MovieChat Forums > Ennio Morricone Discussion > His greatest scores?

His greatest scores?

posted 5 years ago by rudeboymurray (3290)
8 replies | jump to latest

This man deserves more posts. Morricone is easily one of the greatest film score composers in the history of movies and it's hard to narrow down favourites... however, I'd put forward Days of Heaven, Once Upon a Time in America and The Mission as his greatest. These scores are achingly gorgeous and - the sign of a truly great score - hold up beautifully when played alone as well as within the film.

Also superb: The Desert of the Tartars, White Dog, Cinema Paradiso and Casualties of War.

What are your favourites from this magnificent artist?

[–] AtomicReturns (1252) 5 years ago

Those are all great. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is still one of my favorites, and Cinema Paradiso's music was wonderful. Malena (starring Monica Belluci) was another good one.

I am not familiar with The Desert of the Tartars or White Dog? Are they also good films? Might check those out one of these days.

[–] rudeboymurray (3290) 5 years ago

Yes, his work on Leone's spaghetti westerns is brilliant and iconic.

I actually just watched The Desert of the Tartars today, which prompted me to start this thread. It's an odd, slow-paced but beguiling film with an amazing cast of the leading European actors of the 1970s. Morricone's work is magnificent and it captures a feeling of isolation and loneliness better than most movies of its type. Well worth tracking down.

White Dog is one of Sam Fuller's final films - which should be enough in itself to recommend it. It's a little too ragged, perhaps even heavy-handed to be among Fuller's best work, but compelling and powerful.

I need to check out Malena.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Exorcist 2 was a bad movie so the score gets overlooked, but I liked it a lot. Probably not his best, but i think it deserves a little attention

[–] rudeboymurray (3290) 5 years ago

I didn't realise Morricone scored this notoriously bad sequel... I guess I should check it out one of these days to hear the score in context.

[–] Orcsquisher (11) 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rudeboymurray (3290) 5 years ago

I have never seen the 1997 version of Lolita... I shall definitely take a look and a listen, thanks for the recommendation!

[–] mtxmind (3296) 5 years ago

RIP to the greatest film scorer ever hands down

My favorite is "Once Upon A Time In America"

[–] Orcsquisher (11) 4 years ago

[deleted]