Composer Ron Goodwin dies

LONDON -- Ron Goodwin, who composed a string of classic movie scores including "Where Eagles Dare," "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines" and Alfred Hitchcock's "Frenzy," has died at 77, his wife said Thursday.\nGoodwin died suddenly at his home near Reading, west of London, on Wednesday night, Heather Goodwin said. Goodwin had suffered from asthma for many years.\nAlthough he composed some 60 film scores in his 50-year career, he was best known for the themes to a string of 1960s war films, which also included "Battle of Britain" and "Operation Crossbow."\nFor the past 30 years, Goodwin has toured the world as a conductor performing a mixture of classical works and popular hits, from James Bond themes to Abba tunes.\nBorn in Plymouth, southern England, Goodwin worked with British broadcasting stars like Petula Clark and was musical director for the Peter Sellers albums. His first score was for the 1958 film "Whirlpool."\nGoodwin is survived by his wife and a son, Christopher.