RIP to the great and prolific Italian film composer Riziero "Riz" Ortolani, who has passed away at the age of 87. Best-known for his Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated hit song "More" (written for MONDO CANE), Ortolani was also responsible for scoring such films as Dino Risi's IL SORPASSO (coming soon from Criterion); the Karl May western OLD SHATTERHAND; Antonio Margheriti's HORROR CASTLE aka THE VIRGIN OF NUREMBERG, CASTLE OF BLOOD and its remake WEB OF THE SPIDER, and SEVEN DEATHS IN THE CAT'S EYE; Ruggero Deodato's CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST; Umberto Lenzi's SO SWEET... SO DEADLY; Cavara and Jacopetti's AFRICA ADDIO and GOODBYE UNCLE TOM; Lucio Fulci's ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER and DON'T TORTURE THE DUCKLING, and many, many more. Among his many admirers is Quentin Tarantino who sampled his music in both KILL BILL volumes as well as in DJANGO UNCHAINED. This link will lead you to one of his lushest orchestrations, worthy of Morricone.
