Beat Records is pleased to reissue on CD the OST by Ennio Morricone for the drama film Il pentito, directed in 1985 by Pasquale Squitieri with a screenplay by Pasquale Squitieri, Laura Toscano, Lino Jannuzzi, Orazio Barrese, and Franco Marotta, photography by Silvano Ippoliti, editing by Mauro Bonanni, music by Ennio Morricone, production by C.G. Silver Film, Distribution Ceiad, and a cast featuring Franco Nero, Tony Musante, Erik Estrada, Max von Sydow, Rita Rusic, Marino Masé, Ivo Garrani, Imma Piro, Philippe Le Marie, Giuseppe Mannajuolo, Claudine Auger, Enrico Maisto, Luigi Montini, Anna Orso, Mario Granato, Rick Battaglia, Marina Berti, Salvatore Billa, Roberto Caporali, Mario Erpichini, Bernard Faber, Tommaso Palladino, Gianfranco Salemi, Giuseppe Rizzo, Tony Sperandeo, Santi Bellina, Bjorn Hammer, Francesco Torrisi, Venantino Venantini, Luigi Uzzo, Irina Carletti, Sasha D'Arc, Antonio De Leo, Marcello Filotico, J. Emmanuele Gartmann, Fabio Mastrantonio, Denis Pekarev, Cristina Piras, and Alessandro Spadorciaj.

The plot:

The 1970s: Spinola's financier collapses, a Milanese lawyer working in the Mafia is murdered, and Mafia boss Vanni Ragusa is released from prison. A fake kidnapping transports the bankrupt Spinola to Sicily for a showdown with the Cosa Nostra bosses who had entrusted him with an immense fortune and sent him back to America, claiming he is incompetent and useless. Don Salvo Lercara, the Corleone Mafia boss, escapes from the Ucciardone prison, sparking a savage settling of scores involving rival mafiosi who are vying with him for control of the arms and drug trade. Vanni Ragusa escapes and hides in America, where he learns of the murder of his son and brother. Anguished for the fate of his wife and other son, who were witnesses to the massacre, he accepts extradition to Italy and promises Judge Falco, who is leading the investigation with the FBI, that he will cooperate with the prosecution provided he is guaranteed the protection of his surviving family members and his return to America after questioning, which the judge agrees to. This is followed by endless raids on Corleone mafiosi and the arrest of a magistrate, who resorts to suicide to avoid infamy.

The music:

In 1985, Ennio Morricone prepared a twelve-track album that never saw the light of day at the time, but ten years later, in 1995, the material was released on GDM Point (PRCD 112) paired with “Corleone.” In 2007, under Ennio Morricone’s supervision, “Il pentito” was expanded on GDM CD (CD CLUB 7041) with the addition of eight bonus tracks. Now, this 74:05 presentation, taken from the stereo masters of the original sessions, is back on the market. Ennio Morricone has always had a strong artistic connection with Sicily, scoring many films set on this wonderful island including Gente di rispetto, Corleone, Dimenticare Palermo, La violenza: Quinto potere, Il prefetto di ferro, Malena, L’uomo delle stelle, Baaria, and La scorta.

The main theme “Il pentito” has a religious flavor, sweet and sad, which evokes the setting of the story (Tr.1), reprised with a pastoral atmosphere in “Il pentito (Addio al padre)” (Tr.6), “Il pentito (Ripresa)” (Tr.11), “Il pentito (Ripresa 2)” (Tr.17), and in “Il pentito (Ripresa 3)” (Tr.20) with different instrumentation. Morricone contrasts the tranquility of this motif with dramatic pieces such as “Evento finale” (Tr.3), “Retata” (Tr.5), “Momento decisivo” (Tr.7), “Strano notturno” (Tr.10), and “Retata seconda” (Tr.12), where the listener will find all the sound elements of Noir according to Morricone. The piece “Sicilia” is a lyrical homage by the composer to Trinacria (Tr.19).

01 Il Pentito 4:48
02 Messaggio 2:38
03 Evento Finale 4:21
04 Il Pentito (Colloqui Discreti) 2:23
05 Retata 3:58
06 Il Pentito (Addio Al Padre) 1:15
07 Momento Decisivo 8:38
08 Il Pentito (Arrivo A New York) 1:01
09 Sicilia Dei Ricordi Lontani 2:36
10 Strano Notturno 3:18
11 Il Pentito (Ripresa) 4:47
12 Retata Seconda 4:24
13 Durante L'Omelia 3:03
14 Evento Finale (#2) 4:17
15 Confusi Ricordi 2:10
16 Momento Decisivo (#2) 8:26
17 Il Pentito (Ripresa #2) 2:10
18 Retata (#2) 1:40
19 Sicilia 2:36
20 Il Pentito (Ripresa #3) 4:48

Music composed, orchestrated, and conducted by ENNIO MORRICONE

Stereo TT 74:05