Intrada Soundtrack Forum

I’ve been recently getting into Morricone’s more melodic scores, and I’m wondering: how many instances are people aware of where Morricone re-uses (or re-works) some of his themes from one film to the next? Considering that he’s scored something like 400 films and/or TV shows, I suppose it’s inevitable, but I was curious about the most noticeable examples.

For instance, I recently picked up the score to the 1970 film “La Califfa,â€

Off the top of my head, Morricone's martial music, from BATTLE OF ALGIERS, shows up again in the TV mini-series THE SCARLET AND THE BLACK (Gregory Peck/Christopher Plummer) and in FAT MAN AND LITTLE BOY. SCARLET was released on vinyl, but has yet to appear on CD. Good score.

b.

More recently, a variation of the ALGIERS march theme shows up in CEFALONIA ("Via Dall'inferno) (2005).

A recurring suspense motif used in THE UNTOUCHABLES is also in the lengthy "Composizione sulla resistenza." Over the years I have observed that Morricone tends to write new primary themes, but his secondary themes are frequently recycled.

Without having done a comparison, the theme and arrangement in "Dammi La Mano (Testo di Maria Travia)", also from CEFALONIA reminds me of the anthem ("Here's To You") in SACCO AND VANZETTI, but played slower. This would be a case of a central theme mimicing a main theme from a previous score.

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In how many films does "Chi Mai" appear?

Neat topic, Jon. Since Morricone writes so much of his own source music, I wonder how often you can watch a movie of his and hear a radio or something in the background playing a theme from one of his other scores.
--Doug

Yes Robert, I was reminded of "Here's To You" also when I listened to Cefalonia. Such a wonderful arrangement too! Ah, if only Ennio could keep dishing out these scores for eternity. Beautiful stuff.