Angelo Francesco Lavagnino (22 February 1909 – 21 August 1987) was an Italian

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

, born in

Genoa Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the List of cities in Italy, sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian ce ...

. He is best known for scoring many films, including ''

Legend of the Lost ''Legend of the Lost'' is a 1957 Italian-American adventure film produced and directed by Henry Hathaway, shot in Technirama and Technicolor by Jack Cardiff, and starring John Wayne, Sophia Loren, and Rossano Brazzi. The location shooting fo ...

'', '' Conspiracy of Hearts'', '' Gorgo'', '' The Legion's Last Patrol'', ''

The Naked Maja ''The Naked Maja'' is a 1958 Italian-American co-production made by S.G.C., Titanus, and United Artists. This historical film recounting of the romance between the painter Francisco Goya and the Duchess of Alba was directed by Henry Koster, an ...

'', ''

Daisy Miller ''Daisy Miller'' is a novella by Henry James that first appeared in '' The Cornhill Magazine'' in June–July 1878, and in book form the following year. It portrays the courtship of the beautiful American girl Daisy Miller by Winterbourne, a s ...

'', and two directed by

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...

, ''

Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cypru ...

'' and ''

Chimes at Midnight ''Falstaff (Chimes at Midnight)'' (Spanish: ''Campanadas a medianoche'') is a 1966 period comedy-drama film directed by and starring Orson Welles. The Spanish-Swiss co-production was released in the United States as ''Chimes at Midnight'' and in ...

''. He also scored several peplums and

Spaghetti Western The Spaghetti Western is a broad subgenre of Western films produced in Europe. It emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's film-making style and international box-office success. The term was used by foreign critics because most o ...

s. Lavagnino won the

Nastro d'Argento The Nastro d'Argento, also known by its translated name Silver Ribbon, is an Italian film award awarded each year since 1946 by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists (Italian: ''Sindacato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani ...

award for Best Score twice, for '' Continente perduto'' (1954) and ''Vertigine bianca'' (1956).

Selected filmography

* ''

The Devil in the Convent ''The Devil in the Convent'' (Italian: ''Il Diavolo in convento'') is a 1950 Italian comedy film directed by Nunzio Malasomma and starring Gilberto Govi, Carlo Ninchi and Mariella Lotti. It was shot at the Icet Studios in Milan and on location i ...

'' (1950) * ''

Mamma Mia, What an Impression! ''Mamma Mia, What an Impression!'' (Italian: ''Mamma mia, che impressione!'') is a 1951 Italian comedy film directed by Roberto Savarese and starring Alberto Sordi, Giovanna Pala and Carlo Giustini. It was shot at the Farnesina Studios of Tit ...

'' (1951) * ''

Woman of the Red Sea ''Woman of the Red Sea'' or ''Africa Under the Seas'' (Italian: ''Africa sotto i mari'') is a 1953 Italian comedy film directed by Giovanni Roccardi and starring Sophia Loren, Steve Barclay and Umberto Melnati. For the release of the film Loren ...

'' (1953) *''

Un americano a Roma ''An American in Rome'' (originally ''Un americano a Roma'') is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Steno. The film consists in a satire of Americanization, and it was referred as "a milestone in the evolution of Italian self-identification". I ...

'' (1954) *'' Continente perduto'' (1955) * '' The Wanderers'' (1956) *''

Roland the Mighty ''Roland the Mighty'' ( it, Orlando e i Paladini di Francia) is a 1956 Italian film directed by Pietro Francisci. about the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in AD 778, where Roland, a knight in the service of Charlemagne was killed while defending the re ...

'' (1956) *'' Count Max'' (1957) * ''

'' (1957) * ''

Engaged to Death ''Engaged to Death'' (Italian: ''I fidanzati della morte'') is a 1957 Italian sports drama film directed by Romolo Marcellini and starring Rik Battaglia, Sylva Koscina and Margit Nünke.Rondolino p.183 The veteran German star Hans Albers appears i ...

'' (1957) * ''

'' (1958) * ''

The Wind Cannot Read ''The Wind Cannot Read'' is a 1958 British drama film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Dirk Bogarde, Yoko Tani, Ronald Lewis and John Fraser. It was based on the 1946 novel by Richard Mason, who also wrote the screenplay. Songwriter P ...

'' (1958) *''

Passionate Summer ''Passionate Summer'' is a 1958 British drama film directed by Rudolph Cartier and starring Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers and Yvonne Mitchell. It is also known by the alternative title ''Storm Over Jamaica''. It was based on a best-selling 19 ...

'' (1958) * ''

The Last Days of Pompeii ''The Last Days of Pompeii'' is a novel written by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1834. The novel was inspired by the painting '' The Last Day of Pompeii'' by the Russian painter Karl Briullov, which Bulwer-Lytton had seen in Milan. It culminates in ...

'' (1959) *''

Nel Segno di Roma ''Sheba and the Gladiator'' ( it, Nel Segno di Roma) is a 1959 historical drama film loosely pertaining to the Palmyrene Empire and its re-annexation back into the Roman Empire. Cast * Anita Ekberg as Zenobia * Georges Marchal as Consul Marcus Va ...

'' (1959) * '' Gastone'' (1960) * ''

The Warrior Empress ''The Warrior Empress'' (Italian: ''Saffo - Venere di Lesbo'') is a 1960 Italian-French peplum film directed by Pietro Francisci and starring Kerwin Mathews, Tina Louise Tina Louise ( Blacker; born February 11, 1934) is an American actress wi ...

'' (1960) *'' Conspiracy of Hearts'' (1960) *''

Messalina Valeria Messalina (; ) was the third wife of Roman emperor Claudius. She was a paternal cousin of Emperor Nero, a second cousin of Emperor Caligula, and a great-grandniece of Emperor Augustus. A powerful and influential woman with a reputation ...

'' (1960) *'' Siege of Syracuse'' (1960) * ''

Five Branded Women ''Five Branded Women'' is a 1960 Italian-American film directed by Martin Ritt (his only war film) and produced by Dino De Laurentiis. It features an international cast including Silvana Mangano, Barbara Bel Geddes, Jeanne Moreau and Vera Miles. T ...

'' (1960) *''

Everybody Go Home ''Everybody Go Home'' ( it, Tutti a casa) is a 1960 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Luigi Comencini. It features an international cast including the U.S. actors Martin Balsam, Alex Nicol and the Franco-Italian Serge Reggiani. Nino Manfre ...

'' (1960) * ''

Esther and the King ''Esther and the King'' ( it, Ester e il re) is a 1960 American-Italian religious epic film produced and directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Joan Collins as Esther, Richard Egan as Ahasuerus, and Denis O'Dea as Mordecai. Walsh and Michael Elkins ...

'' (1960) * ''

Dreams Die at Dawn ''Dreams Die at Dawn'' (Italian: ''I sogni muoiono all'alba'') is a 1961 Italian drama film directed by Mario Craveri, Enrico Gras and Indro Montanelli.Goble p.331 It is set during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Cast * Lea Massari as Anna Mik ...

'' (1961) * ''

The Colossus of Rhodes The Colossus of Rhodes ( grc, ὁ Κολοσσὸς Ῥόδιος, ho Kolossòs Rhódios gr, Κολοσσός της Ρόδου, Kolossós tes Rhódou) was a statue of the Greek sun-god Helios, erected in the city of Rhodes, on the Greek isla ...

'' (1961) * '' Gorgo'' (1961) * ''

Duel of Champions ''Duel of Champions'' (Italian: ''Orazi e Curiazi'') is a 1961 film about the Roman legend of the Horatii, triplet brothers from Rome who fought a duel against the Curiatii, triplet brothers from Alba Longa in order to determine the outcome of a ...

'' (1961) *''

Goliath and the Vampires ''Goliath and the Vampires'' ( it, Maciste contro il vampiro) is a 1961 Italian ''peplum'' film directed by Sergio Corbucci and Giacomo Gentilomo. Plot Set in the ancient world, this film follows a powerful muscular man out to battle a vampire a ...

'' (1961) *''

The Wonders of Aladdin ''The Wonders of Aladdin'' (Italian: ''Le meraviglie di Aladino'') is a 1961 Italian-French-American comedy fantasy film directed by Henry Levin (with second unit direction by Mario Bava—uncredited in U.S. prints but credited as sole director i ...

'' (1961) * ''

The Corsican Brothers ''The Corsican Brothers'' (french: Les Frères corses) is a novella by Alexandre Dumas, père, first published in 1844. It is the story of two conjoined brothers who, though separated at birth, can still feel each other's physical distress. It h ...

'' (1961) *''

Pontius Pilate Pontius Pilate (; grc-gre, Πόντιος Πιλᾶτος, ) was the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from 26/27 to 36/37 AD. He is best known for being the official who presided over the trial of J ...

'' (1962) *''

Damon and Pythias The story of Damon (; grc-gre, Δάμων, gen. Δάμωνος) and Pythias (; or ; or Phintias, ) is a legend in Greek historic writings illustrating the Pythagorean ideal of friendship. Pythias is accused of and charged with plotting against ...

'' (1962) *''

Ulysses Against the Son of Hercules ''Ulysses Against the Son of Hercules'' ( it, Ulisse contro Ercole) is a 1962 ''peplum'' film directed by Mario Caiano. Plot Hercules captures Ulysses, during the latter's return to Ithaca, by order of Zeus. The hero intends to bring him to P ...

'' (1962) * '' The Legion's Last Patrol'' (1962) *''

The Old Testament The Old Testament (often abbreviated OT) is the first division of the Christian biblical canon, which is based primarily upon the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, a collection of ancient religious Hebrew writings by the Israelites. The ...

'' (1962) *''

Samson and the Slave Queen ''Samson and the Slave Queen'' ( it, Zorro contro Maciste) is a 1963 Italian '' peplum'' directed by Umberto Lenzi. It was originally made as a Maciste film in Italy, in which the fabled strongman meets Zorro. It was redubbed into a "Samson" movie ...

'' (1963) *''

Samson and the Sea Beast ''Samson and the Sea Beast'' ( it, Sansone contro i pirati, also known as ''Samson Against the Pirates'') is a 1963 Italian peplum film directed by Tanio Boccia. The plot centres around a pirate terrorising the Antilles. He plunders ships, slaugh ...

'' (1963) * ''

Hot Enough for June ''Hot Enough for June'' is a 1964 British spy comedy film directed by Ralph Thomas, and starring Dirk Bogarde with Sylva Koscina in her English film debut, Robert Morley and Leo McKern. It is based on the 1960 novel '' The Night of Wenceslas'' by ...

'' (1964) *''

Hercules, Samson and Ulysses ''Hercules, Samson and Ulysses'', ( it, Ercole sfida Sansone) is a 1963 Italian Metrocolor ''peplum'' film directed by Pietro Francisci. The costume designers for this movie used re-purposed Nazi helmets for the Philistine headgear. Plot In Ith ...

'' (1964) *''

Hercules Against Rome ''Hercules Against Rome'' ( it, Ercole contro Roma) is a 1964 '' peplum'' film directed by Piero Pierotti. Plot A childhood friend enlists Hercules to protect the Roman Emperor Gordiano, who is in danger from his own mutinous Praetorian Guards. ...

'' (1964) *''

Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon ''Ercole contro i tiranni di Babilonia'' (English Translation: ''Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon'') is a 1964 Italian sword-and-sandal film directed by Domenico Paolella and starring Peter Lupus. Plot Asparia, Queen of the Hellenes, has ...

'' (1964) *''

The High Bright Sun ''The High Bright Sun'' is a 1964 British action film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Dirk Bogarde, George Chakiris and Susan Strasberg. It is set in Cyprus during the EOKA uprising against British rule in the 1950s. It was based on a ...

'' (1964) *''

Hero of Rome ''Hero of Rome'' ( it, Il Colosso di Roma) is a 1964 sword and sandal film set in Rome in 508 BC, and depicts the expulsion of the last kings of Rome and the legend of Gaius Mucius Scaevola. Plot The city-state of Rome has just expelled its Etru ...

'' (1964) *'' Revolt of the Praetorians'' (1964) *'' Desafío en Río Bravo'' (1964) *''

Goliath at the Conquest of Damascus ''Goliath at the Conquest of Damascus'' ( it, Golia alla conquista di Bagdad, lit=Goliath at the Conquest of Baghdad) is a 1965 Italian ''peplum'' film directed by Domenico Paolella. Plot The king of the Kurds has kidnapped the daughter of the ...

'' (1965) * ''

Legacy of the Incas ''Legacy of the Incas'' (german: Das Vermächtnis des Inka) is a 1965 adventure film directed by Georg Marischka and starring Guy Madison, Rik Battaglia, and Heinz Erhardt. It was made as a co-production between Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, and W ...

'' (1965) *'' Seven Hours of Gunfire'' (1965) *'' Johnny West il mancino'' (1965) *''

Doc, Hands of Steel ''Doc, Hands of Steel'' ( es, Doc, manos de plata, it, L'uomo dalla pistola d'oro, also known as ''The Man Who Came to Kill'' and ''Man with the Golden Pistol'') is a 1965 Spanish-Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Alfonso Balcázar. ...

'' (1965) * ''

Hands of a Gunfighter ''Hands of a Gunfighter'' ( es, Ocaso de un pistolero, it, Il destino di un pistolero, also known as ''Hands of Gunman'') is a 1965 Spanish-Italian western film directed by Rafael Romero Marchent Rafael Romero Marchent (3 May 1926 – 13 Febr ...

'' (1965) * '' Agent 077: Mission Bloody Mary'' (1965) *''

The Tramplers ''The Tramplers'' is a 1965 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Albert Band and Mario Sequi based on the novel ''Guns of North Texas'' by Will Cook. Story When Lon Cordeen, an ex-Civil War soldier, returns home to his father Temple he ...

'' (1965) * '' 008: Operation Exterminate'' (1965) * '' Wild, Wild Planet'' (1965) * '' War of the Planets'' (1966) *''

Last Man to Kill ''Last Man to Kill'' ( it, Un milione di dollari per 7 assassini, french: 1.000.000 de dollars pour 7 assassinats) is a 1966 Italian-French crime-spy film written and directed by Umberto Lenzi and starring Roger Browne, Erika Blanc and Dakar. Th ...

'' (1966) * ''

4 Dollars of Revenge ''4 Dollars of Revenge'' ( es, Cuatro dólares de venganza) is a 1966 Spanish-Italian action western film directed by Alfonso Balcázar and Jaime Jesús Balcázar, written by Bruno Corbucci, Aldo Grimaldi and Giovanni Grimaldi and starring Rob ...

'' (1966) * ''

Assault on the State Treasure ''Assault on the State Treasure'' (Italian: ''Assalto al tesoro di stato'') is a 1967 Italian action film directed by Piero Pierotti and starring Roger Browne, Anita Sanders and Franco Ressel.Cowie & Elley p.299 Plot Four criminals plan to rob ...

'' (1967) * ''

A Handful of Heroes ''A Handful of Heroes'' (german: Eine Handvoll Helden) is a 1967 West German-Italian historical war film directed by Fritz Umgelter and starring Horst Frank, Valeria Ciangottini and Karlheinz Fiege.Klossner p.170 It is a remake of the 1930 fil ...

'' (1967) * '' Samoa, Queen of the Jungle'' (1968) * '' Trusting Is Good... Shooting Is Better'' (1968) * '' Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!'' (1968) * ''

The Son of Black Eagle ''The Son of Black Eagle'' (Italian: ''Il figlio di Aquila Nera'') is a 1968 Italian historical adventure film directed by Guido Malatesta and starring Mimmo Palmara, Edwige Fenech and Franco Ressel. It was inspired by the historic success of Ri ...

'' (1968) *''

Requiem for a Gringo ''Requiem for a Gringo'' ( it, Requiem per un gringo, es, Réquiem para el gringo, also known as ''Duel in the Eclipse'') is a 1968 Italian-Spanish Spaghetti Western film directed by Eugenio Martín and José Luis Merino and starring Lang Jeffr ...

'' (1968) *'' Battle of the Last Panzer'' (1969) *'' Tarzana, the Wild Girl'' (1969) * ''

The Specialist ''The Specialist'' is a 1994 American action thriller film directed by Luis Llosa and starring Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, James Woods, Eric Roberts, and Rod Steiger. It is loosely based on "The Specialist" series of novels by John Shirley. ...

'' (1969) *''

Beatrice Cenci Beatrice Cenci (; 6 February 157711 September 1599) was a Roman noblewoman who murdered her father, Count Francesco Cenci. She was beheaded in 1599 after a lurid murder trial in Rome that gave rise to an enduring legend about her. Life Beatri ...

'' (1969) *''

Angeli senza paradiso ''Angeli senza paradiso'' ("''Angels without Paradise''") is a 1970 Italian "musicarello" directed by Ettore Maria Fizzarotti. It is an unofficial remake of the 1933 film '' Gently My Songs Entreat'' by Willi Forst.Daniele Magni, ''Cuori matti - ...

'' (1970) *''

Zorro in the Court of England ''Zorro in the Court of England'' ( it, Zorro alla corte d'Inghilterra) is a 1969 Italian adventure film directed by Franco Montemurro. Cast * Spiros Focás: Pedro Suarez / Zorro * Dada Gallotti: Rosanna Gonzales * Franco Ressel: Lord Percy ...

'' (1970) * ''

The Tigers of Mompracem ''The Tigers of Mompracem'' (original title: ''Le Tigri di Mompracem'') is an exotic adventure novel written by Italian author Emilio Salgari, published in 1900. It features his most famous character, Sandokan. It was adapted into a 1970 film '' ...

'' (1970) *'' Something Creeping in The Dark'' (1971) * ''

'' (1974) *''

The Regent's Wife ''The Regent's Wife'' ( es, La Regenta) is a 1975 Spanish drama film directed by Gonzalo Suárez. It was entered into the 9th Moscow International Film Festival. Cast * Pilar Bardem * Keith Baxter * Nigel Davenport * Maruchi Fresno * Rosari ...

'' (1975)

References

* Angelo Francesco Lavagnino, ''Il difficile mestiere del compositore cinematografico. Scritti, conferenze, interviste (1950-1984)'', a cura di Alessandro Cecchi, Roma, NeoClassica, 2022. * Sergio Miceli. "Angelo Francesco Lavagnino", ''

Grove Music Online ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language ''Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart'', it is one of the largest reference works on the history and theo ...

'', ed. L. Macy (accessed February 27, 2008)
grovemusic.com
(subscription access).

External links

* 20th-century classical composers Italian classical composers Italian male classical composers Italian film score composers Italian male film score composers 1909 births 1987 deaths Nastro d'Argento winners 20th-century Italian composers 20th-century Italian male musicians {{italy-composer-stub