlin", starring Lex Barker and Eva Gabor. I bring this film up, because Henry Mancini worked on it in the "Music Department" with the usual suspects, Gertz, Stein, Lava, Roemheld, Salter, Skinner, and Roten and his flute. 

For this picture, "Music Supervisor" Gershenson, added Danielle Amfitheatrof, 1951's "Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man",  1953's "Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", and for "Columbia Pictures", Ray Harryhausen's 1955, "It Came from Beneath the Sea", 1956's "Earth vs the Flying Saucers", and 1957's "20 Million Miles to Earth".

Back to "The Deadly Mantis":

The motion picture was directed by Nathan Juran an important Science Fiction and Horror director of the period. My article, "Nathan H. Juran: A Look at the Work of the Man Who was an Art Director for John Ford, Directed Live Action for Ray Harryhausen and Wrote Screenplays for Fess Parker", will be found at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/05/nathan-h-juran-look-at-work-of-man-who.html

Above the three stars, in the middle is Alix Talton, whose 45 role career was almost all on television. However, her bookends are recognizable to fans of 1950's television. On Alix's left is the son of Hollywood Gossip Columnist Hedda Hopper, William Hopper. Who portrayed "Paul Drake" on the television show, "Perry Mason" from 1957 through 1966 and starred in Ray Harryhausen's 1957 "20 Million Miles to Earth". On Alix's right is Craig Stevens, who would star from 1958 through 1961 in  a television series with a major theme song from Henry Mancini, "Peter Gunn".

The "Music By" for "The Deadly Mantis" was from Irving Gertz and William Lava. The "Music Department" listed Henry Mancini and Ethmer Roten under "Music Supervisor" Joseph Gershenson, but there had to be a problem, illness perhaps? Because Gershenson was replaced by the uncredited Harris Ashburn during the production. and it carried into 1957's "The Incredible Shrinking Man". Ashburn's only other film work was as an actor in one forgotten movie.

I've mentioned two "Insect" movies in this article and for those interested in this type of Science Fiction Horror films. My article, "THEM!', 'TARANTULA', 'THE MONSTER FROM GREEN HELL', 'THE DEADLY MANTIS', 'THE BEGINNING OF THE END', 'THE BLACK SCORPION', and 'THE EARTH VS THE SPIDER': As the 1950's Insects that BUGGED America!", can be found, can of "Raid" is optional, at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/03/them-tarantula-monster-from-green-hell.html

THE LAND UNKNOWN premiered on August 21, 1957, in Los Angeles, California

Above, the American poster and below the French poster for the motion picture retitled "The Storm Oasis"

The tag line on the American poster reads:

BEHIND A BARRIER OF ARTIC ICE...

This was the second "Universal International Pictures" movie to use the idea of "The Hollow Earth". The story even starts with actual footage of Admiral Byrd and his real search for that entrance at the South Pole. The first movie was in the introduction to, 1956 "The Mole People", but it's mentioned only in passing as compared to "Byrd's" search being the motivation for the Naval expedition in "The Land Unknown".

 

Above left is William Reynolds, televisions "The F.B.I." 1966-1974, next, Jock Mahoney, known for being actress Sally Field's stepfather, but from televisions "The Range Rider" 1951-1953, and "Yancy Derringer" 1958 -1959, far right is Shirley Patterson, a "B" actress since 1942 and switched to television in 1954.

Uncredited Henry Mancini was the primary composer, but additional music was composed by the uncredited, Heinz Roemheld, Hans J. Salter, and Herman Stein. The listing for the "Music Department" showed Joseph Gershenson and Ethmer Roten as "a Musician" for the first time not mentioning his flute.

THE MONOLITH MONSTERS first released in the United Kingdom on December 8, 1957

The basic plot line of this excellent little science fiction story is don't put the rocks you find in water, because they may be space rocks that grow and multiply. Sounds silly, but this screenplay keeps the viewer engrossed. 

Above, Grant Williams, 1957's "The Incredible Shrinking Man", and Lola Albright, "Edie Hart" on "Peter Gunn" 1958-1961. Below, Grant Williams and Les Tremayne, 1953's "War of the Worlds" and 1959's "The Monster of Piedras Blancas".

The music again was by the uncredited team of Henry Mancini, Irving Gertz, and Herman Stein. While, the "Music Department" had credited Joseph Gershenson as the "Music Supervisor", with the uncredited William Lava, David Tamkin, Ethmer Roten and flute, and as an "orchestrator", Charles Maxwell. 

Maxwell had started working in 1930 at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on major productions. His work included the only motion picture with all Three Barrymore Siblings, 1932's "Rasputin and the Empress", both Wallace Beery's 1934 "Viva Villa" and 1934's "Treasure Island". While in the year 1935 alone, were, Charles Dickens "David Copperfield" and "A Tale of Two Cities", the overlooked Peter Lorre Horror movie "Mad Love", and the Clark Gable and Charles Laughton classic "Mutiny on the Bounty". In 1951 Charles Maxwell composed the music for Arch Obler's "Nuclear Apocalyptic" feature film "Five", and in 1954, "Tobor the Great".

 At this point Henry Mancini had composed music for 71 motion pictures, and worked as part of the "Universal International Studio Music Department" on another 49 motion pictures.

 I take a break from Science Fiction and Horror, although how do you define Horror?

TOUCH OF EVIL first shown at the "Pacific Palisades Theater" in Los Angeles, on January 31, 1958

This is one of Orson Welles' masterpieces, written and director by the actor, with that famous opening tracking shot! 

Above left, Orson Welles, my article, "Orson Welles: 1948 Through 1951 ('Macbeth', 'Count Cagliostro', 'Cesare Borgia', 'Bayan of the Hundred Eyes' and 'Othello')" will be found at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2022/02/orson-welles-1948-through-1951macbeth.html

Above right, Charlton Heston, my apparently controversial article, "CHARLTON HESTON: The Original "INDIANA JONES" may peak you interest at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/07/charlton-heston-original-indiana-jones.html

Above, Janet Leigh with Charlton Heston. Leigh would make a classic Horror Thriller with director Alfred Hitchcock at "Universal". My article, "Janet Leigh Going 'Psycho' Within 'The Fog" will chill you at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/11/janet-leigh-going-psycho-within-fog.html

The "Musical Score" for Orson Welles' "Touch of Evil" was entirely written by Henry Mancini. Who received full credit for his work, but of course, Joseph Gershenson conducted the orchestra representing the "Music Department". Along with uncredited Ethmer Roten on the flute and uncredited Richard Nash, only his second motion picture, on the trombone.

THE THING THAT COULDN'T DIE premiered in New York City, New York, on June 27, 1958

Above, the head of "Gideon Drew" portrayed by Robin Hughes. The head telepathically controls the people on a farm that dug it up. Next, the hunt for his body starts so that "Drew" can live again.

Probably very happy that he received no credit for scoring this talk feast was Henry Mancini.

From the "Music Department", Gertz, Salter, and Stein's old music from other films were combined to off-set Mancini's original score under the instruction of "Music Supervisor" Gershenson.



MONSTER ON THE CAMPUS released on December 17, 1958

Above, is Arthur Franz, the "Invisible Man" from 1951's "Abbott and Costello Meets the Invisible Man", 1951's "Flight to Mars", 1953's "Invaders from Mars". He is speaking to Troy Donahue, one year before he went from "Universal International" to "Warner Brothers" and became a teen idol opposite Sandra Dee in 1959's "A Summer Place".

That "primitive fish's" blood turns Arthur Franz into the title character.

To keep the cost of the money down, the soundtrack for this picture was blended "Stock Music" by Henry Mancini, Irving Gertz, William Lava, Heinz Roemfeld, Hans J. Slater, Frank Skinner, Herman Stein, along with Paul Dessau, 1945's "House of Dracula" and 1952's "The Black Castle", and, Earl E. Lawrence, 1957's "The Incredible Shrinking Man".

Henry Mancini's last motion picture for "Universal International Pictures" was the James Cagney "Never Steal Anything Small", released on February 11, 1959, as a "Music Adapter".


Now an independent composer, Henry Mancini met producer and director Blake Edwards. He moved first to television and composed all the music for Edwards new series, 114 episodes of "Peter Gun", 1958-1961, in 1959 he composed all the music for Blake Edward's television series, "Mr. Lucky", 1959-1961, in 1961 Henry Mancini composed the film score for Blake Edwards "Breakfast at Tiffany". Which returns me to the start of this article and "Moon River".