I like what I hear as a resulting combination of these two strands… something of a combination of familiarity and, for lack of a better word, strangeness.

About Alex North

Alex Northwas an American composer best known for his many film scores, including A Streetcar Named Desire (one of the first jazz-based film scores), Viva Zapata!, Spartacus, Cleopatra, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? He received fifteen Academy Award nominations for his work as a composer; while he did not win for any of his nominations, he received an Honorary Academy Award in 1986, the first for a composer.

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The United States and Turkey are the only two countries that don’t have some kind of subsidy for the Arts. The whole culture in society has made certain films more acceptable. I turned down so many films in the ’60s and ’70s.

Alex North

American composer (1910-1991)

My best film composing experience was with Elia Kazan.

Alex North

American composer (1910-1991)

There are scores you have to write objectively without getting involved.

Alex North

American composer (1910-1991)

Being an old radical, I like films like Spartacus. I could relate to the hero.

Alex North

American composer (1910-1991)

Composers today get a TV script on Friday and have to record on Tuesday. It’s just dreadful to impose on gifted talent and expect decent music under these conditions.

Alex North

American composer (1910-1991)

When I decided to go to a country that subsidized music, I went to the Soviet Union for two years.

Alex North

American composer (1910-1991)

I prefer to write music for family films. I like people.

Alex North

American composer (1910-1991)

Fear is a problem with film music and films; people want to be conventional, and there’s more commercialism today. If you are not daring in your art, you’re bankrupt.

Alex North

American composer (1910-1991)

There are so few directors who are musical who appreciate music.

Alex North

American composer (1910-1991)

I like what I hear as a resulting combination of these two strands… something of a combination of familiarity and, for lack of a better word, strangeness.

Alex North

American composer (1910-1991)

Today it’s not culture; it’s box office.

Alex North

American composer (1910-1991)