Person
Leo F. Forbstein
Sound · 1892–1948 · St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Leo Frank Forbstein (October 16, 1892 – March 16, 1948) was an American film musical director and orchestra conductor who worked on more than 550 projects during a twenty-year period. Forbstein was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He was attracted to music as a child, learning the violin at the age of four. As a conductor at the Royal Theater in St. Joseph, he synchronized the orchestra with the action in silent films; he then became principal conductor at the Newman Theatre in Kansas City, where the organist was future Warner Bros. colleague Carl W. Stalling. In the mid-1920s, Forbstein relocated to Hollywood to head the symphony orchestra at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre. He signed with Warner Bros. as one of the directors of its Vitaphone Orchestra, alongside Erno Rapee (then Warners' general music director), Louis Silvers, and David Mendoza; Forbstein's first screen credit was The Squall in 1929. In 1931, Warners dismissed Rapee and Mendoza in a consolidation and economy move and Forbstein became the company's general music director. In 1936, Forbstein and composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold were write-in candidates for the Oscar for Best Music, Score for their work on Captain Blood. The following year, he was nominated officially for The Charge of the Light Brigade and Anthony Adverse, winning for the latter. He was nominated again for The Life of Emile Zola in 1938. Forbstein was married to the former Bess Gallas from October 16, 1914 until his death from a heart attack in Los Angeles, California. They had one daughter, Harriett (born 1915), who married assistant director Melvin Dellar. Leo Forbstein was entombed in the Corridor of Immortality at Home of Peace Cemetery.
Known for

Baby Face
Conductor

Casablanca
Music Director

Rope
Music Director

The Maltese Falcon
Music Director

The Adventures of Robin Hood
Music Director

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Music Director

The Big Sleep
Music Director

Sergeant York
Music Director

Arsenic and Old Lace
Original Music Composer

Footlight Parade
Conductor
Filmography
- 1948Two Guys from TexasOriginal Music Composer
- 1948The Big PunchMusic Director
- 1948Romance on the High SeasMusic Director
- 1948Silver RiverMusic Director
- 1948Winter MeetingMusic Director
- 1948RopeMusic Director
- 1948The Treasure of the Sierra MadreMusic Director
- 1947Escape Me NeverMusic Director
- 1947The UnsuspectedMusic Director
- 1947Dark PassageMusic Director
- 1947Cry WolfMusic Director
- 1947Deep ValleyMusic Director
- 1947The UnfaithfulMusic Director
- 1947PossessedMusic Director
- 1947Love and LearnMusic Director
- 1947Stallion RoadMusic Director
- 1947PursuedMusic Director
- 1947The Two Mrs. CarrollsMusic Director
- 1947Nora PrentissMusic Director
- 1947The Beast with Five FingersMusic
- 1947HumoresqueMusic Director
- 1946The Man I LoveMusic Director
- 1946Never Say GoodbyeMusic Director
- 1946Shadow of a WomanMusic Director
- 1946The Big SleepMusic Director
- 1946A Stolen LifeMusic Director
- 1946DevotionMusic Director
- 1946Cinderella JonesMusic Director
- 1946Three StrangersMusic Director
- 1945Danger SignalMusic Director
- 1945Mildred PierceMusic Director
- 1945Pride of the MarinesMusic Director
- 1945Christmas in ConnecticutMusic Director
- 1945ConflictMusic Director
- 1945The Corn Is GreenMusic Director
- 1945Hotel BerlinMusic Director
- 1945To Have and Have NotMusic Director
- 1944The DoughgirlsMusic Director
- 1944The ConspiratorsMusic Director
- 1944Arsenic and Old LaceOriginal Music Composer
- 1944The Mask of DimitriosMusic Director
- 1944Make Your Own BedMusic Director
- 1944Mr. SkeffingtonMusic Director
- 1944Uncertain GloryMusic Director
- 1943Destination TokyoMusic Director
- 1943Northern PursuitMusic Director
- 1943Princess O'RourkeMusic Director
- 1943Thank Your Lucky StarsMusic Director
- 1943Oklahoma OutlawsMusic Director
- 1943Background to DangerMusic Director
- 1943The Constant NymphMusic Director
- 1943Edge of DarknessMusic Director
- 1943Air ForceMusic Director
- 1943CasablancaMusic Director
- 1943The Hard WayMusic Director
- 1942Gentleman JimMusic Director
- 1942George Washington Slept HereMusic Director
- 1942Now, VoyagerMusic Director
- 1942Wings for the EagleMusic Director
- 1942The Big ShotMusic Director
- 1942Spy ShipMusic Director
- 1942Always in My HeartMusic Director
- 1942The Male AnimalMusic Director
- 1942Captains of the CloudsMusic Director
- 1941The Man Who Came to DinnerMusic Director
- 1941Steel Against the SkyMusic Director
- 1941The Maltese FalconMusic Director
- 1941Sergeant YorkMusic Director
- 1941Nine Lives Are Not EnoughMusic Director
- 1941Dive BomberMusic Director
- 1941ManpowerMusic Director
- 1941Kisses for BreakfastMusic Director
- 1941UndergroundMusic Director
- 1941Affectionately YoursMusic Director
- 1941The Wagons Roll at NightMusic Director
- 1941The Great LieMusic Director
- 1941The Sea WolfMusic Director
- 1941Meet John DoeMusic Director
- 1941Footsteps in the DarkMusic Director
- 1941The Strawberry BlondeMusic Director
- 1941The Great Mr. NobodyMusic Director
- 1941Flight from DestinyMusic Director
- 1941Honeymoon for ThreeMusic Director
- 1941Four MothersMusic Director
- 1940Santa Fe TrailMusic Director
- 1940She Couldn't Say NoMusic Director
- 1940The LetterMusic Director
- 1940South of SuezMusic Director
- 1940Knute Rockne All AmericanMusic Director
- 1940They Drive by NightMusic Director
- 1940The Man Who Talked Too MuchMusic Director
- 1940A Fugitive from JusticeMusic Director
- 1940It All Came TrueMusic Director
- 1940Virginia CityMusic Director
- 1940Castle on the HudsonMusic Director
- 1939Invisible StripesMusic Director
- 1939Four WivesMusic Director
- 1939We Are Not AloneMusic
- 1939The Private Lives of Elizabeth and EssexMusic Director
- 1939Espionage AgentMusic Director
- 1939Dust Be My DestinyMusic Director
- 1939Angels Wash Their FacesMusic Director
- 1939Each Dawn I DieMusic Director
- 1939The Old MaidMusic Director
- 1939Indianapolis SpeedwayMusic Director
- 1939Daughters CourageousMusic Director
- 1939JuarezMusic Director
- 1939Dark VictoryMusic Director
- 1939Women in the WindMusic Director
- 1939Dodge CityMusic Director
- 1939You Can't Get Away with MurderMusic Director
- 1939The Oklahoma KidMusic Director
- 1939Wings of the NavyMusic Director
- 1939Off the RecordMusic Director
- 1939King of the UnderworldMusic Director
- 1938Going PlacesMusic Director
- 1938The Dawn PatrolMusic Director
- 1938Heart of the NorthMusic Director
- 1938Comet Over BroadwayMusic Director
- 1938Angels with Dirty FacesMusic Director
- 1938Torchy Gets Her ManMusic Director
- 1938The SistersMusic Director
- 1938Valley of the GiantsMusic Director
- 1938Secrets of an ActressMusic Director
- 1938Four DaughtersMusic Director
- 1938Four's a CrowdMusic Director
- 1938Racket BustersMusic Director
- 1938My BillMusic Director
- 1938Men Are Such FoolsMusic Director
- 1938The Adventures of Robin HoodMusic Director
- 1938Crime SchoolMusic Director
- 1938JezebelMusic Director
- 1938A Slight Case of MurderMusic Director
- 1938Hollywood HotelMusic Director
- 1937TovarichMusic Director
- 1937First LadyMusic Director
- 1937The Great GarrickMusic Director
- 1937It's Love I'm AfterMusic Director
- 1937The Life of Emile ZolaMusic Director
- 1937That Certain WomanMusic Director
- 1937Back in CirculationMusic Director
- 1937ConfessionMusic Director
- 1937Ever Since EveMusic Director
- 1937Another DawnMusic Director
- 1937Kid GalahadMusic Director
- 1937The Go-GetterMusic Director
- 1937The Prince and the PauperMusic Director
- 1937Call It a DayMusic Director
- 1937Marked WomanMusic Director
- 1937Ready, Willing and AbleMusic Director
- 1937Green LightMusic Director
- 1937Stolen HolidayMusic Director
- 1937God's Country and the WomanMusic Director
- 1936Gold Diggers of 1937Music Director
- 1936Sing Me a Love SongMusic Director
- 1936The Charge of the Light BrigadeMusic Director
- 1936Give Me Your HeartMusic Director
- 1936Stage StruckMusic Director
- 1936Earthworm TractorsOriginal Music Composer
- 1936Satan Met a LadyMusic Director
- 1936The White AngelMusic Director
- 1936The Singing KidConductor
- 1936Snowed UnderConductor
- 1936Road GangMusic Director
- 1936ColleenConductor
- 1936The Story of Louis PasteurMusic Director
- 1936King of the IslandsMusic Director
- 1936The Petrified ForestMusic Director
- 1936Freshman LoveMusic Director
- 1936The Murder of Dr. HarriganMusic Director
- 1935Miss Pacific FleetMusic Director
- 1935Frisco KidMusic Director
- 1935I Found Stella ParishMusic Director
- 1935Shipmates ForeverMusic Director
- 1935A Midsummer Night's DreamMusic Director
- 1935The Case of the Lucky LegsMusic Director
- 1935Keystone HotelMusic Director
- 1935The Goose and the GanderMusic Director
- 1935We're in the MoneyMusic Director
- 1935The Irish in UsMusic Director
- 1935Broadway GondolierRehearsal Orchestra Leader
- 1935Don't Bet on BlondesMusic Director
- 1935Going HighbrowMusic Director
- 1935StrandedMusic Director
- 1935Alibi IkeMusic Director
- 1935'G' MenMusic Director
- 1935Go Into Your DanceMusic Director
- 1935The Case of the Curious BrideMusic Director
- 1935The Florentine DaggerMusic Director
- 1935Traveling SalesladyMusic Director
- 1935A Night at the RitzMusic Director
- 1935While the Patient SleptConductor
- 1935Living on VelvetConductor
- 1935Sweet MusicConductor
- 1935The White CockatooConductor
- 1935Maybe It's LoveConductor
- 1934The Secret BrideConductor
- 1934Murder in the CloudsConductor
- 1934BabbittConductor
- 1934The FirebirdMusic
- 1934Happiness AheadConductor
- 1934Big Hearted HerbertConductor
- 1934The Case of the Howling DogConductor
- 1934British AgentConductor
- 1934Kansas City PrincessConductor
- 1934DamesConductor
- 1934The Dragon Murder CaseConductor
- 1934HousewifeConductor
- 1934The Man with Two FacesMusic Director
- 1934Here Comes the NavyConductor
- 1934Midnight AlibiConductor
- 1934Dr. MonicaConductor
- 1934He Was Her ManConductor
- 1934Fog Over FriscoConductor
- 1934Twenty Million SweetheartsConductor
- 1934UpperworldConductor
- 1934Journal of a CrimeConductor
- 1934Jimmy the GentConductor
- 1934Gambling LadyConductor
- 1934Heat LightningConductor
- 1934Fashions of 1934Conductor
- 1934MandalayConductor
- 1934MassacreConductor
- 1934Hi, Nellie!Conductor
- 1933The House on 56th StreetConductor
- 1933Lady KillerConductor
- 1933College CoachConductor
- 1933The Kennel Murder CaseConductor
- 1933Footlight ParadeConductor
- 1933Wild Boys of the RoadConductor
- 1933I Loved a WomanConductor
- 1933Goodbye AgainConductor
- 1933She Had to Say YesConductor
- 1933The Man from MontereyMusic
- 1933Baby FaceConductor
- 1933The Narrow CornerConductor
- 1933Private Detective 62Conductor
- 1933The Silk ExpressConductor
- 1933Gold Diggers of 1933Conductor
- 1933Lilly TurnerConductor
- 1933Picture SnatcherConductor
- 1933The Mind ReaderConductor
- 193342nd StreetConductor
- 1933Girl MissingConductor
- 1933Blondie JohnsonConductor
- 1933The King's VacationConductor
- 1933Mystery of the Wax MuseumConductor
- 1933Employees' EntranceConductor
- 1933Ladies They Talk AboutConductor
- 1932The Match KingConductor
- 1932Lawyer ManConductor
- 1932Silver DollarConductor
- 1932Haunted GoldOriginal Music Composer
- 1932Central ParkConductor
- 1932You Said a MouthfulConductor
- 1932Scarlet DawnConductor
- 1932I Am a Fugitive from a Chain GangOriginal Music Composer
- 1932They Call It SinConductor
- 1932Three on a MatchConductor
- 1932The CrashConductor
- 1932One Way PassageConductor
- 1932Tiger SharkConductor
- 1932Big City BluesConductor
- 1932Life BeginsConductor
- 1932Doctor XConductor
- 1932The Purchase PriceConductor
- 1932Winner Take AllConductor
- 1932Jewel RobberyConductor
- 1932Love is a RacketMusic
- 1932Street of WomenConductor
- 1932The Strange Love of Molly LouvainOrchestrator
- 1932Miss PinkertonConductor
- 1932The TenderfootConductor
- 1932The Rich Are Always with UsConductor
- 1932Man WantedConductor
- 1932Beauty and the BossConductor
- 1932The MouthpieceConductor
- 1932The Man Who Played GodOriginal Music Composer
- 1932Union DepotConductor
- 1932The Woman from Monte CarloConductor
- 1931Safe in HellConductor
- 1931Side ShowMusic Director
- 1931The Road to SingaporeConductor
- 1931The Last FlightConductor
- 1931The Star WitnessMusic Director
- 1931Stranger in TownConductor
- 1931Night NurseConductor
- 1931Gold Dust GertieConductor
- 1931Big Business GirlConductor
- 1931Smart MoneyMusic Director
- 1931Too Young to MarryMusic Director
- 1931Little CaesarConductor
- 1931Kiss Me AgainConductor
- 1930One Night at Susie'sConductor
- 1930The Doorway to HellMusic Director
- 1930Road to ParadiseConductor
- 1930The Dawn PatrolConductor
- 1930Sweet MamaConductor
- 1930Numbered MenConductor
- 1930The Flirting WidowConductor
- 1930Spring Is HereConductor
- 1930Loose AnklesConductor
- 1930Playing AroundConductor
- 1929Broadway BabiesMusic
- 1929The SquallConductor
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