Search a film or person :
FacebookConnectionRegistration
John Addison is a Scriptwriter and Sound British born on 16 march 1920 at Chobham (United-kingdom)

John Addison

John Addison
If you like this person, let us know!
Birth name John Mervyn Addison
Nationality United-kingdom
Birth 16 march 1920 at Chobham (United-kingdom)
Death 7 december 1998 (at 78 years) at Bennington (USA)
Awards Emmy Award

John Mervyn Addison (16 March 1920 – 7 December 1998) was a British composer best known for his film scores.

Addison was born in Chobham, Surrey to a father who was a colonel in the British Army, and this influenced the decision to send him to school at Wellington College, Berkshire. At the age of sixteen he entered the Royal College of Music, where he studied composition with Gordon Jacob, oboe with Léon Goossens, and clarinet with Frederick Thurston. This education ended in 1939 with service in World War II. Addison served with the British XXX Corps in the 23rd Hussars. He was a tank officer in the Battle of Normandy and wounded at Caen, later participating in Operation Market Garden. At the end of the war, he returned to London to teach composition at the Royal College of Music.

Addison is best known for his film scores. He won an Academy Award and a Grammy Award in the Best Original Score from a Motion Picture or Television Show category for the music to the 1963 film, Tom Jones. He also won a BAFTA Award for A Bridge Too Far (1977). His other film scores included A Taste of Honey (1961), Smashing Time (1967), The Honey Pot (1967), Sleuth (1972), Swashbuckler (1976) and the television series Centennial (1978).

He composed the theme music for the television series Murder, She Wrote, for which he won an Emmy. Addison will also be remembered as the composer Alfred Hitchcock turned to when the director ended his long relationship with Bernard Herrmann over the score to his 1966 film Torn Curtain.

He had a personal connection to Reach for the Sky (1956) which he scored, since Douglas Bader (the subject of the movie) was his brother-in-law.

For the theatre, Addison wrote the music for John Osborne's plays The Entertainer (1957) and Luther. (1961) He collaborated with John Cranko on a revue, "Cranks" in 1956.

Although he wrote numerous classical compositions, Addison explained that "If you find you're good at something, as I was as a film composer, it's stupid to do anything else." His classical works included a trumpet concerto, described by The Times as "buoyant" and "Gershwinesque"; a trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon; Carte Blanche, a ballet for Sadler's Wells from which an orchestral suite of "sophisticated high spirits" was performed at the Proms; a septet for wind and harp, a piano concerto, a concertante for oboe, clarinet, horn and orchestra; and a partita for strings, which was warmly praised.

Marlene Dietrich recorded If He Swing By the String and Such Trying Times from the music in Tom Jones.

Addison's collection of correspondence, scores, and studio recordings were donated to the Film Music Archives at Brigham Young University in 1994. He was survived by his wife Pamela; two sons Jonathan and Daniel; daughter Lucinda; stepson Rex Birchenough, and stepdaughter Sandra Stapleton.
His daughter Jane pre-deceased him.

Best films

A Bridge Too Far (1977)
(Original Music Composer)
Tom Jones (1964)
(Original Music Composer)
The Red Beret (1953)
(Music)

Usually with

Roy Boulting
Roy Boulting
(9 films)
Tony Richardson
Tony Richardson
(10 films)
John Boulting
John Boulting
(9 films)
Desmond Davis
Desmond Davis
(7 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of John Addison (70 films)

Display filmography as list

Scriptwriter

The Honey Pot, 2h6
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Crime
Themes Films based on plays
Actors Rex Harrison, Susan Hayward, Cliff Robertson, Capucine, Edie Adams, Maggie Smith
Rating67% 3.3962153.3962153.3962153.3962153.396215
Struggling actor William McFly (Cliff Robertson) is hired by wealthy Cecil Fox (Rex Harrison) to play his personal secretary for a practical joke. Pretending to be on his deathbed, Fox invites three former lovers to his Venetian palazzo for a final visit: penniless Princess Dominique (Capucine), fading movie star Merle McGill (Edie Adams), and Texas millionairess Mrs. Lone Star Crockett Sheridan (Susan Hayward). Accompanying Mrs. Sheridan is her spinster nurse, Sarah Watkins (Maggie Smith). By chance, each of the women brings Fox a timepiece as a present.

Sound

The Phantom of the Opera (miniseries), 2h48
Directed by Tony Richardson
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Horror, Musical, Romance
Actors Charles Dance, Theresa Polo, Adam Storke, Burt Lancaster, Ian William Richardson, Andréa Ferréol
Roles Music
Rating73% 3.6940053.6940053.6940053.6940053.694005
The Phantom of the Opera (Charles Dance) is a disfigured musician named Erik who lives below the Opéra Garnier in Paris. He has a large part in managing each performance through his friend Gerard Carriere (Burt Lancaster). The Phantom's life changes when Carriere is dismissed and the opera hires a new manager, Choleti. Choleti's wife Carlotta is a spoiled woman with a bad personality and terrible voice to match; it is obvious that Choleti bought his way into the managership to further his wife's career. The Phantom takes an instant dislike to them both. Choleti and Carlotta refuse to listen to warnings about the "ghost" who haunts the opera house, even when Joseph Buquet, Carlotta's wardrobe man, goes down below and does not return (his is later found to have been killed). Christine Daae (Teri Polo) comes to the Paris Opera House in search of voice lessons that Phillipe, the Comte de Chagny promised her, learning that she is not the first pretty face that Phillipe brought there. Carlotta initially dismisses her, but upon learning that Christine "has a patron who is powerful" states that Christine can work in the costume department in Buquet's place. Christine has no home or money, but Jean-Claude, the doorman, lets her stay in a storage room in the Opera House. That night, Christine wanders onto the stage and sings to the empty theater. The Phantom is immediately entranced by her voice. Hiding in the orchestra pit, he tells her that her voice is miraculous but untrained, and with proper technique her singing could reach its full potential. He offers to be her teacher, but must remain anonymous; that is why he wears a mask. They begin lessons, and the Phantom falls deeper in love with her. When she asks of his opinion on the Comte de Chagny, he replies "he is unworthy of you. He comes to the Opera for the wrong reasons ... he comes for the beauty of faces rather than the beauty of music.
Strange Voices, 1h40
Directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Themes Medical-themed films, Films about psychiatry
Actors Nancy McKeon, Valerie Harper, Dr. Stephen Macht, Tricia Leigh Fisher, Millie Perkins, Marta Kristen
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating60% 3.049883.049883.049883.049883.04988
Nicole is a bright, gifted and attractive college student, with a normal home life and a boyfriend. Trouble starts when she gets paranoid that her boyfriend is cheating on her and comments that "they" told her everything. She returns home and starts to hear voices. Confused, she begins acting violently, destroying her father's computer and offending his guests during a party. Her parents Dave and Lynn take her to the hospital, where she is diagnosed with schizophrenia. They refuse to believe that she has the disorder, however, blaming Nicole's behavior on her split with Jeff. They ignore the doctor's advice and take her back home, where she admits to her younger sister Lisa that she reacted that way because she heard voices and couldn't control herself. Nicole soon returns to college, takes back Jeff and stops taking the medication she was prescribed.
Dead Man's Folly, 1h34
Directed by Clive Donner
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Crime
Actors Peter Ustinov, Jean Stapleton, Constance Cummings, Tim Pigott-Smith, Jonathan Cecil, Kenneth Cranham
Roles Music
Rating62% 3.147163.147163.147163.147163.14716
Durant un jeu de détective organisé par Arianne Oliver dans un club, un véritable meurtre est commis. Présent parmi les joueurs, Hercule Poirot se met à enquêter, aidé par son fidèle ami de toujours, le capitaine Hastings.
Grace Quigley, 1h27
Directed by Anthony Harvey
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Actors Katharine Hepburn, Nick Nolte, Walter Abel, William Duell, Chip Zien, Elizabeth Wilson
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating57% 2.854352.854352.854352.854352.85435
Grace Quigley arrive à la fin de sa vie, vivant seule dans son appartement de New York. Un jour, elle est témoin d'un meurtre commis par TopHit-man, Seymour Flint. Elle décide de lui faire du chantage et la tuer, cependant, elle a un ou deux amis qui souhaitent la voire mourir .....
Thirteen at Dinner, 1h27
Directed by Lou Antonio
Origin USA
Genres Crime
Actors Peter Ustinov, Faye Dunaway, Diane Keen, Bill Nighy, Jonathan Cecil, David Suchet
Roles Music
Rating61% 3.092083.092083.092083.092083.09208
Hercule Poirot fait la connaissance sur un plateau de télévision de l'acteur Bryan Martin et de sa future partenaire à l'écran Jane Wilkinson, qui s'avère être en réalité Carlotta Adams, une imitatrice. Ils sont tous invités chez la véritable actrice qui apprécie le talent de Carlotta. Jane demande à Poirot d'intercéder en sa faveur auprès de son mari, Lord Edgware, pour obtenir son consentement en vue d'un divorce. Ce dernier assure à Poirot avoir pourtant déjà donné son consentement par écrit quelques mois plus tôt. Peu après, Lord Edgware est retrouvé mort.
Code Name: Emerald, 1h31
Directed by Jonathan Sanger
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Action, Adventure, Spy
Themes Spy films, Political films
Actors Ed Harris, Max von Sydow, Eric Stoltz, Horst Buchholz, Patrick Stewart, Cyrielle Clair
Rating59% 2.953932.953932.953932.953932.95393
During World War II and a few months prior to the Normandy landings, Gus Lang, an Allied agent, is sent to occupied France in order to rescue an "overlord" captured by the Germans - one of the key people with intimate knowledge of when and where the D-Day invasion will actually occur. Several people will help him to succeed: a secret friend of the Allies, a vital German officer who is a highly placed mole, and the French resistance. The SS, however, will try to block their plans.
Strange Invaders, 1h34
Directed by Michael Laughlin
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Comedy, Action, Horror, Comic science fiction
Themes Films about writers, Films about journalists, Comedy science fiction films, Films set in the future, Films about extraterrestrial life, Films about extraterrestrial life, Alien invasions in films, Disaster films
Actors Paul Le Mat, Nancy Allen, Diana Scarwid, Michael Lerner, Louise Fletcher, Wallace Shawn
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating53% 2.6977952.6977952.6977952.6977952.697795
In 1958, the town of Centerville, Illinois was invaded by a race of aliens. The invaders could fire lasers from their eyes and hands and reduce humans to "crystallized" glowing blue orbs. They took over the form of the humans who were either captured or killed.
I Was a Mail Order Bride, 1h32
Directed by Marvin J. Chomsky
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Actors Valerie Bertinelli, Ted Wass, Kenneth Kimmins, Karen Morrow, Holland Taylor, Sam Wanamaker
Roles Music
Rating59% 2.954562.954562.954562.954562.95456
Kate Tosconi is a journalist in her early 20s working in Chicago for a women's magazine called Contemporary Woman Magazine. Having a special interest for trains, she is enthusiastic to do an article on rail transport. However, her boss Dottie Birmington only allows her to do the piece if she also does an article on mail-order brides. She reluctantly places an advertisement, which is responded by Robert Fitzgerald.
The Pilot
The Pilot (1980)

Directed by Cliff Robertson
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action
Themes Films about alcoholism, Medical-themed films, Films about drugs, Transport films, Aviation films
Actors Cliff Robertson, Diane Baker, Frank Converse, Judy Wilson, Dana Andrews, Milo O'Shea
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating63% 3.192773.192773.192773.192773.19277
Mike Hagan is a pilot in passenger service and a candidate for the honor of Best Pilot of the Year. There's only one problem -- Mike is an alcoholic.
Love's Savage Fury, 1h40
Directed by Joseph Hardy
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War
Actors Jennifer O'Neill, Perry King, Jennifer O'Dell, Raymond Burr, Robert Reed, Debbi Morgan
Roles Music
Rating56% 2.8455352.8455352.8455352.8455352.845535
Pendant la Guerre de Sécession, une jeune femme sudiste essaie de tenir son foyer quand les Nordistes envahissent la région.
The Bastard, 4h
Directed by Lee H. Katzin
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Historical, Romance
Themes Political films
Actors Andrew Stevens, Tom Bosley, Kim Cattrall, Buddy Ebsen, Lorne Greene, Olivia Hussey
Roles Music
Rating67% 3.3970953.3970953.3970953.3970953.397095
Phillipe Charboneau is the illegitimate son of an English duke. When he travels from France to England to claim his inheritance, he incurs the wrath of his father's family and is forced to flee to America, where he becomes involved in the events leading to the American Revolution.
A Bridge Too Far, 2h50
Directed by Richard Attenborough, Sidney Hayers
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Action, Adventure, Historical
Themes Pont, Political films
Actors Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Michael Byrne, Edward Fox
Roles Original Music Composer
Rating73% 3.698743.698743.698743.698743.69874
The film begins with a montage of archival film footage narrated by a Dutch woman, Kate ter Horst, describing the state of affairs in September 1944. The Allied advance is being slowed by overextended supply lines.
Joseph Andrews, 1h44
Directed by Tony Richardson
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Action, Adventure, Romance
Actors Ann-Margret, Peter Firth, Michael Hordern, Beryl Reid, Jim Dale, Peter C. Bull
Roles Conductor
Rating56% 2.801092.801092.801092.801092.80109
Lady Booby alias "Belle", the lively wife of the fat landed squire Sir Thomas Booby, has a lusty eye on the attractive, intelligent villager Joseph Andrews, a Latin pupil and protégé of parson Adams, and makes him their footman. Joseph's heart belongs to a country girl, foundling Fanny Goodwill, but his masters take him on a fashionable trip to Bath, where the spoiled society comes mainly to see and be seen, yet Sir Thomas really seeks relief for his sick foot, but drowns in the famous Roman baths. When the all but grieving lady finds Joseph's Christian virtue and true love resist her lusting passes just as well as the many ladies who fancy her footman, she fires the boy. On his way back on foot, he falls prey to highwaymen who rob him of everything, even the clothes on his back. He is found and nursed by an innkeeper's maid, which stirs lusts there, again besides his honorable conduct, but is found by the good parson. Meanwhile the lady consents to her cousin marrying below their station when learning the fiancée is Joseph's sister, Pamela. The parson barely escapes a wicked gentleman's totally unjust, all but gentle justice after being accused of the attempted rape committed by a squire he actually prevented and comes to learn ever more about a relevant child-theft by gypsies, but meanwhile he, Joseph and Fanny fall prey again to the rapist's utter debauchery.
Swashbuckler, 1h41
Directed by James Goldstone
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Swashbuckler, Action, Adventure
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, Pirate films, Children's films
Actors Robert Shaw, James Earl Jones, Peter Boyle, Geneviève Bujold, Beau Bridges, Geoffrey Holder
Roles Music
Rating60% 3.0009753.0009753.0009753.0009753.000975
In Jamaica in 1718, a band of pirates led by Captain “Red” Ned Lynch oppose a greedy overlord, the evil Lord Durant. Durant has ruthlessly imprisoned his Lord High Justice and mercilessly evicted the judge's wife and daughter. The daughter, Jane Barnet, attempts a rescue with Lynch’s help.