Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack work automatically classes up any film he’s attached to, and Lucio Fulci’s Lizard In A Woman’s Skin is no exception. The movie itself is super-trippy, surreal, and a fun watch. But the soundtrack is such a massive part of this film that it’s really hard to separate the two.
If you need proof of that, here’s the trailer (available on Youtube while it lasts, naturally. You know how these things go…)
If you are into the Ennio Morricone sounds you hear in the trailer, you can buy the Death Waltz vinyl reissue of the Lizard In A Woman’s Skin from Turntabling while supplies last, but you can also check out the DVD reissue from the always-awesome Mondo Macabro. Buy the Mondo Macabro Lizard In A Woman’s Skin DVD.
Another super-awesome Italian film with an essential Ennio Morricone soundtrack? Dario Argento’s Four Flies On Grey Velvet.
Yes, we love trailers at Turntabling, and can’t get enough of these, so we like to post them as often as we can. The Dario Argento / Ennio Morricone connection never gets old, and this movie features some great work by Morricone with some nice prog touches and the usual moody, “death is creeping up on you” swells and swoons.
Some complain about the pacing of Four Flies on Grey Velvet, but die-hard giallo fans can’t get enough of this. Turntabling has at least one copy of the soundtrack on AMS/Cinevox. It’s a great vinyl record! Buy the Four Flies On Grey Velvet soundtrack from Turntabling while supplies last.
If you need a copy of the movie you can always check out the MYA reissue which seems to be more readily available these days-it’s a DVD version of Argento’s Four Flies on Grey Velvet that some might feel is quite as obsessive or stunning as an Arrow Video release, but if you are dying to see (and own) a copy, this is one to look at.
There’s nothing at all wrong with the MYA release, but it if you are looking for tons of bells & whistles, this ain’t the version of the film for you, sporting a few trailers for Four Flies, an image gallery, and English-language credits. Chances are good many reading this are hungry for more…but if you just need to experience the film, there’s nothing at all wrong with the MYA version for that.
Speaking of Arrow Video, their two-disc edition of Dario Argento’s Cat O’Nine Tails is DEFINITELY something you should invest in-Arrow puts so much care into these releases, it’s very difficult to praise them enough. The soundtrack by Ennio Morricone gets REALLY experimental on this one, and it’s one of his all-time best if you are into dissonance, surreal sounds, and a wildly unpredictable sonic journey with just enough jazz influence to put this on a completely different level even alongside the Maestro’s other work of the period.
And no recommendation of Italian cinema featuring Morricone’s work would be complete without a mention of the terrific Black Belly Of The Tarantula, another unusual journey into the wild, unpredictable world of Giallo films, this one featuring a killer fond of paralyzing people with a poison-tipped needle before doing the unspeakable crimes.
This soundtrack is a prize amongst some giallo lovers, at least the ones around here. You can buy The Black Belly of the Tarantula by Ennio Morricone on vinyl from Turntabling while supplies last, but do be sure and check out the trailer below if you haven’t seen this outstanding Italian film from 1971.
And finally, giallo fans hooked on The Black Belly of the Tarantula should not pass up the chance to see The Fifth Cord, which is yet another Franco Nero giallo, this one kicking off on New Year’s Eve and going right into the black-gloved, fedora-wearing madness! Yes, at Turntabling, this one goes on the player EVERY New Year’s eve (or day) along with New Year’s Evil, which is a classic of a whole ‘nother kind.
Check out the trailer for this one below (while it lasts on YouTube), and keep your eyes peeled for a vinyl copy of this one-not as easy to find as one might think!
