Elmer Bernstein

Elmer Bernstein (born in New York City in 1922) is an American composer best known for his work writing music for movies and television. He is credited for writing theme songs or other music for more than 200 films and TV shows, including The Magnificent Seven, The Ten Commandments, Man with the Golden Arm, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. He has received number Academy Award nominations, winning once; numerous Emmy Award nominations, wining once; several Golden Globe and Tony Award nominations, winning several times;

Along with many in Hollywood, Bernstein faced censure during the McCarthy era of the 1950s. He was "gray-listed" - not banned, but kept off major projects - due to sympathy to left-wing causes, and had to work on low-budget science fiction films such as Robot Monster and Cat Women of the Moon.