Quick Facts
Biography
Mikhail Romanovich "Mischa" Bakaleinikov (also spelled Bakaleynikov and Bakaleinikoff; Russian: Михаил Романович Бакалейников; November 10, 1890 – August 10, 1960) was a noted musical director, film composer and conductor.
Personal life
Brother to Constantin, Nikolay and Vladimir, Bakaleinikoff was born in Moscow in 1890. He left the Soviet Union for the United States in 1926, and joined Columbia Studios's music department in Hollywood in 1931.
Bakaleinikoff was a member of the Masonic Lodge. At his funeral service in 1960, the music was played by a string ensemble from Columbia. He died at age 69, and was survived by his wife, Yvonne (née Wilson) and their four children.
He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale).
He was also married to actress Helen Gilbert.
Career
Bakaleinikoff played the double bass viol in Columbia Studios' orchestra for films such as Lost Horizon before becoming the studio's music director in the early 1940s.
He scored the music to the following films:
- Ladies of Leisure (1930)
- Jane Eyre (1934)
- Behind the Green Lights (1935)
- Blondie (1938)
- The Woman from Tangier (1948)
- The Strawberry Roan (1948)
- Flame of Calcutta (1953)
- The 49th Man (1953)
- Cell 2455, Death Row (1955)
- It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955)
- Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)
- Hellcats of the Navy (1957)
- The Giant Claw (1957)
- 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957)
- The 27th Day (1957)
- Screaming Mimi (1958)
- Have Rocket, Will Travel (1959)