Instant Nostalgia: Elmer Bernstein's Moving Theme Music for Hollywood and the Stars (Recording)

By An Anonymous, Long-Time Reader

mon, jan 30, 2023 11:51 a.m.

Instant Nostalgia

Dear Mr. Stix,

If you liked Tara's theme from Gone With the Wind by Max Steiner, you ought to hear Elmer Bernstein's memorable theme music for Hollywood and the Stars. This was a weekly TV documentary series I watched in 1963-64 about classic Hollywood films from the silent period to (what was then) modern times. The music perfectly encapsulate feelings of love, loss, and longing. Commenters of this YouTube clip frequently resort to the term "bittersweet" to describe it. I always found it deeply moving. 

Hollywood and the Stars Theme - Elmer Bernstein

Hollywood and the Stars Theme - Elmer Bernstein

P.S.: By the way, Elmer Bernstein was jokingly known as "Bernstein West"; "Bernstein East" was, of course, Leonard.