The man who whistled up The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The man who whistled up The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

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norman lebrecht

March 29, 2017

The film’s composer was Ennio Morricone, but the main theme was supplied by his friend Alessandro Alessandroni, who also played guitar on the soundtrack.

Alessandroni, who died this week aged 92, was the expert whistler on several Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns, notably on A Fistful of Dollars.

On his own account he wrote scores for many films, none of them immortal…. Johnny Hamlet, The Virgin of Bali…

 

 

Comments

  • Theodore McGuiver says:

    I thought he died years ago. Either that, or the soundtrack whistling was erroneously attributed to someone else.

    • John O'Neill'daughter says:

      Well actually it wasnt him…it was my dad..John O’Neill. A BBC session singer who was an extraordinary whistler. Alessandra took the kudos for himself. My father, John O’Neill also was the whustler in a record..i was kaiser bills batman and EMI ‘arranged’ for someone else to take the crefit. Thats how the music industry was in tbe 70’s. And my dad reported that to News of The World and they exoised EMI. Crooked.

      • laura tallentire says:

        I ageee it was my dad’s uncle I think, my dad being Paul Tallentire
        I wish it was times now as this wouldn’t have been aloud xx

      • Lianne Shaigec says:

        I believe we are related. I just heard the story of John O’Neill & his whistling today from my Auntie Sally (nee O’Neill) …made me Google & I found this page. Your dad was an unbelievable talent and the whistling from the good the bad and the ugly is such an iconic , recognizable piece.. I hope you are all very proud!

  • Alan P says:

    Nevertheless a unique and haunting score. Play it it to this day!

  • Imants says:

    I’ve read thar the whistling was actually John O’Neil although he did whistle all the other movies.

  • esfir ross says:

    News of EM demice’s greatly premature. No obituary found.

  • Gerald Martin says:

    How can you claim The Killer Nun (1979) is not immortal?

  • Noel Stringer says:

    what was the stage name of the whistler john o neill

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