Editing Ennio Morricone (section)

==== Westerns ====
Although his first films were undistinguished,{{Clarify|date=July 2020}} Morricone's arrangement of an American folk song intrigued director and former schoolmate [[Sergio Leone]]. Before being associated with Leone, Morricone already had composed some music for less-known western movies such as ''[[Duello nel Texas]]'' (aka ''Gunfight at Red Sands'') (1963). In 1962, Morricone met American folksinger [[Peter Tevis]], with the two collaborating on a version of [[Woody Guthrie]]'s "[[Pastures of Plenty]]". Tevis is credited with singing the lyrics of Morricone's songs such as "A Gringo Like Me" (from ''Gunfight at Red Sands'') and "Lonesome Billy" (from ''Bullets Don't Argue'').<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=z9Tjh55dlDUC&q=morricone+first+western+films&pg=PA147 Christopher Frayling, ''Spaghetti Westerns: Cowboys and Europeans from Karl May to Sergio Leone''], I. B. Tauris, 2 April 2006.</ref> Tevis later recorded a vocal version of ''A Fistful of Dollars'' that was not used in the film.

===== Association with Sergio Leone =====
The turning point in Morricone's career took place in 1964, the year in which his third child, [[Andrea Morricone]], who would also become a film composer, was born. Film director and former schoolmate Sergio Leone hired Morricone, and together they created a distinctive score to accompany Leone's [[Spaghetti Western|different version]] of the [[Western (genre)|Western]], ''[[A Fistful of Dollars]]'' (1964).<ref>{{cite news |title=Morricone, la musica per il compagno di scuola Sergio Leone |url=https://www.adnkronos.com/intrattenimento/spettacolo/2020/07/06/morricone-musica-per-compagno-scuola-sergio-leone_66Md0LxcNpUYJufDdnzD7M.html |access-date=7 July 2020 |work=Adnkronos |date=6 July 2020 |language=it}}</ref>

===== The Dollars Trilogy =====
{{main|Dollars Trilogy|The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (soundtrack)}}

Because budget strictures limited Morricone's access to a full orchestra, he used gunshots, cracking whips, whistle, voices, [[jew's harp]], trumpets, and the new Fender electric guitar, instead of orchestral arrangements of Western standards à la [[John Ford]]. Morricone used his special effects to punctuate and comically tweak the action—cluing in the audience to the [[silence|taciturn]] man's ironic stance.<ref name="Leinberger" />{{rp|69–77}} <!--Though sonically bizarre for a movie score, Morricone's music was [[wikt:viscerally|viscerally]] true to Leone's vision.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}-->

As memorable as Leone's [[close-up]]s, harsh violence, and black comedy, Morricone's work helped to expand the musical possibilities of film scoring. Initially, Morricone was billed on the film as Dan Savio, a name they had used on [[Duello nel Texas]] to help its appeal on the international market. ''A Fistful of Dollars'' came out in Italy in 1964 and was released in America three years later, greatly popularising the so-called [[Spaghetti Western]] genre. For the American release, Sergio Leone followed Morricone and [[Massimo Dallamano]]'s lead and decided to adopt an American-sounding name, Bob Robertson. Over the film's theatrical release, it grossed more than any other Italian film up to that point.<ref name="Hughes7">{{cite book|last=Hughes|first=Howard|title=Aim for the Heart: The Films of Clint Eastwood|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PbWKDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA7|date=30 July 2009|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-0-85771-021-5|page=7}}</ref> The film debuted in the United States in January 1967, where it grossed {{USD|4.5&nbsp;million|link=yes}} for the year.<ref name="Hughes7"/> It eventually grossed $14.5&nbsp;million in its American release,<ref name="Hughes7"/> against its budget of {{USD}}200,000.<ref>{{cite book|last=Giddins|first=Gary|title=Warning Shadows: Home Alone with Classic Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DuYHM-Ltkx4C&pg=PA122|date=19 April 2010|publisher=W. W. Norton|isbn=978-0-393-33792-1|page=122}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Sterritt|first=David|title=The Cinema of Clint Eastwood: Chronicles of America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zfrpBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA42|date=25 November 2014|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-85071-1|page=42}}</ref>

With the score of ''A Fistful of Dollars'', Morricone began his 20-year collaboration with his childhood friend [[Alessandro Alessandroni]] and his Cantori Moderni.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Strachan |first1=Ian Gregory |last2=Mask |first2=Mia |title=Poitier Revisited: Reconsidering a Black Icon in the Obama Age|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kEogBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT268|date=27 November 2014|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-62356-923-5|page=268}}</ref> Alessandroni provided the whistling and the twanging guitar on the film scores, while his Cantori Moderni were a flexible troupe of modern singers. Morricone in particular drew on the solo [[soprano]] of the group, [[Edda Dell'Orso]], at the height of her powers "an extraordinary voice at my disposal".<ref>[https://www.italyonthisday.com/2018/02/edda-dellorso-Italian-vocalist-Morricone-Spaghetti-westerns-sergio-leone.html Edda Dell'Orso – vocalist / Soprano was wordless voice of Morricone soundtracks] italyonthisday.com 16 February 2018</ref>

The composer subsequently scored Leone's other two ''[[Dollars Trilogy]]'' (or ''[[Man with No Name|Man with No Name Trilogy]]'') spaghetti westerns: ''[[For a Few Dollars More]]'' (1965) and ''The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly'' (1966). All three films starred the American actor [[Clint Eastwood]] as ''The Man With No Name'' and depicted Leone's own intense vision of the mythical West. Morricone commented in 2007: "Some of the music was written before the film, which was unusual. Leone's films were made like that because he wanted the music to be an important part of it; he kept the scenes longer because he did not want the music to end." According to Morricone this explains "why the films are so slow".<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/mar/18/features.musicmonthly10 "Q&A – Ennio Morricone"] ''[[The Guardian]]'', 18 March 2007</ref>

Despite the small film budgets, the ''Dollars Trilogy'' was a box-office success. The available budget for ''The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly'' was about {{USD}}1.2&nbsp;million, but it became the most successful film of the ''Dollars Trilogy'', grossing {{USD}}25.1&nbsp;million in the United States and more than [[Italian lira|Lire&nbsp;]]2.3&nbsp;billion (1.2&nbsp;million EUR) in Italy alone. Morricone's score became a major success and sold more than three million copies worldwide. On 14 August 1968 the original score was certified by the [[RIAA]] with a golden record for the sale of 500,000 copies in the United States alone.<ref>[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database RIAA, Gold and Platinum – The Good, the Bad & the Ugly], Retrieved 24 January 2013 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331234333/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database |date=31 March 2013 }}</ref>

The main theme to ''The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly'', also titled "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", was a hit in 1968 for [[Hugo Montenegro]], whose rendition was a No.2 Billboard pop single in the U.S. and a U.K. No.1 single (for four weeks from mid-November that year).<ref>{{cite web|title=Official [U.K.] Singles Chart Top 50: 13–19 November 1968|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19681113/7501/ |publisher=The Official UK Charts Company |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref>

"[[The Ecstasy of Gold]]" became one of Morricone's best-known compositions. The opening scene of [[Jeff Tremaine]]'s ''[[Jackass Number Two]]'' (2006), in which the cast is chased through a suburban neighbourhood by bulls, is accompanied by this piece. While punk rock band The [[Ramones]] used "The Ecstasy of Gold" as a closing theme during their live performances, [[Metallica]] uses "The Ecstasy of Gold" as the introductory music for its concerts since 1983.<ref>[http://www.metallica.com/index.asp?item=600114 "We All Love Ennio Morricone"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202024236/http://www.metallica.com/index.asp?item=600114 |date=2 February 2007 }}, Metallica.com, 11 March 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.metallicaworld.co.uk/f_a_q.htm Metallica related F.A.Q.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531020521/http://www.metallicaworld.co.uk/f_a_q.htm |date=31 May 2013 }}, Metallic World, retrieved 22 January 2013</ref> This composition is also included on Metallica's live symphonic album ''[[S&M (album)|S&M]]'' as well as the live album ''[[Live Shit: Binge & Purge]]''. An instrumental metal cover by Metallica (with minimal vocals by lead singer [[James Hetfield]]) appeared on the 2007 Morricone tribute album ''[[We All Love Ennio Morricone]]''. This metal version was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] in the category of [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance|Best Rock Instrumental Performance]]. In 2009, the Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist [[Coolio]] extensively sampled the theme for his song "Change".<ref>{{YouTube|gYjwtiR10yc|Coolio vs. Ennio Morricone}}, Change, 15 February 2009.</ref>

===== ''Once Upon a Time in the West'' and others =====
{{main|Once Upon a Time in the West (soundtrack)}}

[[File:Foto Mauro Maur e Maestro Ennio Morricone.jpg|Ennio Morricone while recording a soundtrack with his favorite trumpet player and friend [[Mauro Maur]] – Forum Studios in Rome|thumb|upright=1.20|left]]Subsequent to the success of the ''Dollars trilogy'', Morricone also composed the scores for ''Once Upon a Time in the West'' (1968) and Leone's last credited western film ''[[A Fistful of Dynamite]]'' (1971),<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 December 2014|title=Morricone regrets Eastwood rejection|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30517594|access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> as well as the score for ''[[My Name Is Nobody]]'' (1973).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wilcox|first=Felicity|title=Vale Ennio Morricone: a master composer with breathtaking musical range|url=http://theconversation.com/vale-ennio-morricone-a-master-composer-with-breathtaking-musical-range-142082|access-date=7 July 2020|website=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]]|date=7 July 2020}}</ref>

Morricone's score for ''[[Once Upon a Time in the West (soundtrack)|Once Upon a Time in the West]]'' is one of the best-selling original instrumental scores in the world today, with as many as 10&nbsp;million copies sold, including one million copies in France,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sites.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/em/greniers/emission.php?arch=1&d_id=355000237&e_id=35 |title=Radio France |publisher=Sites.radiofrance.fr |access-date=12 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007185545/http://sites.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/em/greniers/emission.php?arch=1&d_id=355000237&e_id=35 |archive-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> and more than 800,000 copies in the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radioveronica.nl/index.php?page=album_top_1000_content/de_beste_soundtracks_aller_tijden |title=Radio Veronica |publisher=Radioveronica.nl |access-date=12 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216152451/http://www.radioveronica.nl/index.php?page=album_top_1000_content%2Fde_beste_soundtracks_aller_tijden |archive-date=16 February 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://www.futurelegendrecords.com/#/that-instrumental-vibe/4545526880 That Instrumental Vibe] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208024623/http://www.futurelegendrecords.com/ |date=8 February 2011 }}, Future Legend Records, Retrieved 15 February 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.bookjunkiesjournal.com/soundtracks.html Soundtracks&nbsp;... a whole universe of music to discover] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228141657/http://www.bookjunkiesjournal.com/soundtracks.html |date=28 December 2012 }} by Annarita Guarnieri, ''Book Junkies Journal'', retrieved 22 January 2013</ref>

The collaboration with Leone is considered one of the exemplary [[List of noted film director and composer collaborations|collaborations between a director and a composer]]. Morricone's last score for Leone was for his last film, the gangster drama ''[[Once Upon a Time in America]]'' (1984). Leone died on 30 April 1989 of a heart attack at the age of 60. Before his death in 1989, Leone was part-way through planning a film on the [[Siege of Leningrad]], set during World War II. By 1989, Leone had been able to acquire {{USD}}100&nbsp;million in financing from independent backers for the war epic. He had convinced Morricone to compose the film score. The project was cancelled when Leone died two days before he was to officially sign on for the film.

In early 2003, Italian filmmaker [[Giuseppe Tornatore]] announced he would direct a film called ''Leningrad''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3204 |title=Tornatore wants Kidman for Leningrad Oscar-winning Italian director to make World War II movie about Nazi attack of Russia |access-date=10 January 2009 | url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311015636/http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3204 |archive-date=11 March 2007 }}</ref> The film has yet to go into production and Morricone was cagey as to details on account of Tornatore's superstitious nature.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/arts_n_ideas/article/ennio-morricone-discusses-85th-anniversary-before-moscow-concert/489297.html |title=Aliide Naylor, Ennio Morricone Discusses 85th Anniversary Before Moscow Concert |work=The Moscow Times |date=11 November 2013 |access-date=11 November 2013}}</ref>

===== Association with Sergio Corbucci and Sergio Sollima =====

Two years after the start of his collaboration with Sergio Leone, Morricone also started to score music for another Spaghetti Western director, [[Sergio Corbucci]]. The composer wrote music for Corbucci's ''[[Navajo Joe]]'' (1966), ''[[The Hellbenders]]'' (1967), ''[[The Mercenary (film)|The Mercenary/The Professional Gun]]'' (1968), ''[[The Great Silence]]'' (1968), ''[[Compañeros (film)|Compañeros]]'' (1970), ''[[Sonny and Jed]]'' (1972), and ''[[What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution?]]'' (1972).<ref name=scian>{{Cite book|last=Sciannameo|first=Franco|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b2_KDwAAQBAJ|title=Reflections on the Music of Ennio Morricone: Fame and Legacy|date=2020|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-4985-6901-9|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Hoberman|first=J.|author-link=J. Hoberman|date=28 December 2018|title='68 Rides Again: The Return of Sergio Corbucci|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/28/movies/sergio-corbucci-the-great-silence.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/28/movies/sergio-corbucci-the-great-silence.html |archive-date=1 January 2022 |url-access=limited|access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref>

In addition, Morricone composed music for the western films by [[Sergio Sollima]], ''[[The Big Gundown]]'' (with [[Lee Van Cleef]], 1966), ''[[Face to Face (1967 film)|Face to Face]]'' (1967), and ''[[Run, Man, Run]]'' (1968), as well as the 1970 crime thriller ''[[Città violenta|Violent City]]'' (with [[Charles Bronson]]) and the [[Poliziotteschi|poliziottesco]] film ''[[Revolver (1973 film)|Revolver]]'' (1973).<ref name=scian/><ref>{{Cite book|last=Spencer|first=Kristopher|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wz2dxDNaEDgC|title=Film and Television Scores, 1950–1979: A Critical Survey by Genre|date=10 January 2014|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-5228-6|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Grozdanovic|first1=Nikola|date=10 November 2015|title=The 30 Best Film Scores By Ennio Morricone|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/11/the-30-best-film-scores-by-ennio-morricone-106032/|access-date=7 July 2020|website=IndieWire|language=en}}</ref>