Hans J. Salter

Born in Vienna, composer/conductor Hans J. Salter was a graduate of his hometown's Academy of Music. Before signing with the musical department at Germany's UFA film studios, Salter was music director at Vienna's Volksoper and Berlin's State Opera. He fled the Nazi regime in 1937, immediately securing a composer post at Hollywood's Universal Studios, where he remained until 1964. Though he composed over 150 film soundtracks, Hans J. Salter is perhaps most closely associated with his pulsating score for 1939's Son of Frankenstein, which Universal continued to cannibalize for its B-horror films -- notably the Mummy series -- for many years thereafter. - Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide