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Ken Thorne

Ken Thorne

Composer · Died July 9, 2014, aged 90 · East Dereham, Norfolk, England, UK

Ken Thorne was born on January 26, 1924 (Aquarius) in East Dereham, Norfolk, England, UK. He was married to Linda Hayes (23 March 1973 - 9 July 2014) until his death. They had 3 children together, Jennifer Coplin, Emily Thorne and Claire Thorne. He died on July 9, 2014 in West Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA. He is known for his work on Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983) and U-571 (2000). Ken is an Oscar-winning British composer and conductor who began work as a big band pianist in the 1940's. At age 27, he studied composition with private tutors at Cambridge.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 26, 1924
Died
July 9, 2014 (aged 90)
From
East Dereham, Norfolk, England, UK
Works as
Composer
Titles
41 on MovieCove · 66 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 7% in 30 days

What are Ken Thorne's films like?

Across their 37 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Thriller2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th percentile
: browse their Thriller movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
24%
Bonds
22%
Self
19%
Power
16%
Survival
11%
Society
8%
Identity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 12 · Dark 5

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 12 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 7

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 10 · Charged 17 · Intense 7

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 15 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 5

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 11

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 21 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 18 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 3

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Absurd
12
Joyful
10
Thrilling
9
Melancholic
7
Other
34

How their films linger

Fun16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy18
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ken Thorne's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 41 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ken Thorne's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

66 credits, 41 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Marco Polo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Composer

  • Marco Polo(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut(2006)

    Additional Music

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Love Comes Softly(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Santa, Jr.(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • In the Beginning(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Mary, Mother of Jesus(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Apocalypse Watch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 3 episodes · Composer

  • The Apocalypse Watch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Composer

  • Escape Clause(1996)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · Composer

  • A Season of Hope(1995)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Return to Lonesome Dove(1993)

    Show 4 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Sunset Grill(1993)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Age of Treason(1993)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Diana: Her True Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Composer

  • Lethal Exposure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Composer

  • Spies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Composer

  • Bejewelled(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Personals(1990)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Great Expectations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 6 episodes · Composer

  • The Trouble with Spies(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Return of Sherlock Holmes(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Lost In London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Composer

  • The Protector(1985)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn(1985)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Finders Keepers(1984)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Evil That Men Do(1984)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Lassiter(1984)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Superman III(1983)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • White Water Rebels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Composer

  • The House Where Evil Dwells(1982)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame(1982)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Superman II(1980)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Wolf Lake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Composer

  • The Masqueraders(1980)

    Composer

  • The Outsider(1979)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Arabian Adventure(1979)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Death Becomes Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Composer

  • Power Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Composer

  • The Ritz(1976)

    Composer · Conductor · Music Arranger

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Assault on Agathon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Composer

  • London Conspiracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Composer

  • Juggernaut(1974)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Zoo Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 6 episodes · Composer

  • The Persuaders! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Composer

  • Hannie Caulder(1971)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Welcome to the Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Composer

  • Murphy's War(1971)

    Conductor

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Magic Christian(1969)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Bed Sitting Room(1969)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Sinful Davey(1969)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • A Talent for Loving(1973)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Touchables (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Composer

  • Head(1968)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Inspector Clouseau(1968)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • How I Won the War(1967)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum(1966)

    Composer · Music Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Help!(1965)

    Additional Music · Music Arranger · Music Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Master Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Composer

  • Out of the Fog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Composer

  • Dead Man's Evidence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Composer

  • She Knows Y'Know (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Composer

  • It's Trad, Dad! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Composer

  • Three on a Spree(1961)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Vengeance Is Mine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Composer

Career shape

A full career of 65 titles from 1949 to 2007.

Biggest box office

Superman II (1980)

$216M worldwide

Highest rated

Help! (1965)

Midcredits 85th

Most popular right now

Superman III (1983)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Music64 of 65: 56 only music, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score35thOther crew9 of 65: 1 only other crew, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score70th

65 titles, 8 with more than one role — music and other crew overlap on 8 of them.

By decade

1940s1 · crew1960s16 · crew1970s13 · crew1980s15 · crew1990s14 · crew2000s6 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Ken Thorne's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of the 37 of 38 with a score; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 37th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 40 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 40 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed20

Most divisive · composer

Mary, Mother of Jesus (1999)

75th percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006)

Midcredits 92nd · 82% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 52/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles; fans 61, detractors 38. The element that speaks to their work as a composer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ken Thorne's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles34–81 · median 53 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles23–60 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 27 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles34–48 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles36–76 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Ken Thorne work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ken Thorne's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kevin Connor shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles