A musical score with a film attached; I always say that about just one – and now late – man. Ennio Morricone, a prolific composer for cinema, died recently aged 91. His work comprises something over 500 film scores, of which many I have never heard. He sometimes seems to recycle a tune but the end result is never the same twice. In many cases, his music has been instrumental in making the film famous. Just think of the “Dollar Westerns” directed by Sergio Leone: the early chords of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” make you sit up and expect something exciting to happen.
My favourite Western soundtrack, however, is for “Once upon a time in the West”. It builds up the tension slowly but when it opens up into its full orchestral sound, it nails you to your seat, holding your breath. Each of the four main characters have their own theme and, with the sweeping cinematography showing plain, barren scenery so familiar from the many Westerns, the complex drama unfolds. There is exploding violence but also some unexpected light moments. It is a long film and, at first, was cut to suit the prevailing length requirement to such an extent that the story became really confused. It was the first film my wife and I saw together and at least twice after that, without understanding how the various scenes fitted together. Finally, it was shown on television as a director’s cut, and then it all made sense!
Morricone’s music covers so many beautiful melodies that I could never understand why it took so long to give him an Oscar! “The Mission”, “The Untouchables”, “The Legend of 1900”, “Cinema Paradiso” and my own particular favourite “Once upon a time in America”, are only some of his more familiar scores. Warren Beatty’s film “Bulworth” score seems to improve on the themes from “Once Upon A Time In America”.
There is a film “Love Circle” (“Metti, una sera a cena” in Italian) which has a tune called “Sauna”! I have heard it but haven’t managed to track down the movie so have no idea how it fits in with the story. We attended a concert at Hartwall Areena in 2016 when he conducted his own music and he was very frail already so probably did not visit a sauna on that trip; I’d like to know if he did some practical research when composing the tune for the movie. I cannot connect the music with any sounds I’ve ever come across in sauna but maybe it’s made clear in the context of the film.
Another stalwart of cinema, Olivia de Havilland, also died recently aged 104. She is often called one of the last survivors of the Golden Age of Hollywood and could have told some interesting inside stories if she’d had the mind. Her long feud with her sister, Joan Fontaine, was one of the legends of Hollywood. I don’t know its origins but probably there were many guesses amongst the contemporaries and the stories grew in the telling. She was also a very courageous person: she took her powerful film studio to court on a contractual issue and, by winning the case, gave her colleagues more control over their careers. Miss de Havilland lived her last years in France, which just shows that she was a lady with a good taste!
Back to reality here in Finland! We’ve had some good summer weather and some rain to give the vegetation a welcome boost; the rhubarb has again provided early flavour to the summer pies and puddings; the bilberries and cloudberries are reportedly waiting for pickers; the strawberries and raspberries have tempted us from the stalls with their colour and scent – and let us not forget the mouthwatering new potatoes.
For some weeks we have been able to put the coronavirus to the back of our minds. Here in Pirkanmaa it’s been quite easy to concentrate on enjoying the freedoms gradually granted by the authorities because no new cases have been reported for weeks at a time. I don’t want to be a storm crow so will leave the essential warnings to the authorities and join everybody in hoping that we shan’t need to go back to checking the media daily to find out how many new infections have come to light and how we must conduct ourselves in order not to catch or spread the disease.
We learned the routine during the long spring months but, with the darkening autumn, the restrictions would feel very unpalatable. However, we must remember that the health care staff has been in readiness now for many months and they must be feeling very tired already. Let’s not increase their burden by taking unnecessary risks with our own health to increase their burden.
How many days it is till Christmas?
PAUL DOCKREE
Kolumnin kirjoittaja muutti Lontoosta Ylöjärvelle vuonna 2012.
Author is British, moved from London to Ylöjärvi 2012.
Lue Paul Dockreen aiempia kolumneja:
Paul Dockree: I’m all for democracy and do love my country but I sometimes wonder which country it
Paul Dockreen kolumni: Brexit, fixit, exit
