Charles Previn
Charles Previn (January 11, 1888 – September 22, 1973) was an American film composer who was active in Universal in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. Before being based in Hollywood, Previn arranged music for over 100 Broadway productions. Previn was born in Brooklyn to Henrietta Giballe and the rabbi Morris Previn, who a year earlier had emigrated from Graudenz via Glasgow to the United States.
Charles Previn

Roxy Theatre · Variety (May 1927), on the Internet Archive · Public domain
- Name
- Charles Previn
- Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York
- Place of death
- Los Angeles, California
- Occupation
- Film composer
- Born
- 1888 · Brooklyn.
- Died
- 1973 · Hollywood.
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- film score
- Education
- Cornell University · New York College of Music
- Honours
- Academy Award for Best Score and Adaptation or Treatment
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Charles Previn (January 11, 1888 – September 22, 1973) was an American film composer who was active in Universal in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. Before being based in Hollywood, Previn arranged music for over 100 Broadway productions. Previn was born in Brooklyn to Henrietta Giballe and the rabbi Morris Previn, who a year earlier had emigrated from Graudenz via Glasgow to the United States.
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Documentary evidence
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wikidata · Q1065815 · wikipedia · Charles Previn
In this article
Biography
Biography
He graduated from Brooklyn High School and obtained a bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1910. He obtained a master's degree from New York College of Music. From 1936 to 1944, Previn was musical director at Universal, overseeing everything from horror pictures to Arabian Nights fantasies. He died in Los Angeles, aged 85.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Charles Previn • Birthplace — Brooklyn, New York • Place of death — Los Angeles, California • Occupation — Film composer
Professional career
Professional career
• Musician and conductor of vaudeville and musical comedy • Conductor of the St. Louis Municipal Opera • Conductor of NBC's Camel Pleasure Hour in 1930, featuring cornetist Bix Beiderbecke • Conductor on the NBC radio series Silken Strings from 1934 through 1936 • 1936–1944 — Musical director, arranger, composer and conductor at Universal. While there, Previn accumulated over 225 films to his credit, including most of Deanna Durbin's films. • 1944 — Previn began working at other studios • 1945–1947 — Previn succeeded Ernö Rapée as music director/conductor of the Radio City Music Hall Symphony • 1947 — Previn returned to Hollywood and worked at Eagle-Lion and MGM • 1947 — Ithaca Conservatory of Music awarded Previn an honorary doctorate • 1953 — Previn retired While at Universal, Previn composed uncredited stock music for several of the studio's releases.
Partial filmography
Partial filmography
• The White Monkey (1925) • Prescription for Romance (1937) • The Missing Guest (1938) • The Witness Vanishes (1939) • Destry Rides Again (1939; musical director) • Inside Information (1939) • Missing Evidence (1939) • Ex-Champ (1939) • Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941) • Who Done It? (1942) • Arabian Nights (1942) • He's My Guy (1943)
Parents
Parents
• Father: Rabbi Morris Previn (December 1860, Russia – 16 August 1929, Brooklyn) • Mother: Henrietta Previn (September 1859, Germany – September 1948, New York, NY) • Morris and Henrietta were married in about 1880. Morris Previn was a rabbi at Ascha-Shorem on 78 Ten Eyck Street in Brooklyn.
Siblings
Siblings
• Rosie (December 1882, Germany – May 1948, New York, NY) • MARRIED NAMES • Rose Meyer (married Dr. Joseph H. Meyer) • Leo Previn (3 August 1884, Graudenz, Germany – February 1954, New York, NY) • Arthur Gerald Previn (14 February 1886, Germany – July 1969, Falls Church, Virginia) • Bess (born October 1892, New York City – April 30, 1983, New York City) • MARRIED NAMES • Bess Landau (married Saul Albert Landau 19 November 1914 Manhattan, NY) • Bess Nathanson • Bess Kurtzman • Jules Previn (23 July 1894, Connecticut – January 1976, Virginia) • William Oliver Previn (19 June 1896, New York City – 16 August 1978, Washington, D.C.) • Stanley S. Previn (3 August 1899 – November 1973, Los Angeles)
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1973
Charles Previn died on 22 September 1973.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Brooklyn
Residences
Hollywood.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
institutional register
- IMSLP authority file Category:Previn,_Charles
General reference · IMSLP
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1065815: Charles Previn
General reference · Wikimedia Foundation
reference work
- “Charles Previn”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Oscar Award
Oscar Award
• Best Score (1937) — One Hundred Men and a Girl - Musical Director
Academy Award nominations
Academy Award nominations
• Best Score (1938) — Mad About Music (w. Frank Skinner) • Best Score (1939) — First Love • Best Score (1940) — Spring Parade • Scoring of a Musical Picture (1941) — Buck Privates • Scoring of a Musical Picture (1942) — It Started With Eve (w. Hans J. Salter) • Scoring of a Musical Picture (1944) — Song of the Open Road
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
institutional register
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Wikidata, structured authority record Q1065815: Charles PrevinWikimedia Foundation
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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