In 1933 Eisler fled his destructive homeland to find safety abroad; in 1948 the Committee on Un-American Activities forced him out of the USA back to his destroyed homeland. The polarities of attraction and rejection were reversed in exile.

In Hollywood he composed for the film industry while at the same time criticising it in his book Composing for the Films. His film music may have been successful but his serious music was ignored. Sometimes he made money, but his income was continually swa...