Italian composer Ennio Morricone has helped shape modern cinema. He provided musical scores for films of all genres - romance, sci-fi, horror, and more. Unfortunately, he has passed away Monday, July 6.
The prolific film composer died from complications stemming from his fall injuries. Morricone was 91. The Rome native has scored more than 500 movies across his career spanning more than seven decades.
His influence and legacy have extended far beyond film scoring. He has been an inspiration for other notable artists. German film composer Hans Zimmer and record producer Brian Burton are among those who cite him. Morricone's reach has also affected rock stars, Dire Straits, Metallica, and Radiohead.
For a better look at "The Maestro" and his all-encompassing works, here are three classic films that feature the works of Ennio Morricone.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
This 1966 Italian film by Sergio Leone, a longtime collaborator to Morricone, is among the most influential spaghetti westerns in history. With Clint Eastwood as "the good," Lee Van Cleef as "the bad," and Eli Wallach being "the ugly."
One of the most iconic scenes in the movie was the three-way standoff scene. It famously features the three characters locked in an impasse. The standoff was made even tenser with Ennio Morricone's "The Trio."
The Maestro also created the main theme, which was of the same title. Since then, this signature western tune has influenced modern music. It has been sampled from Gorillaz' debut "Clint Eastwood" to R.E.M's "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us."
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The Mission (1986)
One of The Maestro's most evocative compositions come from the 1986 movie "The Mission." Starring Robert de Niro and Jeremy Irons, this Roland Joffé-directed film follows a Jesuit missionary in the 1750s South America. While the film was commercially unsuccessful, it earned several awards and honors for its cast and staff. Ennio Morricone won the award for "Best Film Music" from the BAFTA Film Awards.
Its soundtrack was composed, produced, orchestrated, and conducted by Ennio Morricone himself. The Maestro captured 18th century Argentina and Paraguay with his scores. He incorporated Spanish guitars and native drums in the music. "The Mission" soundtrack has been chosen as the 23rd best film score in American Cinema, according to "100 Years of Film Scores" by the American Film Institute.
Ripley's Game (2002)
"Ripley's Game" is a 2002 thriller by Liliana Cavani. It was adapted from the third novel of Patricia Highsmith's "Ripliad" series. In the John Malkovich-led film, his character Tom Ripley is a psychopath. He finds himself in an art forgery scheme in Germany. Critics positively received it. Roger Ebert called "Ripley's Game" as the best of the four Ripley films he has seen. "Ripley's Game" follows other Highsmith novels, "Purple Noon," "The American Friend," and "The Talented Mr. Ripley."
One of the most acclaimed pieces of music Morricone made for the film was Il Concerto. The harpsichord instrumental was highlighted in some parts with droning trumpets and surprising bass parts. As The Maestro's music slowly fades away, it gives a nice touch to the part where Ripley watches his wife's performance, recalling the story's previous events.
