Stravinsky in Hollywood

When Stravinsky boarded the S.S. Manhattan bound for America in September 1939, he was looking to build a new life, far from the destruction of a looming world war and the repression of authoritarian governments. Widely considered the world’s greatest living composer, he moved hoping to find new employment and inspiration in working for the silver screen, and despite various trials and tribulations, he would remain there for the next 30 years until shortly before his death in 1971.

Filmmaker Marco Capalbo’s documentary explores this fascinating period in Stravinsky’s life and career, making extensive use of never-before-seen archival footage, including interviews with the composer and scenes from big 1940s studio films.