INVESTIGATION OF A CITIZEN ABOVE SUSPICION (1970)
Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion [Indagine su un Cittadino al di Sopra di Ogni Sospetto] is an Italian crime drama directed by Elio Petri, starring Gian Maria Volonté and Florinda Bolkan. Volanté plays a police inspector who kills his mistress, and then tests whether the police would charge him for the crime by manipulating the investigation and planting obvious which obviously point to him as the suspect – but despite this, he is never arrested or even accused of the crime. The film is intended to be an expose of police corruption in the Italian judicial system and was a critically acclaimed success, winning the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in that year.
Morricone’s score is actually one of his most famous and popular from the period, as its main theme has been featured in concerts and included on numerous compilation albums over the years. The theme is peculiar, sort of like a twisted carnival march, with an intense dance-like rhythmic core that begins with a harp, moves to a de-tuned piano, and finishes in the strings, all while being surrounded by an array of twanging, plinking, and plonking textures that range from a Jew’s harp to an acoustic guitar. It’s relentless, obsessive-compulsive feel is actually perfect for the tone of the film, but quite how Morricone came up with this sound for this film is unimaginable – true testament to his creativity and genius.
The theme is prominent in many other cues, receiving especially notable statements in “Ripresa l´Indagine,” “Taglio Primo,” and “Indagine,” albeit with occasionally different instrumental textures carrying the main rhythmic idea. There is a recurring secondary theme too, entitled “Miraggio,” which begins as a bass passacaglia and slowly, intently picks up a Hammond organ, sly strings, and several of the main theme’s twangy enhancements, although the tone of the piece feels a little less jovial, perhaps a little more sultry, alluding to the more sinister aspects of the inspector’s murderous activities. The rhythmic ideas in the “Miraggio” theme occasionally remind me of the whimsical theme Elmer Bernstein wrote for Ghostbusters in 1984 (Here), if that tells you anything about its tone.
The rest of the score is essentially a series of variations on these two themes, and thankfully the score is only 29 minutes long, which means that the whole thing is over before it gets too repetitive and wholly wears out its welcome. The soundtrack album reviewed here is the 2007 Cinevox release which presents the original 11-track soundtrack album in mono, but then pads the album out with 15 minutes of alternate takes, plus an additional 21 minutes of stereo mixes that essentially repeat all the same material. Most people won’t need even half of this, but it’s good that this iconic Morricone has been preserved with such loving care.
Track Listing: 1. Indagine su un Cittadino al di Sopra di Ogni Sospetto (3:26), 2. Ripresa l´Indagine (1:10), 3. Taglio Primo (2:07), 4. Indagine (4:31), 5. Miraggio Seconda (3:22), 6. Indagine Insabbiata (2:05), 7. Miraggio Terzo (1:55), 8. Miraggio (2:31), 9. Taglio Secondo (1:25), 10. Indagine su un Cittadino al di Sopra di Ogni Sospetto (4:08), 11. Miraggio (Versione Singolo Lato B) (2:00), 12. Indagine su un Cittadino al di Sopra di Ogni Sospetto (Alt. Take #2) (2:55), 13. Miraggio (Alt. Take #2) (1:53), 14. Taglio Primo (Alt. Take #2) (1:33), 15. Indagine su un Cittadino al di Sopra di Ogni Sospetto (Unused Take) (3:11), 16. Taglio Scondo (Alt. Take #2) (:57), 17. Miraggio Secondo (Lat. Take #2) (2:45), 18. Taglio Primo (Alt. Take #3) (1:45), 19. Indagine su un Cittadino al di Sopra di Ogni Sospetto (Titoli Stereo Mix) (3:26), 20. Indagine Insabbiata (Alt. Take #2 Stereo Mix) (2:04), 21. Miraggio (Alt. Take #3 Stereo Mix) (3:24), 22. Indagine (Alt. Take #2 Stereo Mix) (4:31), 23. Taglio Primo (Alt. Take #4 Stereo Mix) (2:05), 24. Taglio Secondo (Alt. Take #3) (1:26), 25. Indagine su un Cittadino al di Sopra di Ogni Sospetto (Finale Stereo Mix) (4:09). Cinevox CDMDF-617, 64 minutes 44 seconds.
