Clifford McCarty, a bookseller and well-known film historian, is the author of Bogey: The Films of Humphrey Bogart and Published Screenplays: A Checklist, co-author of The Films of Errol Flynn and The Films of Frank Sinatra, and editor of Film Music 1. He was for many years vice president of the Film Music Society and co-editor of their journal, The Cue Sheet.

The product of 45 years of research, this landmark reference stands as the first attempt to identify all composers who wrote background musical scores for motion pictures in the US through 1970. In the process, film-expert McCarty also documents the authorship of approximately 20,000 film scores. More than 1,500 composers are represented in these pages, not only Hollywood professionals but also many composers of concert music--as well as popular music and other genres--whose cinematic work has never before been fully catalogued.

Movies of all types are included: features, shorts, cartoons, documentaries, nontheatrical works, avant-garde films, and even trailers. Wherever possible, the information is based on the most reliable evidence, that of the manuscript scores and cue sheets (as opposed to less accurate screen credits).

"McCarty's massive book testifies to his extensive effort to identify composers who have written musical scores for motion pictures in the US, 1911-70, and to uncover the proper authorship of these scores. McCarty should be commended for giving credit where credit is due. Valuable for film and music researchers at all levels."--Choice

"A definitive record of film music's beginnings and its Golden Age of the 40's and 50;s. McCarty's book is a treasure trove- and one...fans ought to delve into with eagerness." Soundtrack Magazine