The five-time Oscar-winning (and 47-time Oscar-nominated) composer and conductor John Williams was born 80 years ago today in Flushing, Queens. Somewhere a concertmaster is no doubt preparing a 100-piece orchestra for a rousing, booming rendition of “Happy Birthday,” but for now, we can send our own regards with a discussion of his finest composition for the screen. You only have, oh, 130-something projects to choose from. Williams will be back at the Oscars later this month, a double-nominee for both War Horse and The Adventures of Tintin — neither of which I’d put anywhere near the guy’s 10 best scores. Star Wars , Jaws , Superman and Raiders of the Lost Ark are iconic, obvious options for that distinction, though I’ll take Williams’s partnership with Oliver Stone to block — and the sweeping, churning, shocking and utterly evocative JFK for the win: Born on the Fourth of July is up there, too: Anyway, your turn! And happy 80th, Mr. Williams! Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
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John Williams is 80. What’s His Finest Film Score?
