Michael Small

American composer (1939–2003)


title: "Michael Small" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["american-film-score-composers", "american-male-film-score-composers", "1939-births", "2003-deaths", "deaths-from-prostate-cancer-in-new-york-(state)", "20th-century-american-composers", "20th-century-american-male-composers"] description: "American composer (1939–2003)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Small" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American composer (1939–2003) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

FieldValue
nameMichael Small
birth_date
birth_placeNew York City, US
death_date
death_placeNew York City, US
occupationFilm score composer
years_active1969–2003
spouseLynn Goldberg
::

| name = Michael Small | image = | imagesize = | caption = | birthname = | birth_date = | birth_place = New York City, US | death_date = | death_place = New York City, US | othername = | occupation = Film score composer | years_active = 1969–2003 | spouse = Lynn Goldberg | domestic_partner = | website =

Michael Small (May 30, 1939 – November 24, 2003) was an American film score composer known for his scores to thriller movies such as Klute, The Parallax View, Marathon Man, and The Star Chamber.

Personal life

Small was born in New York City but grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey. His father, Jack Small, was an actor and later, the general manager of the Shubert Theater in New York City. Small did his undergraduate work at Williams College where he graduated with a degree in English. He later studied for a year at Harvard University.

Small died from prostate cancer on November 24, 2003, at the age of 64.

Filmography

::data[format=table]

YearFilmDirectorNotes
1969Out of ItPaul Williams
1970JennyGeorge Bloomfield
LightPaul Cohen
The RevolutionaryPaul Williams
Puzzle of a Downfall ChildJerry Schatzberg
1971The Sporting ClubLarry Peercesoundtrack Buddah Records BDS 95002
KluteAlan J. Pakulasoundtrack Film Score Monthly FSM1016
1972Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag BluesPaul Williamssoundtrack Warner Bros. 7557 (7" promo)
Child's PlaySidney Lumet
1973Love and Pain and the Whole Damn ThingAlan J. Pakula
Portrait of a RailroadHarvey Lloydsoundtrack Atco Records 23898
1974The Parallax ViewAlan J. Pakulasoundtrack Film Score Monthly FSM1305
1975The Stepford WivesBryan Forbes
Night MovesArthur Penn
The Drowning PoolStuart Rosenberg
1976Marathon ManJohn Schlesingersoundtrack Film Score Monthly FSM1305
1977Pumping IronGeorge Butler
Robert Fiore
Audrey RoseRobert Wise
1978The DriverWalter Hillsoundtrack Intrada Special Collection 33
GirlfriendsClaudia Weill
Comes a HorsemanAlan J. Pakulasoundtrack Intrada Special Collection 61
1979The China SyndromeJames Bridgesunused score Intrada Special Collection 110
Going in StyleMartin Brest
1980The Lathe of Heaven (TV)Fred Barzyk
David Loxton
The Boy Who Drank Too Much (TV)Jerrold Freedman
Those Lips, Those EyesMichael Pressman
1981The Postman Always Rings TwiceBob Rafelson
Continental DivideMichael Apted
RolloverAlan J. Pakula
1982La donna giustaPaul Williams
1983The Star ChamberPeter Hyamssoundtrack Intrada Special Collection 33
Chiefs (TV miniseries)Jerry London
1984KidcoRonald F. Maxwellsoundtrack Intrada Signature Edition ISE1044
FirstbornMichael Apted
1985TargetArthur Penn
1986Dream LoverAlan J. Pakula
Nobody's ChildLee Grant
Brighton Beach MemoirsGene Sakssoundtrack MCA Records MCA-6193
1987Black WidowBob Rafelsonsoundtrack Intrada Special Collection 29
Jaws: The RevengeJoseph Sargentsoundtrack Intrada Special Collection MSML 1001
OrphansAlan J. Pakula
Heat and SunlightRob Nilsson
19881969Ernest Thompson
1989See You in the MorningAlan J. Pakula
1990Mountains of the MoonBob Rafelsonsoundtrack Polydor Records 843 013-2
American DreamBarbara Kopple
1991MobstersMichael Karbelnikoffsoundtrack Varèse Sarabande VSD5334
1992Consenting AdultsAlan J. Pakulasoundtrack Milan Records 35630
1993Alex Haley's Queen (TV)John Erman
1994Wagons EastPeter Marklesoundtrack Varèse Sarabande VSD5533
1998Poodle Springs (TV)Bob Rafelson
Into My HeartSean Smith
Anthony Stark
1999American Masters
"Norman Rockwell: Painting America" (TV)Elena Mannes
2000The Golden Spiders: A Nero Wolfe Mystery (TV)Paul Monash
The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic ExpeditionGeorge Butler
2001Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific (TV)Richard Pearceoriginal music
2001–2002A Nero Wolfe Mystery (TV series)Timothy Hutton
John L'Ecuyer
George Bloomfield
Neill Fearnley
Michael Jaffe
John R. Pepper
James Tolkan
Holly Dale
::

References

References

  1. Greiving, Tim. (10 March 2021). "Michael Small, Film Music's Prince of Paranoia". [[The Criterion Collection]].
  2. [https://archive.today/20130213081613/http://www.runmovies.eu/index.php?option=com_muscol&view=album&id=282 Review], ''Klute'' soundtrack; Larson, Randall D., originally published online at buysoundtrax.com in "Soundtrax" for January 1, 2008, posted at Soundtrack: The CinemaScore and Soundtrack Archives
  3. [{{AllMusic
  4. [https://archive.today/20120909185407/http://www.runmovies.eu/index.php?option=com_muscol&view=album&id=280 Review], ''Black Widow'' soundtrack; Larson, Randall D., originally published online at mania.com in "Soundtrax" for March 16, 2006, posted at Soundtrack: The CinemaScore and Soundtrack Archives
  5. [http://www.runmovies.eu/index.php?option=com_muscol&view=album&id=281&Itemid=96 Review], ''Mountains of the Moon'' soundtrack; Larson, Randall D., originally published in ''Soundtrack Magazine'' (volume 9, number 35, 1990), posted at Soundtrack: The CinemaScore and Soundtrack Archives

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american-film-score-composersamerican-male-film-score-composers1939-births2003-deathsdeaths-from-prostate-cancer-in-new-york-(state)20th-century-american-composers20th-century-american-male-composers