peter martin

Ennio Morricone - The Ecstasy of Gold (from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly)

The classic title track theme (bada bada bum, wah wah wah) may be more recognizable, but this is my favorite piece from the soundtrack of one of the greatest marriages of director and composer, Sergio Leone and Ennio Morricone. Suspense builds from the outset as Eli Wallach’s character Tuco (‘The Ugly’) arrives at the cemetery in the film’s climactic scene. Tuco runs to the center of the vast circular layout (one of the more spectacular sets in film history), and then runs in an ever-widening spiral, scanning the names on the tombstones as he races by. Leone’s camera swivels from the center, tracking Tuco’s path, as Morricone layers in more instruments and builds to the discovery of Arch Stanton’s grave, setting up the final three-way duel. Perfection.