Nicholas Brodszky

Nicholas "Slug" Brodszky (Russian: Николай Бродский; April 20, 1905 – December 24, 1958) was a composer of popular songs for the theatre and for films.

Brodszky was born in Odessa, today Ukraine (occupied by the Russian Empire 1772–1917), into a Jewish family, who moved to Budapest during the civil war in Russia. He spent many years studying and working in Rome, Vienna, Berlin and Budapest. In the 1920s he contributed songs to Viennese operettas. His first film was made in Vienna in 1930 and featured Richard Tauber and Gitta Alpar. He wrote the music for C B Cochran and A P Herbert's coronation revue Home and Beauty at the Adelphi Theatre in 1937.

After a decade in the film industry in Germany and Austria, always keeping one step ahead of the rising Nazi party, he emigrated to the UK at the end of the 1930s. There he had some success providing music for the Terence Rattigan scripted film French Without Tears (1939), and The Way to the Stars (1949), both directed by Anthony Asquith. He also wrote the score for the Yiddish language film Der Purimspieler (1939).

He emigrated once again to the United States at the end of the 1940s. In Hollywood he composed for many musical films including The Toast of New Orleans (1950); Rich, Young and Pretty (1951); Because You're Mine (1952); Small Town Girl (1953); The Student Prince (1954); Love Me or Leave Me (1955); and Serenade (1956).

Among the hit songs he wrote with lyricist Sammy Cahn were "Be My Love" (his most popular song, from The Toast of New Orleans), "I'll Never Stop Loving You," "Because You're Mine," "Serenade," and "My Destiny." He wrote three songs for The Student Prince: "Summertime in Heidelberg," "Beloved," and "I'll Walk with God" (with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster) to supplement the Sigmund Romberg musical score for the 1954 filmed version. Recordings of "Be My Love" and "Because You're Mine" made by the famous 1950s tenor and movie star Mario Lanza were million-seller hits (gold records) on the RCA Victor Red Seal label.

Five of Nicholas Brodszky's musical compositions were nominated for Academy Awards for Best Original Song:

  • 1950, "Be My Love"
  • 1951, "Wonder Why"
  • 1952, "Because You're Mine"
  • 1953, "My Flaming Heart"
  • 1955, "I'll Never Stop Loving You".

Brodszky was a tunesmith who always needed the help of arrangers and assistants to turn his ideas into finished compositions. These assistants included Roy Douglas, Philip Green, Clive Richardson, Mischa Spoliansky, Albert Sendrey, Sidney Torch and Charles Williams, but they were rarely credited. Lionel Salter termed Brodszky a 'near-illiterate.'

He died in Hollywood, California in 1958, aged 53.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 20, 1905 (Odessa), Died December 24, 1958 (Hollywood)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor 79702 10-in. 9/27/1934 Nada tão belo como teu amor Maria Branca Female vocal solo composer  
Victor MBS-092768 10-in. before 4/24/1951 Sé mi amor Fernando Fernández ; Orquesta Luis Arcaraz Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Gramophone 0D800 10-in. 2/19/1932 Was kann so schön sein wie deine Liebe Marek Weber Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal composer  
Gramophone 0D803 10-in. 12/19/1932 Kannst du gut küssen? Marek Weber Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal composer  
Gramophone 0B1256 10-in. 7/2/1931 O cara mia Jack Hylton Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Gramophone 0D1769 10-in. 10/16/1933 Ich hab' dieses Lied für dich erdacht Orchester Ludwig Rüth Jazz/dance band, with vocal composer  
Gramophone BD9274 10-in. 11/14/1930 O cara mia Marek Weber Orchestra ; Leo Moll Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brodszky, Nicholas," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103925.

Brodszky, Nicholas. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103925.

"Brodszky, Nicholas." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103925

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