Bronisław Kaper facts for kids

Bronisław Kaper (born February 5, 1902 – died April 26, 1983) was a talented Polish composer who wrote music for many films and stage shows. He worked in Germany, France, and the USA. Sometimes, his name was spelled differently, like Bronislau Kaper, Bronislaw Kapper, or Edward Kane.

Kaper is famous for creating the music for popular songs like "On Green Dolphin Street" and "Invitation." These songs became well-known jazz standards. He also composed the music for the movie musical Lili (1953), which won him an Academy Award for Best Original Score. Later, he wrote music for big films like Mutiny on the Bounty (1962) and the TV show The F.B.I. (1965–1974).

About Bronisław Kaper

Early Life and Musical Journey

Bronisław Kaper was born in Warsaw, Poland. He came from a Jewish family. He started playing the piano when he was just six years old. Everyone could see he was very good at it!

He studied music, including composition and piano, at the Warsaw Conservatory. He also studied law at Warsaw University because his father wanted him to. After finishing his studies, Kaper moved to Berlin, Germany. Berlin was a busy city with many theaters and artists from all over Europe.

Working in Europe

In Berlin, in the late 1920s, Kaper met another young composer named Walter Jurmann from Austria. They became a team and wrote music together. When difficult times came to Germany, they moved to Paris, France.

At this time, movies with sound were becoming very popular. This created a big need for talented composers like Kaper and Jurmann. In Paris, they wrote music for films made by people who had also moved there to escape the problems in Germany.

Moving to Hollywood

In 1935, a big movie studio called MGM offered Kaper and Jurmann a seven-year contract. So, they moved to the United States. One of their first American films was the comedy A Night at the Opera (1935), starring the Marx Brothers. They wrote the song "Cosi-Cosa" for it.

Kaper and Jurmann also wrote the theme song for the 1936 film San Francisco. They worked with the Marx Brothers again on A Day at the Races (1937). For this movie, Kaper, Jurmann, and Gus Kahn wrote "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm," which also became a jazz standard.

Life in Los Angeles

During the 1940s, many artists and writers who had left Europe came to Los Angeles. Bronisław Kaper was part of this group. This community included famous people like Thomas Mann and Bertolt Brecht.

Kaper also tried writing for musical theater in New York. In 1946, he worked on a show called Polonaise. He used music by the famous composer Chopin and wrote many new songs himself.

Hit Songs and an Oscar

In 1947, Kaper composed the music for the MGM film Green Dolphin Street. The title song, "On Green Dolphin Street," is one of his most famous works. It became a popular jazz standard, recorded by many artists like Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

He wrote another very popular song, "Invitation," for the film A Life of Her Own. This song became even more famous when it was used as the theme for the 1952 movie Invitation. Artists like Quincy Jones and Rosemary Clooney have recorded it.

In 1954, Kaper won an Oscar for his music in the musical Lili (1953). This film starred Leslie Caron and featured Kaper's song "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo." Kaper also scored Caron's next film, The Glass Slipper, which was a musical version of the Cinderella fairy tale.

Later Film and TV Work

In 1959, Kaper wrote most of the music for Green Mansions, starring Audrey Hepburn. He also worked on the big 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty, which starred Marlon Brando. For this movie, Kaper created grand ocean melodies and even Polynesian music. The film's love song, "Love Song from Mutiny on the Bounty (Follow Me)," is still played at Luaus today.

Kaper continued to mix different musical styles. In Lord Jim, he introduced Western audiences to the unique sound of the Southeast Asian gamelan orchestra. For television, he composed the theme music for the popular series The F.B.I. In total, Bronisław Kaper wrote music for almost 150 Hollywood films!

Broadway Shows

• Polonaise (1945) – A musical where he was the composer.
• Mostly Sondheim (2002) – A concert that featured his songs.

Film Score Recordings

For a long time, it was hard to find recordings of Kaper's film music. But in recent years, many of his scores have been released on CD. You can now listen to music from films like Them!, Lili, and The Swan.

Bronisław Kaper's Legacy

The Bronisław Kaper Awards

The Bronisław Kaper Awards For Young Artists are special awards given out every year by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. These awards are for young, talented musicians who play piano or string instruments.

The awards are named after Bronisław Kaper because he was a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association's Board of Directors for over 15 years. These awards help encourage young musicians to develop their skills. Winners receive money: $2,500 for first place, $2,000 for second place, and $500 for the Most Promising Musician. In 2007, the competition was for string players.

Selected Films with Kaper's Music

• The Big Attraction (1931)
• A Mad Idea (1932)
• His Highness Love (1931)
• Marriage with Limited Liability (1931)
• Scandal on Park Street (1932)
• Three on a Honeymoon (1932)
• Honeymoon Trip (1933)
• Things Are Getting Better Already (1932)
• Madame Wants No Children (1933)
• A Song for You (1933)
• Today Is the Day (1933)
• All for Love (1933)
• A Man Has Been Stolen (1934)
• Moscow Nights (1934)
• A Day at the Races (1937)
• The Captain Is a Lady (1940)
• Above Suspicion (1943)
• Gaslight (1944)
• Mrs. Parkington (1944)
• The Stranger (1946)
• The Great Sinner (1949)
• A Life of Her Own (1950)
• To Please a Lady (1950)
• The Red Badge of Courage (1951)
• The Naked Spur (1953)
• Lili (1953)
• Them! (1954)
• The Prodigal (1955)
• The Glass Slipper (1955)
• The Adventures of Quentin Durward (1955)
• The Swan (1956)
• Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)
• The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1957)
• Jet Pilot (1957)
• Don't Go Near the Water (1957)
• The Brothers Karamazov (1958)
• Auntie Mame (1958)
• Green Mansions (1959)
• The Scapegoat (1959)
• Home from the Hill (1960)
• BUtterfield 8 (1960)
• Ada (1961)
• Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)
• Kisses for My President (1964)
• Lord Jim (1965)
• Tobruk (1967)
• The Way West (1967)
• Counterpoint (1968)
• A Flea in Her Ear (1968)

See also

• Cinema of Poland
• List of Polish Academy Award winners and nominees
• List of Poles