He was trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He first worked in the movies on the quota quickies of the early 1930s. His big break came when Alexander Korda signed him as musical director on "Catherine the Great" (1934). He was then head of the music department at Denham studios under Alexander Korda and later J. Arthur Rank. As the musical director and conductor of hundreds of film scores, he was probably the most prolific conductor in film history, conducting the orchestra for practically every classic British film from 1934 until the late 1950s and many more up to the 70s, also theatre and radio scores. His more than 560 credits include "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1935), "The Thief of Bagdad" (1940), "Brief Encounter" (1945); "Hamlet" (1948), "The Crimson Pirate" (1952), "Trapeze" (1956); "Vertigo" (1958), "Lord Jim" (1964) and "Shalako" (1968). He appeared as an actor in the film "The Magic Box" (1951), portraying Sir Arthur Sullivan. Elder brother of Ealing film conductor Dock Mathieson. Son of artist John George Mathieson. He was married to ballet dancer Hermione Darnborough and father of four children.
He was trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He first worked in the movies on the quota quickies of the early 1930s. His big break came when Alexander Korda signed him as musical director on "Catherine the Great" (1934). He was then head of the music department at Denham studios under Alexander Korda and later J. Arthur Rank. As the musical director and conductor of hundreds of film scores, he was probably the most prolific conductor in film history, conducting the orchestra for practically every classic British film from 1934 until the late 1950s and many more up to the 70s, also theatre and radio scores. His more than 560 credits include "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1935), "The Thief of Bagdad" (1940), "Brief Encounter" (1945); "Hamlet" (1948), "The Crimson Pirate" (1952), "Trapeze" (1956); "Vertigo" (1958), "Lord Jim" (1964) and "Shalako" (1968). He appeared as an actor in the film "The Magic Box" (1951), portraying Sir Arthur Sullivan. Elder brother of Ealing film conductor Dock Mathieson. Son of artist John George Mathieson. He was married to ballet dancer Hermione Darnborough and father of four children.
Bio by: Fritz Tauber
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