Book excerpt: This essay represents the first organic study about Jerry Goldsmith (1929-2004), an emblematic American film composer from the second half of 20th century. His personality is examined within the cinematic production system in which he operated for about fifty years, collaborating with directors like John Huston, John Frankenheimer, Franklin J.Schaffner, Roman Polanski, Joe Dante, Richard Donner, Paul Verhoeven and many others. He won the Academy Award in 1976 for "The Omen".