L’Armata Brancaleone. Carlo Rustichelli

A group of rogues steal a scroll granting its bearer the property of the land of Aurocastro in Apulia (south of Italy). They elect a shaggy knight, Brancaleone from Norcia, as their leader, and decide to get possession of this supposedly wealthy land. Many adventures will occurr during the journey. These include a Byzantine knight, Teofilatto dei Leonzi (Gian Maria Volonté), who proposes to fake his capture by the band so they can demand and share a ransom from his father and the rescue of a bride named Matelda (Catherine Spaak), who falls in love with Brancaleone. Carlo Rustichelli was the author of the “Brancaleone March“, a true iconic hymn like the James Bond theme by Monty Norman or “The Raiders March“ by John Williams from Raiders of the Lost Ark . This unforgettable choir motif is introduced by “Branca Branca Branca Leon Leon Leon“ and a whistle and is the heart of the background music, which the author reprises with orchestral versions that are sometimes comical and sometimes dramatic, all under the direction of Bruno Nicolai.