Finding Aid for Music and Performing Arts Library Frank Skinner Movie Scores and Sound Recordings, 1937-1966 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Sydney Blefko, Michael Massaro, Carol Berthold

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Collection Overview

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Biographical Note

Subject/Index Terms

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing

Series 2: Sound Recordings

Recordings of movie scores by Frank Skinner. Some recordings of songs and other music by Frank Skinner. Initial part of disc title indicates in which titled binder the disc was located. Discs are listed in the original order in which they were found in the binders. Some discs have been incorrectly placed in a binder that does not match the disc contents, particularly in the 'Saboteur' folder. This is noted in the disc description.

Thanks to Stefan Schlegel, a film music fan, who provided identifications and corrections for some of these recordings (noted in the disc desriptions) in April, 2021.

Sound recordings for the following movies:

Arabian Nights, 1942: Scheherazade (Maria Montez) as the prisoner of an evil caliph until rescued by dashing Jon Hall. John Qualen as Aladdin and Shemp Howard as Sinbad. Dir.: John Rawlins. Cast: Joh Hall, Maria Montez, Sabu, Leif Erickson, Billy Gilbert, Edgar Barrier, Richard Lane, Turhan Bay, John Qualen, Shemp Howard. 86 min.

Back Street, 1941: This version of novelist's Fannie Hurst's romantic tearjerker about clandestine love, with Charles Boyer and Margaret Sullavan as vibrant shop girl Ray Smith who falls in love with banker Walter Saxel who is engaged to a socially prominent wommen. Dir.: Robert Stevenson. 89 min.

House of the Seven Gables, 1940: The first rendition of the Nathaniel Hawthorne classic made during the talkie era, and a good one. Vincent Price and George Sanders one-up each other with cynical dialogue and scenery chewing, and the script is faithful to the book. The story of a jealous man who sends an innocent man to prison is hauntingly photographed and uses replicas of the nineteenth-century New England house that inspired it. Dir.: Joe May. Cast: Vincent Price, Margaret Lindsay, George Sanders, Nan Grey, Alan Napier, Dick Foran. 90 min.

Saboteur, 1942: Outstanding Alfred Hitchcock film about a World War II factory worker (Robert Cummings) turned fugitive after he's unjustly accused of sabotage. The briskly paced story follows his efforts to elude police while he tries to unmask the real culprit. A humdinger of a climax. Dir.: Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: Robert Cummings, Priscilla Lane, Norman Lloyd, Otto Kruger. 108 min.

Spring Parade, 1940: This lilting musical confection stars Deanna Durbin as a baker's assistant in love with an army drummer. Set in Austria. Dir.: Henry Koster. Cast: Deanna Durbin, Robert Cummings, S.Z. Sakall, Henry Stephenson, Mischa Auer, Reginald Denny, Allyn Joslyn. 89 min.

The sequence of recorded music for Skinner's The Sun Never Sets, are included across many of these discs.  The order is listed below.

1) "Main Title," just the first track (1:42 minutes) on side B of disc 1  "Arabian Nightsâ??)

2) "Dedication," just 2:00 minutes of side B for disc 2 "Arabian Nights,â?? but only the last 20 seconds of the track are on the film

3) "London Montage," just 15 seconds of side B of  disc 17 "Frank Skinner Music" disc 3â??

4) "Grandfather's Room," 4:15 minutes on side A of  disc 1 "Arabian Nightsâ??

5) "Unrest Montage, just 38 seconds of side B of disc 17 "Frank Skinner Musi" disc 3

6) "Inspiration," 3:32 minutes of side B of  disc 17, "Frank Skinner Music disc 3

7) "Reunited Part. 1," 4:04 minutes of side A of disc 2 "Arabian Nights" and "Reunited Part. 2," 1:42 minutes of  side B of disc 2  "Arabian Nights"

8) "Sabotage," just 48 seconds of side B of disc 1 "Arabian Nights"

Box 23

Disc 1: Arabian Nights, Disc 1. A: Grandfather's Room. B: Sabotage, Main Title, undated

Acetate, direct cut. Binder: Arabian Nights. Disc 1. Music is from The Sun Never Sets (1939), identified by Stefan Schlegel.

Disc 2: Arabian Nights, Disc 2.  A: Reunited, Part 1. B: Reunited, Part 2; Dedication, undated

Acetate, direct cut. Binder: Arabian Nights, Disc 2.  Music is from The Sun Never Sets (1939), identified by Stefan Schlegel.

Disc 3: Arabian Nights, Disc 3. A: Reel 2. B. Reel 2A, undated

Acetate, direct cut.

Disc 4: Arabian Nights, Disc 4. A: Reel 3. B: Reel 3A, undated

Acetate, direct cut.

Disc 5: Arabian Nights, Disc 5. A: Reel 4.  B: Reel 4A, undated

Acetate, direct cut.

Disc 6: Arabian Nights, Disc 6. A: Reel 5. B: Reel 5A, undated

Acetate, direct cut.

Disc 7: Arabian Nights, Disc 7.  A: Reel 6. B: Reel 6A, undated

Acetate, direct cut.

Disc 8: Back Street, Disc 1.  A: Frank Skinner Score, #1. B: Frank Skinner Score, #2, undated

Disc 9: Back Street, Disc 2.  A: Frank Skinner Score, #3. B: Frank Skinner Score, #4, undated

Disc 10: Back Street, Disc 3.  A: Frank Skinner Score, #3 (duplicate). B: Frank Skinner Score, #4 (duplicate), undated

Disc is a duplicate of Disc 9.

Disc 11: Back Street, Disc 4.  A: Part 5, undated

Acetate, direct cut.

Disc 12: Back Street, Disc 5.  A: Frank Skinner Score, #7. B: Frank Skinner Score, #8, undated

Disc 13: Back Street, Disc 6.  A: Frank Skinner Score, #7 (duplicate).  B: Frank Skinner Score, #8 (duplicate), undated

Duplicate of Disc 12.

Disc 14: Back Street, Disc 7.  A: Frank Skinner Score, #9. B: Frank Skinner Score, #10

Disc 15: Frank Skinner Music, Disc 1. A and B: Frank Skinner Music, undated

Acetate, direct cut. Identified by Stefan Schlegel as including two takes of the main title from Rosalind Russell's comedy, Hired Wife (1940).

Disc 16: Frank Skinner Music, Disc 2. A: Bottleneck. B: Betty Lee, undated

Acetate, direct cut. Stefan Schlegel has identified "Bottleneck" as originally appearing in in the comedy Charlie McCarthy, Detective (1939), then in the thriller Black Friday (1940), and then re-used in the music comedy Gals, Incorporated (1943).  He has also identified "Betty Lee" as appearing in the Rosalind Russell's comedy, Hired Wife (1940).

Disc 17: Frank Skinner Music, Disc 3. A: Inspiration. B: Unrest Montag; London Montage; Merrily We Roll Along; Pop Goes the Weasel, undated

Acetate, direct cut. Identified by Stefan Schlegel as including several tracks from The Sun Never Sets (1939); "Inspiration" is from a long love scene.  The tunes Merrily We Roll Along and Pop Goes the Weasel cannot be heard on the disc according to Stefan Schlegel.

Disc 18: Frank Skinner Music, Disc 4. A: Looking For a Monster, Part 1. B: Looking For a Monster, Part 2, undated

Acetate, direct cut. Identified by Stefan Schlegel as including music from Son of Frankenstein (1939).

Disc 19: Frank Skinner Music, Disc 5. A: Day Dreams, undated

Acetate, direct cut. Identified by Stefan Schlegel as appearing in the 1939 comedy Charlie McCarthy, Detective.

Disc 20: House of the Seven Gables, Disc 1.  A. Part 1. B. Part 2, undated

Disc 21: House of the Seven Gables, Disc 2. A: Part 3. B: Part 4, undated

[See also Disc 38: Saboteur, disc 14 which has the same tracks but they are inverted according Stefan Schlegel.]

Disc 22: House of the Seven Gables, Disc 3.  A: Part 5. B: Part 6, undated

Disc 23: House of the Seven Gables, Disc 4.  A: Part 7. B: Part 8, undated

Disc 24: House of the Seven Gables, Disc 5.  A: Part 9, undated

Disc 25: Saboteur, Disc 1. A: World in Arms, Reel 10.  B: World in Arms, Reel 11, undated

Reel 10 pieces include: 1. "On Trial," 2. "50 Lashes," 3, Marinas Sacrifice," 4. "Back to Sitka," 5 "Russian Dance." Reel 11 pieces include: 1. "Arrival in Sitka," 2. "Russian Dance," 3. "In the Kingdom of Heaven." Acetate, direct cut. Music is from A World in His Arms (1952), identified by Stefan Schlegel.

Disc 26: Saboteur, Disc 2. A: Yvonetta - Vocal.. B. Yvonetta - Comb, undated

Note: Music is not from Saboteur, although the disc was included in the Saboteur binder. Recording is on Universal Pictues Company label. Acetate, direct cut.  Stefan Schlegel has identified that it is music for Black Bart (1948). Side A is a rehearsal test for Yvonetta, and side B is Yvonetta - Comb in the actual version of the song and dance number which had no real title and was therefore named "Yvonetta," a nickname for the actress, dancer, and singer Yvonne De Carlo.

Disc 27: Saboteur, Disc 3. A: Raging Tide, Prince Murdered. B: Main Title: Raging Tide, Reel 1, undaated

Acetate, direct cut. Note: Reel number on side A is not clear, but is possibly Reel 1A. Music is from A Raging Tide (1951), identified by Stefan Schlegel.

Disc 28: Saboteur. Disc 4. A.: Ziegfeld Finale, Part 1. B: Ziegreld Finale, Part 2, undated

Probably not from Saboteur, although the disc was in the Saboteur binder. Recording is on Recordings... Inc. label. Identified as from The Great Ziegfeld (1936) by Stefan Schlegel.

Disc 29: Saboteur, Disc 5. A: Accordian Music, Raging Tide. B: Carl Apologizes, undated

Acetate, direct cut. Music from The Raging Tide (1951), identified by Stefan Schlegel.

Disc 30: Saboteur, Disc 6. A: Raging Tide, Reel 3. B: Raging Tide, Reel 4, undated

Acetate, direct cut. Pieces on side A include: (D) "New Music," (E) "Kelsey Montage." Pieces on side B include: (A) "Fish Hooks." Music from The Raging Tide (1951), identified by Stefan Schlegel.

Disc 31: Saboteur, Disc 7. A: Raging Tide, Albacore Fishing, Calling Kelsey, Stormy Sea. B: Conne Moves Over, undated

Acetate, direct cut. Music from The Raging Tide (1951), identified by Stefan Schlegel.

Disc 32: Saboteur, Disc 8. A: "I'd Like To See Samoa of Samoa,"  sung by Kenny Baker, undated

Original wax pressing. Song from the production 52nd Street and sung by Kenny Baker. This was included in the Saboteur binder but is not from that movie.

52nd Street, 1937, released through United Artists: Musical chronicles 15 years in the life of a New York City street. In 1912, 52nd Street is a peaceful residential neighborhood and by 1937 it has becoma a bawdy red-light district. As the street changes, so do the lives of a brother and his two sisters who become estranged when he marries an actress at the beginning of the film. The two sisters find their brother's actions distasteful and consider the lowly actress unworthy of their high-born brother. Dir.: Harold Young; producer: Walter Wagner; screenplay: Grover Jones. Cast: Ian Hunter, Leo Carrillo, Pat Patersonb, Ella Logan, Sid Silvers, Zasu Pitts, Jack White, Marla Shelton, Dorothy Peterson, Kenny Baker.

Disc 33: Saboteur, Disc 9. A. Back To the Stables; Francis. B: Operation Francis, undated

Acetate, direct cut. Music from Francis Goes to the Races (1951), identified by Stefan Schlegel.

Disc 34: Saboteur, Disc 10. A. Reel 2. B. Reel 2A, undated

Includes Reel 2 from the film, with tracks including: Side A: Police Car/Escape from the Police/Taking Refuge at Mr. Martin's House; and Side B: Mr. Martin and Patricia/Barry and Patricia Leave Mr. Martin's House/Barry and Patricia in the Car. Thanks to Stefan Schlegel for this information.

Disc 35: Saboteur, Disc 11. A: Reel 3. B: Reel 3A, undated

Music from Reel 3 of the film, with the tracks including:  Side A: Barry Tries to Break His Handcuffs with the Car Engine/Countryside at Night; and Side B: The Circus Train/Love Scene Part I. Thanks to Stefan Schlegel for this information.

Disc 36: Saboteur, Disc 12. (No label), undated

Recording on sides A and B, but has no identifying label on either side identifying. Probably not from Saboteur movie. Correction: identified as from Saboteur by Stefan Schlegel. Schlegel further identified the music as being from Reel 4 of the film, with the tracks being: Side A: Love Scene Part II/Farewell to the Circus Troupe/Soda City [3:00 - 4:08 not in film]; and Side B: The Barrage/Fry Escapes/Patricia Follows Fry [1:55 - 3:00 not in film].

Disc 37: Saboteur, Disc 13. A: Reel 5. B: Reel 5A, undated

Includes Reel 5 from the film, with tracks including Side A: Patricia Calls the FBI/Inside the Statue of Liberty/Fry and Patricia Part I [1:10 - 4:25 not in film]; and Fry and Patricia Part II/Barry and the FBI Arrive/Finale/ Exit Music [0:00 â?? 0:46 and 2:18 - 4:05 not in film]. Thanks to Stefan Schlegel for this information.

Disc 38: Saboteur, Disc 14. A: Part 4. B: untitled, undated

Included in Saboteur binder, but possibly not from the movie Saboteur. Title on record label does not fit with format for Saboteur recordings. Recording label from Columbia Recording Corp., not Universal Pictures. Identified as from The House of the Seven Gables (1940) by Stefan Schlegel. [See Disc 21 for the same tracks but they have been inverted]

Disc 39: Spring Parade, Disc 1. A: Part One of Entire Score. B: Part Two of Entire Score, 1940

Side A includes: Main Title Music; "It's Foolish But It's Fun." Side B includes: "Tatra," "Country Fair," "When April Sings." Orchestration by Frank Skinner. Note: Printed details on Spring Parade are included in the disc's sleeve.

Disc 40: Spring Parade, Disc 2.  A: Part Three of Entire Score. B: Part Four of Entire Score, 1940

Side A includes: "Czardas" "A Night In the Hay." B: "The Blue Danube."

Disc 41: Spring Parade, Disc 3.  A: Part Five of Entire Score. B: Part Six of Entire Score, 1940

Side A includes: "Petticoats," "Stolz March."  Side B includes: "Bakery Shop," "Charming Drummer," "When April Sings."

Disc 42: Spring Parade, Disc 4.  A: Part Seven of Entire Score. B: Part Eight of Entire Score, 1940

Side A iincludes: "Valse Budapest," When April Sings." Side B includes: "Waltzing In the Clouds," "Love Behind the Pillar."

Disc 43: Spring Parade, Disc 5.  A: Part Nine of Entire Score. B: Part Ten of Entire Score, 1940

Side A includes: "It's Foolish But It''s Fun," "Previn March," "It's Foolish But It's Fun." Side B includes: "Doodle Doo," "When April Sings," "Deanna Waltzes."

Disc 44: Spring Parade, Disc 6.  A: Part Eleven of Entire Score. B: Part Twelve of Entire Score, 1940

Side A includes: "When April Sings," "Ante Room," "Polonaise." Side B includes: "Emperor's Saltsticks," "Waltzing in the Clouds."

Box 24

Disc 1: Arabian Nights, The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Frank Skinner, 1943

Music by Frank Skinner. Universal Pictures Orchestra conducted by Charles Previn. Tracks and playing times include:1) "Main Title," 1:15; 2) "The Storyteller," 2:40; 3) "Kamar, Condemned Traitor," 4:35; 4) "Ahmad's Stooges," 2:46; 5) "Let's Pack Our Bags and Get Out of Bagdad!" 0:47; 6) "'Death' of the Caliph,: 2:08; 7) "Ministrations," 4:39; 8) "Sold into Slavery," 4:32; 9) "The Slave Market," 6:26; 10) "Revolt in the Slave Market," 1:42; 11) "Breaking Their Bonds," 2:41; 12) "Trek to Kamar's Oasis Retreat," 3:41; 13) "Ali and the Poolside Harem," 4:09' 14) "Nadan's Bargain," 6:89; 15) "No Cobra, But Whatta Dance!" 3:34; 16) "Battle for the Throne," 4:10; 17) "End Cast," 0:25. Playing time: 57:47.

Booklet included.

Disc 2: Back Street, The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Frank Skinner, 1941

Music by Frank Skinner. Universal Pictures Orchestra conducted by Charles Previn. Tracks include: 1)"Main Title"/"Machine Age Parade"/"New Years Dinner Alone"; 2) "Love Among the Hay Stacks"; 3) "A Day With Curtis"/"Waltzing With Curtis"/"New Years Waltz"; 4) "Missing the Boat"; 5) "After Supper in NY"/"Rae Loses Her Room"/"Sending a Cable"/"1928"; 6) "New Years Reunion & Break-up"/"Keeping Company in Paris"; 7) "Paris Postcards"/:"Contemptible and Rotten"; 8) Walter Reappears"; 9) "At the Railway Station"; 10) "Walter's Stroke"/"Walter Dies"; 11) "What Live Might Have Been"/"End Title"/"End Cast."

Booklet included. Contains essay on importance of Frank Skinner as a film-score composer. This disc is from the 1941 film; the film was remade in 1961.

Disc 3: Back Street and Madame X, Two Original Film Scores, Frank Skinner, 1961, 1966

Music by Frank Skinner. Tracks for Back Street: tracks 1-4. Tracks for Madame X: tracks 5-7.

Disc 4: Imitation of Life, The Sound Track Album, Frank Skinner, 1959

Music by Frank Skinner. Universal-International Orchestra conducted by Joseph Gershenson. Tracks and playing times include: 1) "Main Title," sung by Earl Grant, 2:20; 2) "Home From the Beach," 5:03; 3) "Disappointed." 3:53; 4) "Rejected," 3:21; 5) "Break-up," 2:15; 6) "Success Montage," 3:30; 7) "Lovely," 2;04; 8) "Wishing Star," 3:56; 9) "Being Childish,"�?  2:37; 10) "The Truth - Heartbreak," 2:20; 11) "Secrets," 4:46; 12) "Soon I Will Be Done With the Troubles of the World," sung by Lillian Hayman, 3:09; 13)�?  "Going to Glory" - and "End Title," 3:02.

Disc 5: The House of Seven Gables, Music Score, Frank Skinner, 1940

Music by Frank Skinner. Tracks include: 1) "Main Title"; 2) "The Color of Your Eyes"; 3) "Mr. Fuller the Postman"; 4) "Father's Authority"; 5) "Hepzibah Packs Her Bags"; 6) "Hepzibah's Request"; 7) "Cousin Phoebe"; 8) "Pyncheon Cent Shop"; 9) "Pheobe's Diary"/"Clifford Returns"; 10) "Daguerreotype"; 11) "Planting Rumors"; 12) "Hepzibah's Discovery"; 13) "Desperate Deacon"; 14) "Hepzibah Accuses Jaffrey"/"Finale"; 15) "End Cast."

Disc 6: Magnificent Obsession, Music from the Soundtrack, Frank Skinner, 1954

Music by Frank Skinner. Universal-International Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Joseph Gershenson. Music based on themes from Chopin, Beethoven and Johann Strauss.

Disc 7: Main Titles, The Universal Music of Frank Skinner, undated

Music by Frank Skinner. Tracks include: 1) "Strange Faces";  2) "You Can't Cheat and Honest Man"; 3) "Little Tough Guy"; 4) "The House of Fear"; 5) "Destry Rides Again"; 6) "First Love"; 7) "Son of Frankenstein"; 8) "Tower of London"; 9) "The Sun Never Sets"; 10) "The Bank Dick"; 11) "The Boys from Syracuse"; 12) "Green Hall"; 13) "When the Daltons Rode"; 14) "My Little Chickadee"; 15) "The Invisible Man Returns"; 16) "The Invisible Woman"; 17) "The Invisible Agent"; 18) "Warbonds"; 19) "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror"; 20) "Who Done It?"; 21) "The Suspect": 22) "Canyon Passage"; 23) "Black Angel"; 24) "The Egg and I"; 25) Ride the Pink Horse"; 26) "The Exile"; 27) "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein"; 28) "Black Bart"; 29) "The Life of Riley"; 30) "Harvey"; 31) "Francis"; 32) "Winchester 73"; 33) "The Man fromthe Alamo"; 34) "All That Heaven Allows"; 35) "Away All Boats"; 36) "Portrait in Black"; 37) "Captain Newman, MD."

Disc 8: Man of a Thousand Faces, Music from the Soundtrack, Frank Skinner, 1957

Music by Frank Skinner. Universal -International Orchestra conducted by Joseph Gershenson.. Tracks include: 1) "Main Title"; 2) "Forgiveness"; 3) "Apprehension": 4) "In Stitches"; 5) "Married Strangers"; 6) "Box of Tricks"; 7) "Family CIrcle"; 8) "Frightened Father"; 9) "End Title."

Disc 9: Saboteur, Frank Skinner, undated

Music by Frank Skinner. Tracks include: 1) "Main Title"; 2) "Police Car"; 3) "Escape From Police"; 4) "Pat Sees Handcuffs"; 5) "Fanbelt Freedom"; 6) "Circus Wagons"; 7) "Farewell to Troupe"; 8) "Sabotage"; 9) "Statue of Liberty."

Disc 10: Shenandoah, The Original Soundtrack Album, 1965

Music by Frank Skinner. Orchestra conducted by Joseph Gershenson.. Tracks and playing times include: 1) "Main Title," 1:47; 2) "Ripe For Pickin'," 2:47; 3) "Roll Call," 3:17; 4) "Horse Play," 3:11; 5) "Martha's Namesake," 1:59; 6) "Young Captives," 3:05; 7) "The Legend of Shenandoah," narration by James Stewart, 2:54; 8) "Bridal Suite," 3:29; 9) "War Is Hell," 2:32; 10) "The Dead and the Living," 1:31; 11) "Ripe For Pickin' (reprise)," 1:36; 12) "Memorium," 2:20; 13) "We're Ridin" Out Tonight (chorus)," 2:03; 14) "End Title," 0.38.

Disc 11: Tammy and the Bachelor and Interlude, The Original Film Soundtrack, Frank Skinner, 1957

Music by Frank Skinner. Universall International Orchestra conducted by Joseph Gershenson. This is a double feature soundtrack. Tammy and the Bachelor Suite: playing time 20:20. Interlude Suite: Playing time: 21:17.

Disc 12: Written on the Wind, Soundtrack Album, Victor Young and Sammy Cahn; Frank Skinner, 1956

Song and main title theme composed by Victor Young and Sammy Cahn; backgroung music by Frank Skinner. Universal-International Orchestra conducted by Joseph Gershenson.. Tracks and playing times include: "Written on the Wind," composed by Victor Young and Sammy Cahn, sung by The Four Aces, 1:42; "Suite I," 9:19; "Temptation," composed by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, 1:56; "Suite II," 9:00. Total playing time 22:07.