MANNINO, FRANCO

(1924-2005)

Composer and musician. A prolific and wide-ranging composer who published over 500 musical works during his lifetime, Mannino also scored the music for a host of films. He initiated his association with the cinema in the early 1950s by composing the music for Leonide Moguy'sDomani e un altro giorno(Tomorrow Is Another Day, 1950). He then worked extensively withLuchino Visconti, scoring or arranging the music forBellissima(1951),Morte a Venezia(Death in Venice, 1968),Ludwig(1972),Gruppo di famiglia in un interno(Conversation Piece, 1974), andL'innocente(The Innocent, 1976), the last being awarded theDavid di Donatellofor Best Musical Score. At the same time he also composed the music forCarlo Lizzani'sAi margini della metropoli(At the Edge of the City, 1952),Mario Soldati'sLa provinciale(The Wayward Wife, 1953), John Huston'sBeat the Devil(1953, known in Italy asIl tesoro dell'Africa), andLuigi Zampa'sLa romana(Woman of Rome, 1954). Beginning in the mid-1950s he also collaborated with directors of the more popular genres such asAntonio MargheritiandRiccardo Freda, for whom he scoredI vampiri(The Devil's Commandment, 1957), the film that initiated the Italianhorrorgenre. Mannino's last credited film score was in fact for Freda'sL'ossessione che uccide(Murder Syndrome, 1981).