Basil Poledouris

The Profile

American composer renowned for epic, orchestral film scores, active from the 1970s until 2006; known for Conan the Barbarian, RoboCop, Starship Troopers, and more.

American film composer; studied at USC; frequent collaborator with John Milius and Paul Verhoeven; Primetime Emmy winner for Lonesome Dove (1989).

Both reviews hail Conan the Barbarian as Poledouris at his most majestic and evocative. They praise the perfect fusion of music and images, and note that the score stands powerfully on its own. Orchestral heft, choirs, and the iconic Anvil of Crom dominate the praise. John Milius’s vision and the soundtrack’s narrative force are repeatedly highlighted.