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Nelson Riddle

Nelson Riddle

Composer · Died October 6, 1985, aged 64 · Oradell, New Jersey, USA

Born
June 1, 1921
Died
October 6, 1985 (aged 64)
From
Oradell, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Composer
Titles
42 on MovieCove · 76 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 11% in 30 days

What are Nelson Riddle's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
Bonds
37%
Morality
21%
Self
18%
Power
13%
Society
5%
Survival
4%
Ideas
3%
Romantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 20 · Serious 4 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 12 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 4

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 14 · Charged 11 · Intense 3

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

Steady 21 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 2

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 7 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 13

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

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 25 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 25 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
16
Warm
9
Melancholic
10
Absurd
7
Tense
7
Other
25

How their films linger

Feel-good19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic2
  • 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 Nelson Riddle's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 42 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Nelson Riddle'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

76 credits, 42 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Batman '66 Meets the Green Hornet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Composer

  • All-Star Party for Lucille Ball(1984)

    Music Director · as Self

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Chattanooga Choo Choo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Composer

  • Linda Ronstadt | in Concert: What's New (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Music Arranger · as Self

  • All-Star Party for Frank Sinatra(1983)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Composer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Help Wanted: Male (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Composer

  • Margin for Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Composer

  • Rough Cut(1980)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • All Star Tribute to Ingrid Bergman(1979)

    Composer · Music Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Guyana: Cult of the Damned(1979)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Music Arranger · Music Director

  • Harper Valley P.T.A.(1978)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Confessions of the D.A. Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Composer

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Composer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • A Circle Street of Children(1977)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The November Plan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Composer

  • How to Break Up a Happy Divorce(1976)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • What Now, Catherine Curtis? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Composer

  • Three for Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Composer

  • Mobile Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Composer

  • Promise Him Anything (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Composer

  • The Runaway Barge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Composer

  • Lucy Gets Lucky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Composer

  • Happy Anniversary and Goodbye(1974)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Great Gatsby(1974)

    Music Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Blue Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Composer

  • The Blue Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 4 episodes · Composer

  • The Helen Reddy Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • Emergency! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Composer

  • The CBS Newcomers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • On a Clear Day You Can See Forever(1970)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Paint Your Wagon(1969)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Great Bank Robbery(1969)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Pat Paulsen for President (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Composer

  • Danger Has Two Faces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Music Arranger

  • The Mountains of the Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Composer

  • Tarzan's Jungle Rebellion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Composer

  • How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying(1967)

    Composer · Conductor · Music Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Spy in the Green Hat(1967)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • El Dorado(1966)

    Composer · Conductor · Songs

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Batman: The Movie(1966)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Red Line 7000(1965)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • A Rage to Live(1965)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Marriage on the Rocks(1965)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Harlow(1965)

    Composer · Conductor · Music Arranger

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • What a Way to Go!(1964)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Robin and the 7 Hoods(1964)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Paris When It Sizzles(1964)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • 4 for Texas(1963)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Battleline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 39 episodes · Composer

  • Come Blow Your Horn(1963)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Lolita(1962)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Alcatraz Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Composer

  • Ocean's Eleven(1960)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Can-Can(1960)

    Conductor · Music Arranger

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Gun of Zangara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Composer

  • Li'l Abner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Composer

  • A Hole in the Head(1959)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Composer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • St. Louis Blues(1958)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Merry Andrew(1958)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Girl Most Likely (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Composer

  • Happy Holidays with Bing and Frank (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Music Director

  • Pal Joey(1957)

    Music Arranger · Other

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Nat King Cole Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Lisbon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Composer

  • High Society(1956)

    Orchestrator

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Johnny Concho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Composer

  • A Kiss Before Dying(1956)

    Orchestrator

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Carousel(1956)

    Orchestrator

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Guys and Dolls(1955)

    Orchestrator

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Flame of the Islands(1955)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Our Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Music Director

  • Satins and Spurs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Music Arranger

  • The Blue Gardenia(1953)

    Music Arranger

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 75 titles from 1953 to 2020.

Biggest box office

Rough Cut (1980)

$17M worldwide

Highest rated

El Dorado (1966)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Lolita (1962)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 75: 3 only acting, 0 with another roleMusic56 of 75: 50 only music, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score49thOther crew22 of 75: 16 only other crew, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score67th

75 titles, 6 with more than one role — music and other crew overlap on 6 of them.

By decade

1950s19 · 1 acting · 18 crew1960s25 · crew1970s23 · 2 acting · 21 crew1980s7 · crew2020s1 · 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 Nelson Riddle's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 39; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Midcredits score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 42 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · composer

All Star Tribute to Ingrid Bergman (1979)

90th percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

El Dorado (1966)

Midcredits 95th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 61/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 44. 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 Nelson Riddle's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 31 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles13–30 · median 18 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 10 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 34 · mildMedian 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 Nelson Riddle work with?

People who share at least 2 of Nelson Riddle's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Frank Sinatra shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers