
Roy Webb
- Known for
- Sound
- Born
- October 3, 1888
- Died
- December 10, 1982 (aged 94)
- Birthplace
- New York City, New York, USA
Biography
Roy Webb (né Royden Denslow Webb; October 3, 1888 – December 10, 1982) was an American film music composer. Webb has hundreds of film music credits to his name, mainly with RKO Pictures. He is best known for film noir and horror film scores, in particular for the films of Val Lewton. Born in Manhattan, New York, Webb orchestrated and conducted for the Broadway stage, before moving to Hollywood in the late 1920s to work as music director for Radio Pictures, later RKO Pictures. He remained at RKO until 1955, then worked freelance for several years, including scoring several episodes of Wagon Train. Webb is credited as composer or arranger on more than 200 films, and received Academy Award nominations for Quality Street (1937), My Favorite Wife (1940), I Married a Witch (1942), Joan of Paris (1942), The Fallen Sparrow (1943), The Fighting Seabees (1944), and The Enchanted Cottage (1945). His piano concerto from The Enchanted Cottage was performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Constantin Bakaleinikoff, in concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 1945. In 1961, a house fire destroyed Webb's manuscripts including film scores and unpublished concert music, after which Webb ceased composing. Webb died in 1982 from a heart attack at the age of 94. An alumnus of Columbia University, Webb wrote the fight song “Roar, Lion, Roar” for his alma mater in 1925. Several cues composed by Webb were used in the newsreel montage of Kane's life in Citizen Kane. Several cues composed by Webb replaced those by Bernard Herrmann in The Magnificent Ambersons after the film was re-edited. Webb also composed several cues (uncredited) for This is Cinerama, the first Cinerama production in 1952. The Christopher Palmer Collection of Roy Webb Scores is held at Syracuse University, New York.
Known For
Filmography

The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here!
Movie · Sound

Teacher's Pet
Movie · Original Music Composer

Top Secret Affair
Movie · Original Music Composer

Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend
Movie · Original Music Composer

The First Texan
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Girl He Left Behind
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Search for Bridey Murphy
Movie · Original Music Composer

Our Miss Brooks
Movie · Original Music Composer

Blood Alley
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Americano
Movie · Original Music Composer

Bengazi
Movie · Original Music Composer

Marty
Movie · Original Music Composer

Underwater!
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Sea Chase
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Kentuckian
Movie · Original Music Composer

Track of the Cat
Movie · Original Music Composer

Dangerous Mission
Movie · Original Music Composer

She Couldn't Say No
Movie · Original Music Composer

Alaska Seas
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Raid
Movie · Original Music Composer

Second Chance
Movie · Original Music Composer

Split Second
Movie · Original Music Composer

Affair with a Stranger
Movie · Original Music Composer

Houdini
Movie · Original Music Composer

Clash by Night
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Lusty Men
Movie · Original Music Composer

At Sword's Point
Movie · Original Music Composer

Flying Leathernecks
Movie · Music

Hard, Fast and Beautiful!
Movie · Original Music Composer

Fixed Bayonets!
Movie · Original Music Composer

Gambling House
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Secret Fury
Movie · Original Music Composer

The White Tower
Movie · Original Music Composer

Branded
Movie · Original Music Composer

Where Danger Lives
Movie · Original Music Composer

Vendetta
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Window
Movie · Original Music Composer

A Dangerous Profession
Movie · Music

Roughshod
Movie · Original Music Composer

Mighty Joe Young
Movie · Original Music Composer

Holiday Affair
Movie · Original Music Composer

My Friend Irma
Movie · Original Music Composer

Easy Living
Movie · Original Music Composer

Bad Men of Tombstone
Movie · Original Music Composer

Make Mine Laughs
Movie · Original Music Composer

Race Street
Movie · Original Music Composer

Blood on the Moon
Movie · Original Music Composer

Rachel and the Stranger
Movie · Original Music Composer

I Remember Mama
Movie · Original Music Composer

Out of the Past
Movie · Original Music Composer

Riff-Raff
Movie · Original Music Composer

Crossfire
Movie · Original Music Composer

Easy Come, Easy Go
Movie · Original Music Composer

Magic Town
Movie · Original Music Composer

They Won't Believe Me
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Perfect Marriage
Movie · Original Music Composer

Sinbad the Sailor
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Devil Thumbs a Ride
Movie · Original Music Composer

Cass Timberlane
Movie · Original Music Composer

Notorious
Movie · Original Music Composer

Bedlam
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Spiral Staircase
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Locket
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Well Groomed Bride
Movie · Original Music Composer

Badman's Territory
Movie · Original Music Composer

Without Reservations
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Body Snatcher
Movie · Original Music Composer

Cornered
Movie · Original Music Composer

Two O'Clock Courage
Movie · Original Music Composer

Betrayal from the East
Movie · Original Music Composer

Sing Your Way Home
Movie · Original Music Composer

Love, Honor and Goodbye
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Enchanted Cottage
Movie · Original Music Composer

Those Endearing Young Charms
Movie · Original Music Composer

Dick Tracy
Movie · Original Music Composer

Zombies on Broadway
Movie · Music

Murder, My Sweet
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Curse of the Cat People
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Falcon Out West
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Seventh Cross
Movie · Original Music Composer

Rainbow Island
Movie · Original Music Composer

Bride by Mistake
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Master Race
Movie · Original Music Composer

Action in Arabia
Movie · Original Music Composer

Experiment Perilous
Movie · Original Music Composer

Marine Raiders
Movie · Music

Tall in the Saddle
Movie · Original Music Composer

Passport to Destiny
Movie · Music

The Seventh Victim
Movie · Original Music Composer

Journey into Fear
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Ghost Ship
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Falcon in Danger
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Falcon Strikes Back
Movie · Original Music Composer

Gangway for Tomorrow
Movie · Original Music Composer

Bombardier
Movie · Original Music Composer

Mr. Lucky
Movie · Original Music Composer

Flight for Freedom
Movie · Original Music Composer

Ladies' Day
Movie · Original Music Composer

Hitler's Children
Movie · Original Music Composer

Petticoat Larceny
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Fallen Sparrow
Movie · Original Music Composer

Behind the Rising Sun
Movie · Music

A Lady Takes a Chance
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Leopard Man
Movie · Original Music Composer

I Walked with a Zombie
Movie · Original Music Composer

I Married a Witch
Movie · Original Music Composer

Cat People
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Falcon Takes Over
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Falcon's Brother
Movie · Original Music Composer

Bandit Ranger
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Navy Comes Through
Movie · Original Music Composer

Here We Go Again
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Big Street
Movie · Original Music Composer

Obliging Young Lady
Movie · Original Music Composer

My Favorite Spy
Movie · Original Music Composer

Joan of Paris
Movie · Original Music Composer

Seven Miles from Alcatraz
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Saint In Palm Springs
Movie · Original Music Composer

Tom, Dick and Harry
Movie · Original Music Composer

Parachute Battalion
Movie · Original Music Composer

Father Takes a Wife
Movie · Music Director

Look Who's Laughing
Movie · Original Music Composer

Weekend for Three
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Bandit Trail
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Saint's Vacation
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Devil and Miss Jones
Movie · Music Director

A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
Movie · Original Music Composer

Stranger on the Third Floor
Movie · Original Music Composer

Curtain Call
Movie · Original Music Composer

Stage to Chino
Movie · Original Music Composer

Mexican Spitfire Out West
Movie · Original Music Composer

A Bill of Divorcement
Movie · Original Music Composer

Kitty Foyle
Movie · Original Music Composer

Bullet Code
Movie · Original Music Composer

I'm Still Alive
Movie · Original Music Composer

Millionaires in Prison
Movie · Original Music Composer

Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Movie · Original Music Composer

My Favorite Wife
Movie · Original Music Composer

You Can't Fool Your Wife
Movie · Original Music Composer

Irene
Movie · Original Music Composer

Wildcat Bus
Movie · Original Music Composer

Timber Stampede
Movie · Original Music Composer, Music Director

Trouble in Sundown
Movie · Original Music Composer, Music Director

Racketeers of the Range
Movie · Music Director

Bachelor Mother
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Rookie Cop
Movie · Music Director

Love Affair
Movie · Original Music Composer

In Name Only
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Fighting Gringo
Movie · Music

Sued for Libel
Movie · Music Director

Five Came Back
Movie · Original Music Composer

Panama Lady
Movie · Music, Music Director

Bad Lands
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Spellbinder
Movie · Music

Twelve Crowded Hours
Movie · Music Director

That's Right – You're Wrong
Movie · Original Music Composer

Sorority House
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Saint Strikes Back
Movie · Original Music Composer

Bringing Up Baby
Movie · Original Music Composer, Music Director

The Law West of Tombstone
Movie · Music Director

Condemned Women
Movie · Music

The Affairs of Annabel
Movie · Music Director

Go Chase Yourself
Movie · Music Director

Having Wonderful Time
Movie · Music Director

Lawless Valley
Movie · Music

A Man to Remember
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Mad Miss Manton
Movie · Original Music Composer

Vivacious Lady
Movie · Music Director

The Saint in New York
Movie · Original Music Composer

Blond Cheat
Movie · Original Music Composer, Music Director

Next Time I Marry
Movie · Music Director

The Outcasts of Poker Flat
Movie · Music Supervisor

High Flyers
Movie · Original Music Composer

You Can't Buy Luck
Movie · Original Music Composer

We're on the Jury
Movie · Original Music Composer

Sea Devils
Movie · Music Director

New Faces of 1937
Movie · Music Director

Stage Door
Movie · Music Director

The Woman I Love
Movie · Music Director

Quality Street
Movie · Original Music Composer

Forty Naughty Girls
Movie · Music Director

The Last of the Mohicans
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
Movie · Original Music Composer, Music Director

Bunker Bean
Movie · Music Director

The Plough and the Stars
Movie · Original Music Composer

Two in the Dark
Movie · Original Music Composer

Silly Billies
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Lady Consents
Movie · Music Director

Chatterbox
Movie · Original Music Composer

A Woman Rebels
Movie · Music

Murder on a Bridle Path
Movie · Music Director

Sylvia Scarlett
Movie · Music Director, Original Music Composer

Becky Sharp
Movie · Music Director

Alice Adams
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Nitwits
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Arizonian
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Rainmakers
Movie · Music

The Last Days of Pompeii
Movie · Music

In Person
Movie · Music Director

La Cucaracha
Movie · Music Director

By Your Leave
Movie · Original Music Composer

Cockeyed Cavaliers
Movie · Original Music Composer

Hips, Hips, Hooray!
Movie · Original Music Composer

This Man Is Mine
Movie · Original Music Composer

Strictly Dynamite
Movie · Original Music Composer

Let's Try Again
Movie · Original Music Composer

Kentucky Kernels
Movie · Original Music Composer, Music Director

Down to Their Last Yacht
Movie · Original Music Composer

Emergency Call
Movie · Original Music Composer

Blind Adventure
Movie · Original Music Composer

Ann Vickers
Movie · Original Music Composer

Our Betters
Movie · Original Music Composer

Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Right To Romance
Movie · Original Music Composer

If I Were Free
Movie · Original Music Composer

Topaze
Movie · Original Music Composer

Diplomaniacs
Movie · Original Music Composer

Professional Sweetheart
Movie · Music Director

Inside the Lines
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Life of the Party
Movie · Music Director

Alias French Gertie
Movie · Original Music Composer

Shooting Straight
Movie · Original Music Composer

Girl of the Port
Movie · Original Music Composer

Conspiracy
Movie · Original Music Composer

The Delightful Rogue
Movie · Original Music Composer

Rio Rita
Movie · Orchestrator

Seven Keys to Baldpate
Movie · Original Music Composer
