With
La Dolce Vita
, director
Federico Fellini
began a string of grand and surreal pictures that would seal his international reputation as one of the most innovative directors of the post-war era. By way of the dreamlike settings and complex narratives he created for masterpieces like
8 1/2
,
Juliet of the Spirits
Satyricon
, and
Armacord
Fellini
expanded on the relatively traditional base of his '50s movies (
Il Bidone
La Strada
) and made stars out of
Marcello Mastroianni
and
Giulietta Masina
. Composer
Nino Rota
also came to prominence via
's pictures by perfectly complimenting the director's fantastical work with impressionistic and eclectic scores. Like fellow countryman
Ennio Morricone
Rota
created soundtracks that were original enough to stand on their own apart from a given film. And while maybe not as innovative and stunning as his later backdrops for
still impresses with its popular main title theme, the fleet
cocktail
jazz
of
"Cadillac,"
and the murky and mysterious
"Via Veneto e I Nobili."
Using organ, piano, electric guitar, accordion, clarinets, trumpets, vibes, and, at times, a full orchestra,
creates a mix of askew circus music themes,
lounge
combo cuts, and Italian cafe interludes, all of which come off sounding quaint yet innovative. Along with most of
's work for
is essential listening for soundtrack fans. ~ Stephen Cook