The insanely prolific Ennio Morricone composed some 500 film and television scores. Remembering him on his birthday with this lesser-known gem, his theme for “The Cat” (1977), a giallo-comedy – not to be confused with the straight giallo “The Cat o’ Nine Tails” (1971) or the comedy “Eye of the Cat” (1975), which features a cat named Wolfgang Amadeus! – both of which he also scored.

“The Cat,” produced by Sergio Leone, with whom Morricone galloped to international fame with “A Fistful Full of Dollars,” “For a Few Dollars More,” and “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” was one of 11 movies he scored in 1977.

Be forewarned: once listened to, “The Cat” will be with you for the rest of the day.

Happy birthday, Ennio Morricone!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGBxzofJo7c&t

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PHOTO: Morricone recording “The Exorcist II: The Heretic,” also 1977