Broxton Comment-MB-008-85

VERGOGNA SCHIFOSI (1969)

Vergogna Schifosi is an Italian thriller directed by Mauro Severino. The film stars Lino Capolicchio, Marília Branco, and Roberto Bisacco as three friends who accidentally kill a man and leave his body in a public park. Six years later, having never been caught, and with them all having put the tragedy behind them and begun new lives, they receive an anonymous letter with a compromising photograph, accusing them of murder and questioning things they have done in their lives. The blackmailer demands money, and signs the letter “vergogna schifosi” – “disgusting shame”. As the friends decide what to do, circumstances lead them to committing another murder, with tragic results for all.

“Matto, Caldo, Soldi, Morto… Girotondo” is the main theme of the score and is a fascinating construction in which Morricone creates is a light, poppy, almost fluffy melody, but then has his choir intoning the worlds of the cue title, which translates as ‘madness, heat, money, death,’ and then then the Italian equivalent of ‘ring a ring o’ roses’. Considering the nature of the story this juxtaposition is actually quite brilliant, with the ridiculously upbeat nature of the melody clashing with the sinister underpinnings of the lyrics.

The rest of the score has a carefree, summery sound for guitars, rock percussion, Hammond organ, and a light string section; “Guardami Negli Occhi” is a catchy and funky beat, “Ninna Nanna Per Adulti” uses wah-wah vocals and light chimes to add more ethereal sound to the recurring theme, and “Una Spiaggia a Mezzogiorno” uses a more earthy, soulful female vocalist, while “Un Altro Mare” is dreamy and romantic, a lyrical blissful sound with prominent guitars and a differently-textured female vocal. It’s all really lovely, light and happy-go-lucky, and stands in cleverly ironic contrast to the actual story the film is telling.

The score for Vergogna Schifosi has been released several times over the years, each with the same program – on an original standalone LP, on a double-album release from British label Curci with the score for La Stagione dei Sensi, and as part of a three-score compilation released by Fin de Siècle Media in 2008 along with music from La Stagione dei Sensi and Theorem.

Track Listing: 1. Matto, Caldo, Soldi, Morto… Girotondo (3:22), 2. Guardami Negli Occhi (2:12), 3. Ninna Nanna Per Adulti (2:42), 4. Una Spiaggia a Mezzogiorno (3:40), 5. Un Altro Mare (6:35), 6. Matto, Caldo, Soldi, Morto… Girotondo #2 (4:44). Fin de Siècle Media FDS30, 23 minutes 24 seconds.

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