Una Magnum Special
Per Tony Saita
Music by Armando Trovaioli
In a time when policial thrillers were in high demand Una Magnum Special Per Tony Saita (1973) was a median Italian production trying to follow the tough cop line.
With median screenplay and conventional narratives, the cop movies lean essentially in the presence of lead actors. Gene Hackman, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood, Roy Scheider, had their great moments when requested. Well, Una Magnum Special had Stuart Whitman as the lead, visibly trying to do the Dirty Harry line. The second sustain in the genre were the soundtracks and here the soundtrack of Armando Trovaioli excels in quality. The score is a direct consequence of his music for La Mala Ordina (1972), a classic of Euro-cop movie. The melodic content is almost the same, but here the heavy instrumental track from La Mala Ordina (one of the best in the genre) is attenuated. Composed by two main themes, Trovaioli alternate its rhythmic dynamics to the sound fluency. Alternative motives appear inserted to climatic effect between the main themes. The music is jazz based and the composer avoids the obvious (bass lines of soul music, for instance). The closest the score goes of period reference are occasional pop synths and guitars on Cry Baby pedal as in Tony's Back (check the pod). The romantic theme, Louise, borrows something from Streetcar Named Desire and receives a beautiful version for saxophone on Wierd Phone Call. The track Identikit is a highlight with its reflective mood and psychedelic synth phrases. It is one more curious case of soundtrack more interesting than the film itself. Like Blacula or Satan in High Hells, Una Magnum Special Per Tony Saita is proof that there are more good soundtracks than good movies.
Retro Jazz
10
in