Alex North (1910–1991) was one of America’s most renowned film composers. He developed his career in Hollywood over a 40 year period, from the early fifties to his death, and enhanced and enriched over 60 major motion pictures, including A Streetcar Named Desire, Cleopatra and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf to name just a few. He accumulated 15 Oscar nominations, and received the Lifetime Achievement Oscar for his work.

Alex North’s life and work are the focus of this book. The first part deals with his early life growing up in Chester, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia, his studies at Juilliard in New York and in Russia and Mexico, his early experiences in modern dance, documentaries, and theater, and his major work in film.

The second part contains detailed analyses of the musical scores that North composed for A Streetcar Named Desire, Spartacus, The Misfits, Under the Volcano, and Prizzi’s Honor. Included in the appendices are a bibliography of materials about North, a filmography, a listing of other compositions by North, a discography, and a listing of awards North received.