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Arthur Morton

Composer · Died April 15, 2000, aged 91 · Duluth, Minnesota, USA

Arthur Morton was an American music composer and orchestrator for film and television productions. Arthur Morton, aka Arthur Goldberg, was born on 8th August 1908 in Duluth at the southern end of Lake Superior, 150 miles from Minneapolis. He was educated at West High School , 2808 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis. The school closed in 1982. He continued his education at the University of Minnesota, on the east bank of the Mississippi River, where he also played in jazz bands. He graduated in 1929 and after a year studying law and undertaking further graduate work in philosophy he moved to Los Angeles. Surprisingly, there is no mention of him receiving an advanced musical education. In 1935 he married Emmy Lou Hellman, the daughter of screenwriter Sam Hellman and the sister of Verna Fields, the Academy Award winning film editor of “Jaws”. His 65-year career in Hollywood began in the music departments of the Hal Roach Studios - of Laurel and Hardy fame - and at Columbia Pictures, composing and orchestrating uncredited stock music. His first credited film score was for Night Life of the Gods (1935). While at Columbia he began collaborating with George Duning, aka George Dunning, composing additional music for films such as the 1949 film Lust for Gold and eventually becoming Duning’s orchestrator. During the period, he composed and orchestrated music for over fifty films including: From Here To Eternity (1953), The Man From Laramie (1955), Kismet (1955), and the cult film Oceans Eleven (1960) staring The Rat Pack. In 1955, he orchestrated perhaps the most famous of George Duning’s scores for the film Picnic, which included the hit song Theme from Picnic, which in the film, was blended with the 1930’s standard Moonglow. The score was nominated in 1956 for an Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. Jerry Goldsmith Online

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 8, 1908
Died
April 15, 2000 (aged 91)
From
Duluth, Minnesota, USA
Works as
Composer
Titles
95 on Motif · 121 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 39% in 30 days

What are Arthur Morton's films like?

Across their 13 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Motif score: 28th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Motif score: 28th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Motif score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Motif score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
36%
Self
22%
Power
16%
Bonds
15%
Society
5%
Survival
4%
Ideas
2%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 9 · Serious 2 · Dark 2

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 8 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 7 · Charged 5 · Intense 1

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 9 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Joyful
6
Warm
6
Romantic
4
Melancholic
3
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet2
  • Ambiguous1

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 Arthur Morton's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 41 of their 95 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Arthur Morton's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

121 credits, 95 with a Motif page.

  • L.A. Confidential(1997)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: First Contact(1996)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Chain Reaction(1996)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The River Wild(1994)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Shadow(1994)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Russia House(1990)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Gremlins 2: The New Batch(1990)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Total Recall(1990)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Leviathan(1989)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Extreme Prejudice(1987)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Poltergeist II: The Other Side(1986)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Link(1986)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Explorers(1985)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Rambo: First Blood Part II(1985)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend(1985)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Gremlins(1984)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all films

  • First Blood(1982)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Secret of NIMH(1982)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen(1981)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Superman(1978)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Boys from Brazil(1978)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Damnation Alley(1977)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all films

  • MacArthur(1977)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Islands in the Stream(1977)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Twilight's Last Gleaming(1977)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Omen(1976)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Medical Story(1975)

    Composer

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Chinatown(1974)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Papillon(1973)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Hawkins (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Orchestrator

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Composer

    Motif score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Other(1972)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Mephisto Waltz(1971)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Rio Lobo(1970)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Tora! Tora! Tora!(1970)

    Music Arranger · Orchestrator

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Patton(1970)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Justine(1969)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all films

  • In Like Flint(1967)

    Composer

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Morituri(1965)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Von Ryan's Express(1965)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all films

  • John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!(1965)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Dear Brigitte(1965)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Rio Conchos(1964)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • What a Way to Go!(1964)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Paris When It Sizzles(1964)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?(1963)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Move Over, Darling(1963)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Critic's Choice(1963)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Who's Got the Action?(1962)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films

  • 13 West Street(1962)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • A Raisin in the Sun(1961)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Two Rode Together(1961)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Swingin' Along (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Composer

  • Cry for Happy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Orchestrator

  • The Wackiest Ship in the Army(1960)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Let No Man Write My Epitaph(1960)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Ocean's Eleven(1960)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Last Angry Man(1959)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Gidget(1959)

    Composer

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Say One for Me(1959)

    Composer

    Motif score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Houseboat(1958)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Gunman's Walk(1958)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The High Cost of Loving (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    Orchestrator

  • Pal Joey(1957)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Tijuana Story (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    Composer

  • 3:10 to Yuma(1957)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Jeanne Eagels(1957)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Shadow on the Window(1957)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Nightfall(1956)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Miami Exposé (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    Composer

  • He Laughed Last (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    Composer

  • Inside Detroit (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Composer

  • The Last Frontier(1955)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Three Stripes in the Sun(1955)

    Composer

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Picnic(1955)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Queen Bee(1955)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Kismet(1955)

    Music Arranger

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Man from Laramie(1955)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Chicago Syndicate(1955)

    Composer

    Motif score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Tight Spot (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Orchestrator

  • Phffft(1954)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Pushover(1954)

    Composer

    Motif score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • It Should Happen to You(1954)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Big Heat(1953)

    Composer

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Gun Fury(1953)

    Composer

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • From Here to Eternity(1953)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Let's Do It Again(1953)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Juggler (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    Orchestrator

  • Affair in Trinidad(1952)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Lady and the Bandit(1951)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Harlem Globetrotters (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Composer

  • Never Trust a Gambler(1951)

    Composer

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Magic Carpet(1951)

    Composer

    Motif score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Harriet Craig (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    Orchestrator

  • No Sad Songs for Me(1950)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Father Is a Bachelor (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    Composer

  • The Nevadan(1950)

    Composer

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Walking Hills (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1949)

    Composer

  • Shockproof (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1949)

    Orchestrator

  • Loaded Pistols(1948)

    Composer

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Millie's Daughter (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1947)

    Composer

  • Johnny O'Clock (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1947)

    Orchestrator

  • It Had to Be You(1947)

    Composer

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Home Sweet Homicide (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1946)

    Orchestrator

  • Gilda(1946)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Fallen Angel(1945)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Laura(1944)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Strange Affair (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1944)

    Composer

  • The Lady and the Monster(1944)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Quiet Please, Murder (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1943)

    Orchestrator

  • London Blackout Murders (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1943)

    Orchestrator

  • Inflation (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    Orchestrator

  • The Day the Bookies Wept(1939)

    Composer · Music Director

    Motif score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Merrily We Live(1938)

    Orchestrator

    Motif score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Night Key(1937)

    Composer

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Fit for a King(1937)

    Composer

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Pick a Star(1937)

    Composer

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Theodora Goes Wild (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    Composer

  • She Gets Her Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    Composer

  • Princess O'Hara (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    Composer

  • Night Life of the Gods (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    Composer

Career shape

A full career of 113 titles from 1935 to 1997.

Biggest box office

Gidget (1959)

$248 worldwide

Highest rated

Pushover (1954)

Motif 83rd

Most popular right now

Gidget (1959)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Music24 of 113: 24 only music, 0 with another role · typical Motif score59thOther crew89 of 113: 89 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Motif score66th

By decade

1930s7 · crew1940s13 · crew1950s37 · crew1960s21 · crew1970s16 · crew1980s11 · crew1990s8 · 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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored.

How do Arthur Morton's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 65th percentile, the median of all 94; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Motif score across 95 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up34
  • 50th to 74th31
  • 25th to 49th22
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

48 of their 95 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved16
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser48
  • Broadly Agreed13
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · composer

Medical Story (1975)

68th percentile spread · 15% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

The Big Heat (1953)

Motif 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 57/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 65, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as a composer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif 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.

Who does Arthur Morton work with?

People who share at least 2 of Arthur Morton's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Edward Sedgwick shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers