LADY CALIPH La Califfa Great Italian Ennio Morricone scores #2
This series is inspired by a controversy thread where someone posited the idea that besides THE MISSION and some Sergio Leone westerns Ennio Morricone hasn't written anything great. Rather than making my usual comment that most of Morricone's great scores are from Italy and trying to get Americans to listen to them is like getting them to see movies with subtitles, I decided to take another tact. Since I am at an age where I will only be able to make my case a finite number of times I decided to turn this into a series presenting each great score one at a time, sort of like recordman. This is a kind of opposite to my first choice INVESTIGATION OF A CITIZEN ABOVE SUSPICION in that that score's power comes from it's marriage to the film and this one actually works better on CD. If you had to ask what Morricone theme you would find the most interpretations of on Youtube and elsewhere I'd say this was it, the most famous being Sarah Brightman's rendition on her La Luna album. LA CALIFFA is beloved by Morricone collector's which is kind of odd since this is sort of a political tragedy with some dissonance. But because the protagonist is the beautiful Romy Schneider even the dissonance has a pretty feminine slant and the main theme, as well as the secondary one, is drop dead gorgeous. The story is about the wife of a factory worker killed by police who gradually falls in love with the factory owner played by Ugo Tognazzi. Also known as LADY CALIPH it won the Italian Oscar, the David di Donatello Award, in 1971 for Best Actor for Ugo Tognazzi. The first of three rich scores Ennio did for director Alberto Bevilacqua, who wrote the screenplay and the novel it was based on. Sometimes this reminds me of John Barry and SOMEWHERE IN TIME, only in that there is some debate on the film's quality but none on the how gorgeous the score is. But that one is a more purely romantic score while this one emphasizes the tragedy. Here is the main theme:
There have been six CDs released of this score! And one of the more popular cuts put on compilations. Even though Morricone has done a ton of romantic movies that have no dissonant distractions this score I find myself pointing to most often when I want to introduce someone to the lush compositions of Morricone.
I don't post here much these days, Morricone, but I've enjoyed reading both these threads so far. Film score discussion has returned, unsmothered by queries about release composition, sound quality, etc.
Couple of small suggestions: 1. Perhaps it's worth making a blog out of these, and posting the links here at FSM? 2. Maybe keep a list of previous entries at the bottom of each new post? (or if it gets too large, keep the links of the most recent two or three?)
This series is inspired by a controversy thread where someone posited the idea that besides THE MISSION and some Sergio Leone westerns Ennio Morricone hasn't written anything great...
Did someone really say that? I am glad I lost that kind of silly posts. Wonderful score LA CALIFFA but...
there's a lot non-western music which is IMO even better than LA CALIFFA like his scores for Dario Argento (e.g. IL GATTO A NOVE CODE), Bolognini (e.g. FATTI DI GENTE PER BENE), Petri (e.g. LA CLASSE OPERARIA VA IN PARADISO), Quilici (e.g. OCEANO), Young (e.g. L'AVVENTURIERO), Montaldo (e.g. SACCO E VANZETTI), Pasolini (e.g. UCCELLACCI E UCCELLINI), Bertolucci (e.g. NOVECENTO), Patroni Griffi (e.g. METTI UNA SERA A CENA), Comencini (e.g. IL GATTO), Cavani (e.g. IL GIOCO DI RIPLEY)... and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Really glad that you are continuing your series and selecting your favorites,like Lorenz I could come up with an entire different list than his that I'd pick before La Califfa.Not trying to come of as negative just with a composer like Morricone there is something in his music for everyone if you can find the ones you can really connect with.Even if I had made a list now it would be totally different than something I would have made a few years ago even if I had heard all the same scores before. Time is always moving on and I'm liking other styles of music I never really cared for much before in Morricone's music and others,which I find much more interesting.
I don't post here much these days, Morricone, but I've enjoyed reading both these threads so far. Film score discussion has returned, unsmothered by queries about release composition, sound quality, etc.
Couple of small suggestions: 1. Perhaps it's worth making a blog out of these, and posting the links here at FSM? 2. Maybe keep a list of previous entries at the bottom of each new post? (or if it gets too large, keep the links of the most recent two or three?)
Thanks. One thing is I don't know how to make these things into blogs but I heard that involves some maintenance. The other is I've only done two and really don't know how far I'm going with it. One thing I have decided is to make these selections contrasting. I'm trying to avoid a reaction like Rozsaphile's where he said he didn't "get" Morricone, as if there is only one thing to get. So my next selection will be as far away from the first two as possible.
The previous entries list are an easier matter but, again, with only two now it doesn't make sense now.
LADY CALIPH La Califfa Great Italian Ennio Morricone scores #2
.....there is some debate on the film's quality but none on the how gorgeous the score is. But that is a more purely romantic score while this one emphasizes the tragedy. Here is the opening.....
Morricone at the height of his considerable powers (I mean Ennio but not to the exclusion of Henry!)
A great opening theme (as on the You Tube clip), a couple of minor themes that would grace the main title of most other films and some interesting and varied suspense music. But above all stands the theme "La Califfa", presumably for the lady herself, which is amongst the most beautiful film music ever written. Not many things bring a tear to this Yorkshireman's eye - Leeds winning the title in 1992, the kids being born, the occasional bank statement - but this theme (oboe and strings) can do it.
A brilliant score, and so much more than just the romantic theme that is on all the compilation albums and used for the cover versions. This is one of Morricone's most richly textured scores with an unusual number of themes and styles, he was really inspired by this story. The 'finale' piece with orchestra and chorus is very moving, and the secondary theme for mandolin one of his saddest and most haunting. There is a beautiful (but short) theme for Edda, a powerful dramatic version of the main theme and the short and sombre theme for organ (used in the Pasolini sequence on the 'Music for the Eyes' video). If you are interested in Morricone or great film music this soundtrack is essential, and works as a superb istening experience without any necessity to see the movie.
Well done again Henry for initiating this series, there is not enough serious analysis of Morricone's scores (especially the Italian ones).
Really glad that you are continuing your series and selecting your favorites,like Lorenz I could come up with an entire different list than his that I'd pick before La Califfa.Not trying to come of as negative just with a composer like Morricone there is something in his music for everyone if you can find the ones you can really connect with.Even if I had made a list now it would be totally different than something I would have made a few years ago even if I had heard all the same scores before. Time is always moving on and I'm liking other styles of music I never really cared for much before in Morricone's music and others,which I find much more interesting.
Thanks, I came up with the idea of not doing a top ten but a list of films that contrast, showing the full range of what Morricone is capable of. And that is a very wide range indeed.
Another score which came my way some time after knowing the main theme(s) ... originally those included on the vinyl LP Ennio Morricone - Bandes originales des films and a subsequent CD compilation: Film Music 1966 - 1987.
So when the 50+ min release came from ScreenTrax a few years ago it was a definite purchase. I love the clarity of this release but I do find the score doesn't hold my attention for its full length. Perhaps knowledge of the film would help.
Gorgeous main theme, but I'm afraid the rest of the score doesn't do anything for me. And God knows how much I've tried, but I tend to fall asleep during the slower or organ-based cues. Maybe I need to see the movie in order to fully appreciate it.
When I first acquired this score a few years ago, lush was precisely the word that captured it for me. I later gave this CD (one of three versions I had) as a gift to a fellow scorophiliac to pay the lushness forward. If one who is unfamiliar with Il Maestro wanted a sampling of his various styles and textures, this would be a required entry.
Thanks for this wonderful account of a beautiful soundtrack. I found this link on another board and like the way you've put the collection together. I look forward to reading about other albums. Gazbo
When I first acquired this score a few years ago, lush was precisely the word that captured it for me. I later gave this CD (one of three versions I had) as a gift to a fellow scorophiliac to pay the lushness forward. If one who is unfamiliar with Il Maestro wanted a sampling of his various styles and textures, this would be a required entry.
Yes, this was a good choice of Henry's as no2 in the series. I was recommended the LP from another collector in 70s and always liked it. I like that Dave, "paying the lushness forward". The Cd Is a fabulous play. Like Henry says, "even the dissonance has a pretty feminine slant".
As I said earlier in the thread, I absolutely adored the theme as it featured on AN ENNIO MORRICONE ANTHOLOGY. Since then, I've acquired the full soundtrack, and it quickly rocketed to my third favourite Morricone of all time (of the ones I've heard so far). Amazing to think that it was composed very early in his career; it seems more mature somehow.
One of my early purchases, on LP at a film fair, about 30 years ago. I think it was a bargain too. Among many the good tracks, a favourite is ' the impact ' .
