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John Addison

John Addison

Composer · Died December 7, 1998, aged 78 · Chobham, Surrey

Oscar winner · Primetime Emmy winner · BAFTA Award winner · 1 other major award body

English composer John Addison (1920-1998) lent his sophisticated—one is tempted to call it "erudite"—symphonic style to such notable pictures as Tom Jones, Hitchcock's Torn Curtain (replacing Bernard Herrmann), Sleuth, Swashbuckler, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution and A Bridge Too Far. He also wrote the memorable theme to TV's Murder, She Wrote and composed for the stage and concert hall

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 16, 1920
Died
December 7, 1998 (aged 78)
From
Chobham, Surrey
Works as
Composer
Titles
47 on MovieCove · 94 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 38% in 30 days

What are John Addison's films like?

Across their 43 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
20%
Power
18%
Self
17%
Survival
10%
Society
6%
Ideas
4%
Justice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass10 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 42 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 24 · Serious 11 · Dark 7

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 21 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 7

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

Gentle 15 · Charged 18 · Intense 9

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

A split, not a type: Steady 21 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 4

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 17 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 13

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

Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 24 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 19 · Engaged 20 · Full focus 3

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

Resolved 32 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
23
Absurd
14
Warm
13
Melancholic
11
Joyful
8
Other
47

How their films linger

Fun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy22
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous6

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 John Addison's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 47 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Addison'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

94 credits, 47 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Phantom of the Opera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · Composer · as Conductor (uncredited)

  • Beryl Markham: A Shadow on the Sun(1988)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Strange Voices(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Bride of Boogedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Composer

  • Something in Common (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Composer

  • Mr. Boogedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Composer

  • Dead Man's Folly(1986)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Thirteen at Dinner(1985)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Grace Quigley(1984)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Code Name: Emerald(1985)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Ellis Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 3 episodes · Composer

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 264 episodes · Main Title Theme Composer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Highpoint(1982)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Strange Invaders(1983)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • I Was a Mail Order Bride(1982)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Charles & Diana: A Royal Love Story(1982)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Eleanor, First Lady of the World(1982)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Nero Wolfe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 14 episodes · Composer

  • Mistress of Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Composer

  • The Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Composer

  • The French Atlantic Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · Composer

  • Love's Savage Fury(1979)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Power Within (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Composer

  • Like Normal People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Composer

  • Pearl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 3 episodes · Composer

  • Centennial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 12 episodes · Composer

  • The Bastard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · Composer

  • Black Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 5 episodes · Composer

  • A Bridge Too Far(1977)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Joseph Andrews (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Composer · Conductor

  • The Seven-Per-Cent Solution(1976)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Swashbuckler(1976)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Way of the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Composer

  • Ride a Wild Pony(1975)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Back of Beyond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Composer

  • Dead Cert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Composer

  • Luther(1974)

    Composer · Conductor · Music Arranger

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Concert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Composer

  • Sleuth(1972)

    Composer · Conductor · Music Arranger

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Forbush and the Penguins(1971)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Hamlet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Composer

  • Hamlet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Composer

  • Start the Revolution Without Me(1970)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Brotherly Love(1970)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Charge of the Light Brigade(1968)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Smashing Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Composer

  • The Honey Pot(1967)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Torn Curtain(1966)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • A Fine Madness(1966)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • I Was Happy Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Composer

  • The Loved One(1965)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders(1965)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Uncle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Composer · Conductor

  • Guns at Batasi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Composer

  • Girl with Green Eyes(1964)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Composer

  • The Peaches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Composer

  • The Model Murder Case(1963)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Tom Jones(1963)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner(1962)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Go to Blazes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Composer · Conductor

  • A Taste of Honey(1961)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • His and Hers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Composer

  • A French Mistress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Composer

  • The Entertainer(1960)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • School for Scoundrels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Composer · Conductor

  • Man in a Cocked Hat(1959)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Hell, Heaven or Hoboken(1958)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • All at Sea(1957)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Lucky Jim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Composer · Music Director

  • Cat Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Composer

  • The Shiralee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Composer

  • Three Men in a Boat(1956)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Reach for the Sky(1956)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Private's Progress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Composer · Music Director

  • Josephine and Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Composer

  • Touch and Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Composer

  • That Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Composer

  • One Good Turn(1955)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Cockleshell Heroes(1955)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Make Me an Offer! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Composer

  • The Black Knight(1954)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • High and Dry(1954)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Tonight in Britain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Composer

  • The Man Between (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Composer

  • The Red Beret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Composer

  • Terror on a Train(1953)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Operation Hurricane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Composer

  • The Hour of 13(1952)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • High Treason (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Composer

  • Pool of London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Composer

  • Seven Days to Noon(1950)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Brighton Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Music Arranger

Career shape

A full career of 89 titles from 1948 to 1990.

Biggest box office

A Bridge Too Far (1977)

$51M worldwide

Highest rated

Sleuth (1972)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Murder, She Wrote (1984)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 89: 0 only acting, 1 with another roleMusic88 of 89: 74 only music, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thOther crew14 of 89: 1 only other crew, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score69th

89 titles, 14 with more than one role — music and other crew overlap on 13 of them.

By decade

1940s1 · crew1950s24 · crew1960s22 · crew1970s23 · crew1980s18 · crew1990s1 · 1 acting · 1 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.

Awards

an Oscar, a Primetime Emmy, a BAFTA Award and 1 other major award from 9 major nominations, 1964–1990.

WinNomination
  1. 1990
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries or a Special (Dramatic Underscore)
  2. 1985
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
  3. 1978
    • BAFTA Award, won
  4. 1973
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Music, Original Dramatic Score
  5. 1971
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition - For a Special Program
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction of a Variety, Musical or Dramatic Program
  6. 1969
    • BAFTA Award, nominated
  7. 1964
    • Oscar, won · Best Music, Score - Substantially Original
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Grammy Award, won · Best Original Score from a Motion Picture or Television Show

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do John Addison's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 53rd percentile, the median of all 45; across their 42 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Reach · how many have seen their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Midcredits score across 47 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 47 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · composer

Charles & Diana: A Royal Love Story (1982)

85th percentile spread · 41% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

Sleuth (1972)

Midcredits 96th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 53/100 in their films, across 32 reviewed titles; fans 60, detractors 37. 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 John Addison's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles10–42 · median 22 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 27 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian 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 John Addison work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Addison's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tony Richardson shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles