Carl Davis Carl Davis

Biography: 28 October 1936, Brooklyn, New York.

Biography:
American composer for film and theatre, who has become something of a media celebrity as a result of his significant fame in the United Kingdom, where he has resided since the 1960s. Studied in both the USA and Denmark, was the assistant conductor of the New York City Opera, and won an off-Broadway Emmy for his production of 'Diversions' in 1959, prior to his move across the Atlantic. While in the UK, Davis was asked to contribute music for the popular political satire show "That Was The Week That Was", and he quickly became a recognized member of the anti-mainstream comedy circle that existed in the UK at that time, alongside such names as David Frost, Dudley Moore, Peter Cook and John Cleese. He scored his first film, "The Other World of Winston Churchill" in 1967, and throughout the 1970s continued to work on biting satires such as "Praise Marx and Pass the Ammunition" (1970) "Up Pompeii" (1971), "Up the Chastity Belt" (1971), "The National Health" (1973), which firmly establishing himself as one of the finest composers and conductors working in Britain. Davis went on to write such acclaimed works as "The French Lieutenant's Woman" (1981), "Champions" (1983), "The Rainbow" (1989), "Scandal" (1989), "Anne Frank Remembered" (1995), the TV series "Pride and Prejudice" (1995) and "Topsy-Turvy" (1999). Davis has also devoted a great deal of time composing new music for classic silent films, including Fred Niblo's "Ben Hur" (1925), Lon Chaney's "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925), Abel Gance's "Napoleon" (1927), D.W. Griffith's epic "Intolerance" (1916) and Greta Garbo's classic "Flesh and the Devil" (1926). In addition to his film and television work, Davis has been prolific in writing music for the theatre, composing scores for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. He has also written a number of acclaimed classical pieces, including his contemporary dances "David and Goliath" (1975) and "Dances of Love and Death" (1981); ballets including "A Picture of Dorian Gray" (1987), "A Simple Man" (1988), "Lippizaner"(1989) and "Alice and Wonderland" (1995); a Clarinet Concerto, a Fantasy for Flute, and the popular "Liverpool Oratorio" (1991), written in collaboration with Sir Paul McCartney. Davis is married to the popular British actress Jean Boht, has two daughters, and lives in Chelsea, South London

Reviews:
Anne Frank Remembered, Champions, Destination America, The Far Pavilions, Flesh and the Devil, The French Lieutenant's Woman, Hollywood, Napoleon, Pride and Prejudice, Scandal, Topsy Turvy and The World At War

Filmography:
The Understudy (2008), Cranford (2007), Garbo (2005), Mothers and Daughters (2004), Promoted to Glory (2003), The Book of Eve (2002), Back Home (2001), The Great Gatsby (2000), Topsy Turvy (1999), Cold War (1998), The Face of Russia (1998), Goodnight Mister Tom (1998), The Raft of Medusa (1998), Real Women (1998), Seesaw (1998), A Dance To The Music of Time (1997), Eskimo Day (1996), The Buried Mirror (1995), Oliver's Travels (1995), Pride and Prejudice (1995), Anne Frank Remembered (1995), The Return of the Native (1994), Widows' Peak (1994), A Year In Provence (1994), Lie Down with Lions (1994), Liberation (1994), Voyage (1993), The Trial (1993), The Black Velvet Gown (1993), Genghis Cohn (1993), Covington Cross (1992), A Sense of History (1992), The Crucifer of Blood (1991), Separate But Equal (1991), Crossing to Freedom (1990), Spymaker: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming (1990), Frankenstein Unbound (1990),They Never Slept (1990), The Girl in a Swing (1989), Scandal (1989), Fragments of Isabella (1989), The Rainbow (1989), Skullduggery (1989), Somewhere to Run (1989), The Yellow Wallpaper (1989), Destination America (1988), Journey's End (1988), Hotel du Lac (1986), King David (1985), Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe (1985), The Far Pavilions (1984), George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey (1984), Sakharov (1984), Champions (1983), Home Sweet Home (1982), Macbeth (1982), The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), Hollywood (1980), The Merchant of Venice (1980), The Sailor's Return (1978), Kiss of Death (1977), Where Adam Stood (1976), Man Friday (1976), The Naked Civil Servant (1975), The World at War (1974), The Lovers (1973), The National Health (1973), I, Monster (1972), Rentadick (1972), Up Pompeii (1971), Up the Chastity Belt (1971), The Only Way (1970), Praise Marx and Pass the Ammunition (1970), The Bofors Gun (1968), The Other World of Winston Churchill (1967).

Highest Grossing Films as at end of 2007 (adjusted for inflation):
The French Lieutenant’s Woman ($68.5m), Scandal ($15.7m), Widow’s Peak ($10.6m), King David ($10.2m), Topsy-Turvy ($6.7m), Champions ($2.2m), Anne Frank Remembered ($2.1m), The Girl in a Swing ($1.3m), Frankenstein Unbound ($0.6m), The Trial ($0.2m)

Awards:
1981 BAFTA Awards – Winner, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – The French Lieutenant’s Woman
1980 BAFTA Awards – Winner, Best Original TV Music – The Merchant of Venice etc.
2007 BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Best Original TV Music – Cranford
1986 BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Best Original TV Music – Fire and Ice/Hotel du Lac
1985 BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Best Original TV Music – Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe
1984 BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Best Original TV Music – The Far Pavilions
1983 BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Best Original TV Music – The Aerodrome etc.
1981 BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Best Original TV Music – Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years
1983 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television – The French Lieutenant’s Woman
1993 Emmy Awards – Nominee, Outstanding Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music – Covington Cross
1972 Emmy Awards – Nominee, Outstanding Music Composition for a Mini– Series, Movie, or Special – The Snow Goose

Links:
Official Site

Champions A Dance To The Music of Time The French Lieutenant's Woman Pride and Prejudice The Rainbow Topsy Turvy Widows' Peak A Year in Provence


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