The Album:
From the liner notes to Dagored’s 2000 pressing of “Slalom“:
“It is without doubt thanks to the perfect harmony between the composer and the director (a subject that I wit repeat again and again, since the final result is, of course, a single work which is presented to the spectator in the audience) that Morricone’s music for “Slalom” by Luciano Salce is an exharating, small work of art in its category.
It is certainly a reliable example of our own Morricone’s activity in the 60s and 70s. Certainly, the rhythmic, melodic accents would not have been the same without the impressive participation of Alessandroni’s choral formation, and without Alessandro himself, whose contribution often results as being fundamental (and this is particularly the case here) not only for the formal but also for the substance of the work of music itself. Both amused and amusing, the music closely follows the vicissitudes of Gassman who is all the best of his theatrical art (and this music becomes a sort of grateful homage, from myself and from DAGORED, to the memory of Gassman, since the tributes after his death have not been numerous).
The music emphasizes with irony and (it is here that we can see the genius of Morricone’s compositions) above all with a perfect, formal style, the frenzied and amusing events that begin at Sestriere but… who knows where they will finish!
(The orchestration, and we are speaking of a master composer, is rich and vivacious and (Bruno) Nicolai’s orchestral direction is rigorous and has style and, at the same time, is tastefully characterized by a good, healthy sense of rhythm).
See the film if you have the chance… it’s two hours of fun! I have already mentioned Alessandroni, but I would like to further emphasize how the contribution (always discreet, as Sandro isn’t a person who likes to be in the spotlight at all costs) Of “I Cantori Moderni“, which, at the time, included voices such as those of Edda Dell’Orso, Gianna Spagnuto, Raoul, Giulia Alessandroni (just to name a few that first come to mind) returns to this beautiful and enjoyable soundtrack the improvised flavor of a genuine dish of real Italian music… the same music which, with the same name and excellent quality (Morricone) has rightly become a legend all over the world.”
Roberto Zamori/ Film Music Art Studio
Listen to the main theme (“Titoli”) from “Slalom” here:
Ennio Morricone – Titoli – Remastered – Slalom (1965)
Listen to the complete score here:
Ennio Morricone – Slalom – vinyl lp album – Luciano Salce – Vittorio Gassman Daniela Bianchi Dagored
Purchase a copy of the vinyl on Discogs here:
Other Editions:
The Film:
From MUBI.com:
From Wikipedia:
Slalom is a 1965 Italian comedy film directed by Luciano Salce and starring Vittorio Gassman.[1]
SLALOM | |
Directed by | Luciano Salce |
---|---|
Written by | Franco Castellano Giuseppe Moccia |
Produced by | Mario Cecchi Gori |
Starring | Vittorio Gassman |
Cinematography | Alfio Contini |
Edited by | Marcello Malvestito |
Music by | Ennio Morricone |
Release date | 24 September 1965 |
Running time | 108 minutes |
Country | Italy |
Language | Italian |
Plot
Lucio and Riccardo, a pair of married pals, take their wives on a ski vacation in Sestriere but get distracted by the beautiful and seductive Nadia and Helen, who lure them into unexpected adventure and danger where Lucio is forced to go to Egypt with another passport and identity.
Cast
- Vittorio Gassman as Lucio Ridolfi
- Adolfo Celi as Riccardo
- Daniela Bianchi as Nadia
- Lobna Abdel Aziz as Fahra, Egyptian flight attendant (as Loubna A.Aziz)
- Beba Lončar as Helen
- Emma Danieli as Hilde, Lucio’s wife
- Bob Oliver as George
- Nagwa Fouad as Nabila
- Corrado Olmi as Italian Consulat Official
- Isabella Biagini as Simonetta, Riccardo’s wife
- Piero Vida as The Murderer
References
- Brantley, Ben (2007). “New York Times: Slalom”. Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
External links
Title Sequence:
Watch the opening titles for “Slalom” here: