NASCIMBENE, MARIO

(1913-2002)

Musical director and composer. One of the most respected and versatile of Italian film composers, Nascimbene is credited with the musical scores of over 300 films.

After graduating from the Conservatory of Milan in 1935, Nascimbene indulged an early passion for cinema by scoringFerdinando Maria Poggioli'sL'Amore canta(Love Song, 1941). In the immediate postwar period he increased his involvement in the cinema, working with many directors on a wide variety of films ranging from socially committed neorealist works such asGiuseppe De Santis'sRoma ore 11(Rome 11:00, 1952) topeplumslikeCarmine Gallone'sCartagine in fiamme(Carthage in Flames, 1960).He scored a number of films forValerio Zurlini, beginning withEstate Violenta(Violent Summer, 1959), for which he received theNastro d'argento, and also collaborated withFranco BrusationIl disordine(Disorder, 1962) andCarlo LizzanionIl processo di Verona(The Verona Trial, 1963). In the late 1960s he initiated a long and fruitful partnership withRoberto Rossellini, scoring many of his films for television includingAtti degli Apostoli(Acts of the Apostles, 1969),Socrate(Socrates, 1970),Blaise Pascal(1971),Agostino d'Ippona(Augustine of Hippo, 1972), andCartesius(Descartes, 1974) as well as Rossellini's last work for the big screen,Il Messia(The Messiah, 1976).

One of the few Italian directors to have worked extensively in Hollywood, Nascimbene also scored dozens of big-budget American productions, among them Joseph L. Mankiewicz'sThe Barefoot Contessa(1954) andThe Quiet American(1958), Robert Rossen'sAlexander the Great(1956), Charles Vidor'sA Farewell to Arms(1957), and King Vidor'sSolomon andSheba(1959). Having already received theNastro d'argentothree times, in 1992 he was given a specialDavid di Donatellofor his entire career. After his death in 2002 an annual prize was instituted in his name to recognize other fine film composers.