La Moglie Piu' Bella (The Most Beautiful Wife) [Original Score] (1970)

Description:

La Moglie Piu' Bella (The Most Beautiful Wife) [Original Score] (1970) Composed, Orchestrated, & Conducted by Ennio Morricone (1928-2020) Tracklisting: 1. [00:00] La Moglie Piu' Bella (Main Theme) 2. [02:11] Rapimento In Campo Aperto 3. [03:34] Vito e Francesca 4. [05:56] Nascota 5. [06:26] Dramma Lontano 6. [09:04] Intimità 7. [10:23] Lupara 8. [11:30] In Campo Aperto 9. [13:13] Sguardi Torbidi 10. [14:50] Ritrovata 11. [16:14] Tema di Francesca (Theme) 12. [19:07] Amore Triste 13. [21:10] In Campo Aperto (Alternate) 14. [24:53] Infinita Malinconia Directed by Damiano Damiani (1922-2013), this compelling Italian drama film stars Alessio Orano, Ornella Muti (in her debut film role), Hungarian actor Amerigo Tot (1909-1984), Enzo Andronico (1924-2002), Joe Sentieri (1925-2007), Pierluigi Aprà (1943-1981), Salvatore Baccaro (1932-1984), and Tano Cimarosa (1922-2008). Co-written by Damiani with Enrico Ribulsi and Sofia Scandurra (1937-2014), the film is loosely based on the 1965 case of Franca Viola, who resisted the traditional practice of 'fuitina, a formerly common custom in southern Italy in which a young woman would be kidnapped by a prospective husband and then forced to take part in a 'matrimonio riparatore' with her kidnapper. The case became a symbol of Italy's civil growth after World War II and the emancipation of Italian women. Ornella Muti stars as Franca, Alessio Orano as her abductor, and Pierluigi Aprà as the Carabinieri lieutenant who investigates her case. The story highlights her struggle for justice as her own family turn against her in a society that sides with the perpetrators. As depressing as the subject matter may be, director Damiani and cinematographer Franco Di Giacomo (1932-2016) created an incredibly beautiful film. Ornella Muti (who was only fifteen years of age at the time of filming) carries her role magnificently, especially when battling for her self-respect against such heavy odds. Like other Italian films of the period (a good example being the 1970 film 'Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion), the police and clergy are portrayed as extremely corrupt whilst country folk are portrayed as backward. To capture all the essence of this impossible love, Ennio Morricone composed an extremely sad central theme for solo soprano vocals (Edda Dell'Orso), standard orchestra, and a twanging Jew’s harp, all coming together to perform a strong, purposeful, determined-sounding theme that speaks to the resoluteness of Franca and her determination not to be abused. The theme appears several times in the score; 'Dramma Lontano initially focuses on the familiar rolling pianos that have been a part of several Morricone scores and surrounds them with thoughtful strings which eventually segue into a bold statement. The track 'Intimità rearranges this theme for oboes and voice whilst 'Sguardi Torbidi is dark and arrayed with moody woodwinds and stark strings. Naturally, this wouldn't be a Morricone score without a lovely romance theme, and this has several. Morricone's score is serious and dramatic, but still has some lovely melodic moments, and the whole thing is steeped in his style. This video is for promotional use only. I do not own the rights to the music. All rights belong to the artist / band.