In 1973, I was in a mood for something Italian since I was under orders to report to an Armed Forces Radio station in Vicenza, Italy, in my first assignment as a Journalist/Broadcaster with the U.S. Navy.
I was transported back in time with this Federico Fellini masterpiece -- an autobiographical reverie of his own childhood in Rimini, Italia, at the outset of fascism under Benito Mussolini. The film is not about war or government but about life -- above all about LIFE -- in the town. It is about family. It is about friends, and growing up and reacting to and interacting with all the different kinds of people that made up Fellini's memories
The performers and performances are spot-on perfection including the lead juvenile played by Bruno Zanin.
My favorite Nino Rota score was written for this film. It is "Italian" in all respects. It has humor and drama, wit and sorrow. It is a masterful compostion, IMO, and it holds a place of honor among all the soundtracks I own.
The selection above is the main theme. The complete album is available on YouTube.com.
Wonderful score. The Fellini/Rota body of work is monumental. Incidentally, although a very Italian score, Rota makes great use of one of my favorite songs--Siboney, by the great Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona.
If I were to be stranded on a desert island, this is the one film score I'd most like to have with me! In 1975, I was living for a short time in L.A. and I recall reading some 'Trade Paper', about why Nino Rota's score had been 'snubbed' by The Academy when that years nominations were announced. Now, (I could be wrong because of this foggy memory), but I believe I read that either Rota, or the studio behind the film, failed to submit the score for consideration to the nominating committee, or some such thing, and that was why it wasn't even considered. The music branch's rules changed all the time. Who knows, the same rules might not have been in effect the year prior or the subsequent year?
"Amarcord" won the Oscar as best foreign film of 1975. One year later, it was a contender in the categories of Best Screenplay and Best Director, but lost both.
I've had the pleasure of watching this film and listening to the score for the first time only a few days ago. What a joy both were. The score was a blind purchase for me. I don't know why I felt compelled to buy it. Something told me that I would regret it if I didn't. I think had I listened to the score without having seen the movie, I would've enjoyed it, but it wouldn't have resonated with me nearly as much. Images from the film have played over and over in my mind these following days and I've found myself humming the music often.
"Amarcord" won the Oscar as best foreign film of 1975. One year later, it was a contender in the categories of Best Screenplay and Best Director, but lost both.
Not meaning to digress away from Rota's music, but have you seen that clip on (youtube?) or on a 'Jaws' Blu-ray of Steven Spielberg watching the Academy Nominations (with his family and friends) on T.V? It was the year of 'Jaws', and as you mentioned Ron, the film's other categories were nominated the NEXT year. So they're announcing the nominees for Best Director (this is just the nominations morning mind you), and they announced Federico Fellini for Best Director and not Spielberg. And Spielberg says to his family, 'Ha, I lost to Fellini'!
