"Ennio Morricone: Essential Scores from a Movie Maestro" Takes Over Academy Museum, Showcasing Classic and Lesser-Known Italian Films in LA

Italian cinema takes center stage at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles with the screening series "Ennio Morricone: Essential Scores from a Movie Maestro." The event, programmed in partnership with Cinecittà, is drawing sold-out audiences and features 20 titles, including iconic films such as Sergio Leone's "The Good the Bad and the Ugly" and "Once Upon a Time in the West." The series showcases Morricone's work both in his native Italy and in Hollywood, highlighting his contribution to the film industry. The selection of films aims to expand the appreciation of Morricone's work among current and new fans in the U.S. Beyond his collaborations with Leone, Brian De Palma, and Quentin Tarantino, the series includes lesser-known Italian films that demonstrate Morricone's creative and wide-ranging approach to film scoring. This includes works like Elio Petri's "Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion" and Giuliano Montaldo's "Sacco and Vanzetti," which had successful runs in the festival circuit but did not gain much attention in the U.S. Another rarity in the selection is Lina Wertmüller's "The Lizards," which follows the lives of impoverished people in Southern Italy and has not been seen in the U.S. The Morricone screening series is part of Cinecittà's ongoing collaboration with the Academy and serves as a bridge between the past and the future of Italian cinema. Cinecittà CEO Nicola Maccanico emphasized the importance of promoting classic Italian cinema and new auteurs to draw attention to the industry, especially at a time when several Italian directors have a chance of winning an Oscar. One of these contenders is Matteo Garrone's immigration drama "Io Capitano," which won awards at the Venice Film Festival and is Italy's current Oscar candidate for Best International Feature Film. The series showcases the rich legacy of Italian cinema while highlighting its promising future.