Throughout his career Forrest worked exclusively with the composer-lyricist Robert Wright. The pair had an affinity for adapting classical music themes and adding lyrics to these themes for Hollywood and the Broadway musical stage. Wright said that the music was usually a 50-50 "collaboration" between Wright & Forrest and the composer. While both men were credited equally as composer-lyricists, it was Mr. Forrest who worked with the music. 'Kismet' was one of several works Forrest created with Wright that was commissioned by impresarioEdwin Lester for the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera. Song of Norway, Gypsy Lady, Magdalena, and their adaptation of The Great Waltz were also commissioned by Lester for the LACLO. The LACLO then exported most of these productions to Broadway. Forrest and Wright won a Tony Award for their work on Kismet and in 1995 they were awarded the ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers Award. He was cremated at Van Orsdel Crematory, Miami.
Film work
New Shoes, After the Thin Man, Maytime, The Longest Night, Libeled Lady, Sinner Take All
Bad Man of Brimstone, The Firefly, The Good Old Soak, London by Night, Madame X, Mama Steps Out, Mannequin, Man of the People,Navy Blue and Gold, Parnell, Saratoga, You're Only Young Once
Boystown, Broadway Serenade, The First Hundred Years, The Girl Downstairs, Happily Buried, The Hardys Ride High, Honolulu, Let Freedom Ring, Lord Jeff, The Magician's Daughter, Marie Antoinette, Nuts and Bolts, Our Gang Follies, Paradise for Three, Snow Gets in Your Eyes, Sweethearts, Three Comrades, The Toy Wife, Vacation from Love
Blondie Goes Latin, Dance, Girl, Dance, Kit Carson, South of Pago-Pago
Cubana, Fiesta, Playing with Music, I Married an Angel, Rio Rita
Kismet, Make Believe Ballroom, Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder
Song of Norway
The Great Waltz
Hit songs of their day include "The Donkey Serenade" from The Firefly, "Always and Always" from Mannequin and "It's a Blue World" from Music in My Heart.
Shows
Song of Norway ; adapting the music of Edvard Grieg
Timbuktu! ; a reworking of Kismet for an African-American cast, adding a few new songs
Grand Hotel ; a reworking of At the Grand with additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston
Hit songs of the day include "Strange Music" from Song of Norway; and "Stranger in Paradise", "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" and "And This Is My Beloved" from Kismet.
