Another somewhat neglected but excellent Italian score, released in 1969 VITA SEGRETA DI UNA DICIOTTENE (THE SECRET LIFE OF AN EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD) is another one of those soft porn movies that the Italian film makers were so good at producing, directed by Oscar Brazzi and starring Rossano Brazzi and Mimma Biscardi, this was one of a handful of movies that focused upon a certain area or areas of interest during the 1960’s and 1970’s. It was the sequel to the 1968 production IL DIARIO SEGRETO DI UNA MIORENNE-E NATA UNA DONNE (THE SECRET DIARY OF A MINOR) which also starred Brazzi and Biscardi and was also directed by Oscar Brazzi. Like its predecessor VITA SEGRETA DI DICIOTTENE contained an atmospheric and haunting musical score by Italian Maestro Gianni Marchetti. I think I am correct when I say that Marchetti is probably one of the most talented composers that worked in film in Italy during the 1960’s and produced many soundtracks that not only served the productions that they were written for, but also contained so many wonderfully catchy and vibrant themes that had a life away from the films that they were intended to enhance. Marchetti worked in various genres of film, westerns, war, romantic, documentary and of course the more exotic and specialist productions, which I have to say he seemed to excel in, writing scores that sounded as if they were actually the content of a best of Marchetti collection, because they were to be honest so polished and entertaining, the style he employed was a bouncy and pop orientated one, with the composer utilising the talents of soloists such as Edda Dell Orso with her unique vocalising and collaborating and working alongside the likes of Nora Orlandi and Allessandro Allessandroni and making effective use of both of their vocal groups Coro 4+4 and Il Cantori Moderni. The soundtrack for VITA SEGRETA DI DICIOTTENE is superb, it has to it a sound and style that is not only unmistakably Marchetti but also is the sound of the Italian Cinema from the decades of the 60’s and the 70’s. Marchetti employing piano, strings, up tempo brass, percussion and elegant sound harpsichord throughout, this is a work that purveys romantic undertones, fast paced comedic colours and dramatic and melancholy textures, in a word it is perfection if you are a connoisseur of Italian film music. At times it does evoke the style of other Italian and even French composers such as Trovaioli, Morricone, Bacalov, Cosma and Lai for example, but although it bears all the trademarks of the Italian school of film music, with wordless vocals, choral interludes, sultry and steamy numbers and toe tapping passages, it also has to it the unmistakable and distinct musical fingerprint of Marchetti firmly placed upon it. This is one of his best, check it out.
available on CD from BEAT records Italy. and digitally on Spotify.
The music for Italian cinema is an area that just seems to ooze melodic excellence and is overflowing with innovative ideas and talents in the form of composers, soloists, choirs and conductors. Riz Ortolani for example is a composer who was born in Italy and spent most of his life writing music for Italian productions, but Ortolani also managed to create enough interest via his highly original and haunting scores to become noticed and utilised by film makers outside of Italy. A score that Ortolani became known for was MONDO CANE which boasted a title theme entitled MORE which ended up being one of the most recorded songs in the history of music thus far. What is sadly overlooked on numerous occasions is that Ortolani was not solely responsible for this hit number, he was aided by composer Nino Oliviero, who has written a number of scores in his own right. One of these is the excellent soundtrack for LA MOGLIE GIAPPONESE. Originally released back in 1968 on the RCA Italiana label Kols-1001, THE JAPANESE WIFE to give it its English title contained a soundtrack that was a fusion of numerous styles, easy listening, smooth jazz, romantic and neo-classical colours and textures all combined to fashion a soundtrack that is in a word stunning. The composer Oliviero utilised the talents of Edda dell Orso to provide the sultry yet beautiful sounding wordless vocals and also engaged conductor Robby Poitevin to not only direct the orchestra but also to have a hand in arranging and possibly orchestrating some of the music for the movie. For some reason at the time that the album was originally released collectors did not really go overboard for it, which is surprising as it at times mirror’s the style of Ennio Morricone, Bruno Nicolai and Luis Bacalov with its simple but affecting tone poems that entice and mesmerise throughout. It is in my opinion a typical Italian score for this genre of movie from the time period, the 1960’s were a particularly fruitful period for Italian composers and for Italian cinema overall. This being mainly due to the success of the Italian western and later the Giallo films that became so popular around the globe. LA MOGLIE GIAPPONESE is basically a soft porn movie, which the Italians seemed to produce in their abundance during the 1960’s and 1970’s. The style employed by Oliviero can be likened to Morricones METTI UNA SERA A CENA (LOVE CIRCLE) with subdued and light sounding samba’s working their magic throughout the score, the composer arranging or slightly altering the central theme into fresh and vibrant sounding interludes that although have the same thematic sound are on each outing different.
MOVIE MUSIC INTERNATIONAL. (MMI) . 