CD REVIEW - Arrivano I Titani


Arrivano I Titani
Music by Carlo Rustichelli
Digitmovies CDDM060 (Italy)
30 Tracks 73:35 mins

This 1971 comedy is notable for being one of the first starring roles for the young Giuliano Gemma, who was to become one of the more recognisable heroes of the Italian Western genre. The story concerns a young Titan sent by Zeus to restore order to Crete, where a tyrant has proclaimed himself a god.
The lengthy score is presented here complete and in very good mono sound, and features a somewhat pompous trombone-lead march; a versatile love theme, which sometimes sounds quite modern and jazzy in its presentation; a comic waltz for the "Acrobatic Hero;" a light-hearted, dance -like mover "My Son, The Hero;" a Spanish sounding "Chase;" plenty of mysterious and threatening moments, sometimes utilising Hammond organ and choir; and various other bits and pieces of marches and conflict, sometimes incorporating variations on well-known anthems and hymns. Unfortunately this latter approach does the score no favours and is the kind of thing that, in my experience, sometimes makes soundtrack fans look down their noses at Italian film music.
Whatever, it's a very tuneful and entertaining score, and includes a number of bonus variations on the love theme, possibly intended for a single release at the time, including an Italian language vocal by an uncredited female.
As always, a colourful booklet accompanies the disc, with stills and artwork, plus Claudio Fuiano's notes on the film and its music.