I was channel surfing last night and a movie called Waiting To Exhale (feat. Whitney Houston/directed by Forest Whitaker) was playing. I never saw it and just watched one scene. It was the music that caught my attention. It cleverly matched the scene and I wonder how many people made the connection unless they got the soundtrack. Keep in mind I haven't seen this movie - the music was featured in a argument scene where one of the male characters is standing outside looking up at his girlfriend's apartment balcony - clever. Why?
The music was the "Romantic theme" composed by Italian composer Nino Rota for Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 cinematic adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet . There was an alternate version of this composition that had lyrics and is known as "A Time For Us" and the film version was called "What Is Youth".
Mr. Rota has an impressive resume. He has worked with the great Fellini, was a good friend of Igor Stravinsky and composed music for the first two films of The Godfather trilogy among other things.
I remember watching Zeffirelli's adaptation after reading Romeo and Juliet in high school because Baz Luhrmann's hadn't come out yet. I actually liked Zeffirelli's film better and the boys in class loved what was a little controversial at the release of the film - the nude shot of Olivia Hussey. In fact, originally the film was rated G and then switched to M because of that scene.
I loved Rota's composition and somehow found the sheet music at antique shop in high school thinking I could teach myself how to play it on the piano without knowing how to play. I didn't learn it. :) I wonder if it was Whitaker's call to use it in his movie? It's fun running into interesting little surprises in films - even ones that you don't actually watch!
Posted via web from feast!
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