Leo F. Forbstein

Leo F. Forbstein ( born October 16, 1892 in St. Louis, † February 12, 1948 in Los Angeles ) was an American conductor and Oscar winner.

Life

Forbstein learned as a four year old violin and was active during the silent movie era as a conductor in cinemas, among others at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre. Later, he led the orchestra in a period of around 20 years in over 600 films, including great classics of all genres such as Casablanca ( 1942), Rope (1948 ), The Maltese Falcon (1941 ), Robin Hood, King of the Vagabonds (1938 ), the Big Sleep (1946 ), arsenic and Old Lace (1944 ) and the Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

Forbstein received a 1937 Oscar for best music for the film Anthony Adverse. For the films Captain Blood (1935 ), The Treason of Surat Khan (1936) and The Life of Emile Zola (1937 ) he received another Oscar nominations.

Leo F. Forbstein was married from 1914 until his death with Bessie Gallas. They had one daughter.