 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Posted: |
Nov 28, 2004 - 10:29 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Recordman
(Member)
|
In 1962, an exploitation Italian film, “Mondo Cane”, became a surprise hit in the US. Technically a documentary, “Mondo Cane” was years ahead of its time...perhaps one of the first “reality” films, featuring various scenes of gore, animal cruelty, “weird” foreign practices and degeneracy of various kinds. All of this schlock was held together by a fine Riz Ortolani score which became a large selling LP soundtrack on United Artists (UAL/UAS-5105/4105) in 1963, featuring the theme from the film, which became a huge instrumental hit titled as “More” (“The Theme from ‘Mondo Cane’”). The song was all over the airwaves, just inescapable at the time. Realizing that money could be made in filmed schlock (so what else is new?), the year 1964 saw the release of an Italian/French release, “Slave Trade in the World Today” ( Schiave esistono ancora, Le) . In addition to the condescending look at foreign cultures, this gem also featured much more sex (of the “National Geographic” bare breast kind), strippers, belly dancers, bondage, and some incidental footage involving history of slave trade in the past. However, this long forgotten film produced a LP soundtrack of the score by Teo Usuelli issued in mono in the US on a London LP # M-76006 (see photo below), which from the beginning has become rare (and expensive) on the vinyl soundtrack collectors’ market...which just goes to show that, without regard to the music, some items have been collected mainly for their rarity over the years. The film and the album quickly disappeared (no top 10 hit for this soundtrack theme!), though I believe a CD of this was released a few years back ...why, I don’t know...perhaps to bring back the good old days of exploitation films. Mike
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Can anybody explain why this Italian film, with music by an Italian composer, did not see a soundtrack release in Italy, where these sorts of "shockumentary" films (as well as this composer) were so popular? Why was this score released only in the United States? The same question could be applied for the underrated Italian western LAND RAIDERS, with a score by Bruno Nicolai, which had an album and 45 rpm single released only in the U.S. with no corresponding Italian pressing.
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|