Composer
Nino Rota
Born 3 December 1911 · Milano, Lombardia, Italia — died 10 April 1979
Nino Rota (1911–1979) was an Italian composer, conductor and teacher, born in Milan. He wrote more than 150 film scores and is best known for his long collaboration with Federico Fellini, as well as his work for Visconti and Coppola. His music also covered opera, ballet and concert works.
Key films
La Strada (1954)
An early landmark Fellini collaboration, with a haunting theme that helped establish their enduring partnership.
8½ (1963)On Cinespective
Circus-like, playful score that perfectly matches Fellini's dreamlike self-examination.
The Leopard (1963)
Lush orchestral music for Visconti's epic, including the famous ballroom waltz.
The Godfather (1972)On Cinespective
Created the instantly recognisable love theme and brooding score for Coppola's crime saga.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
Extended his Godfather themes and earned him the Academy Award for Best Original Score.
Key awards
- 1975: Academy Award for Best Original Score, The Godfather Part II
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 132
- 1933Tourist TrainComposer
- 1942Giorno di nozzeComposer
- 1944Woman of the MountainsComposer
- 1944ZazàComposer
- 1945The Misery of Mr. TravetComposer
- 1945La freccia nel fiancoComposer
- 1945Lo sbaglio di essere vivoComposer
- 1946Rome: Free CityComposer
- 1946Professor, My SonComposer
- 1946Un americano in vacanzaComposer
- 1947To Live in PeaceComposer
- 1947How I Lost the WarComposer
- 1947Daniele CortisComposer
- 1948Toto Tours ItalyComposer
- 1948Without PityComposer
- 1948Under the Sun of RomeComposer
- 1948Escape to FranceComposer
- 1948GuaglioComposer
- 1948Woman TroubleComposer
- 1948Lovers Without LoveComposer
- 1948L'eroe della stradaComposer
- 1948Arrivederci, papà!Composer
- 1949ObsessionComposer
- 1949Campane a martelloComposer
- 1949The Pirates of CapriComposer
- 1949Come scopersi l'AmericaComposer
- 1950Side Street StoryComposer
- 1950A Dog’s LifeComposer
- 1950Her Favourite HusbandComposer
- 1950It's Forever SpringtimeComposer
- 1950The Knight is HereComposer
- 1950The King's GuerrillasComposer
- 1950Il monello della stradaComposer
- 1951AnnaComposer
- 1951Filumena MarturanoComposer
- 1951White CorridorsComposer
- 1951Valley of the EaglesComposer
- 1951It's Him!... Yes! Yes!Composer
- 1951Honeymoon DeferredComposer
- 1952The White SheikComposer
- 1952Toto and the Kings of RomeComposer
- 1952Venetian BirdComposer
- 1952The Queen of ShebaComposer
- 1952Ragazze da maritoComposer
- 1952I tre corsariComposer
- 1952Immortal MelodiesComposer
- 1952Wonderful Adventures of Guerrin MeschinoComposer
- 1952Noi due soliComposer
- 1952Marito e MoglieComposer
- 1952Un ladro in paradisoComposer
- 1953I VitelloniComposer
- 1953The Wild OatComposer
- 1953The Ship of Condemned WomenComposer
- 1953Lo scocciatoreComposer
- 1953Good Folk's SundayComposer
- 1953Easy YearsComposer
- 1953Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black CorsairComposer
- 1953Riscatto - Tu sei il mio giudiceComposer
- 1953Hell Raiders of the DeepComposer
- 1954La StradaComposer
- 1954MamboComposer
- 1954Submarine AttackComposer
- 1954Divisione FolgoreComposer
- 1954The Two OrphansComposer
- 1954Modern VirginComposer
- 1954PassionatelyComposer
- 1954100 Years of LoveComposer
- 1955The SwindleComposer
- 1955A Hero of Our TimesComposer
- 1955It Happened in the PenitentiaryComposer
- 1955La bella di RomaComposer
- 1956War and PeaceComposer
- 1956The House of IntrigueComposer
- 1957Nights of CabiriaComposer
- 1957White NightsComposer
- 1957Doctor and the HealerComposer
- 1957This Angry AgeComposer
- 1957The Most Wonderful MomentComposer
- 1958The Law Is the LawComposer
- 1958Piece of the SkyComposer
- 1958FortunellaComposer
- 1958City at NightComposer
- 1958Il Pranzo di Natale di Mario SoldatiComposer
- 1959The Great WarComposer
- 1960La Dolce VitaComposer
- 1960Rocco and His BrothersComposer
- 1960Purple NoonComposer
- 1961Ghosts of RomeComposer
- 1961The Best of EnemiesComposer
- 1961The BrigandComposer
- 1962Boccaccio '70Composer
- 1962The Reluctant SaintComposer
- 1962The Temptation of Dr. AntonioComposer
- 19638½Composer
- 1963The LeopardComposer
- 1963The Teacher from VigevanoComposer
- 1965Juliet of the SpiritsComposer
- 1965Kiss the Other SheikComposer
- 1966Shoot Loud, Louder... I Don't UnderstandComposer
- 1967The Taming of the ShrewComposer
- 1967Much Ado About NothingComposer
- 1968Romeo and JulietComposer
- 1968Spirits of the DeadComposer
- 1969SatyriconComposer
- 1969Fellini: A Director’s Notebook · as SelfActor
- 1969Fellini: A Director’s NotebookComposer
- 1970WaterlooComposer
- 1970The ClownsComposer
- 1972The GodfatherComposer
- 1972RomaComposer
- 1973AmarcordComposer
- 1973Love and AnarchyComposer
- 1974The Godfather Part IIComposer
- 1974The AbdicationComposer
- 1974The Secret Diary of 'Amarcord' · as SelfActor
- 1976Fellini's CasanovaComposer
- 1976Dear MicheleComposer
- 1978Death on the NileComposer
- 1979Orchestra RehearsalComposer
- 1979HurricaneComposer
- 1981Murad Kazhlayev. Rhythms and Years · as SelfActor
- 1985Big Deal on Madonna Street 20 Years LaterComposer
- 1992The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980Composer
- 1993Nino Rota: Between Cinema and Concert · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1994A Magic Friend: The Maestro Nino Rota · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2000CourseworkComposer
- 2002The Magic of Fellini · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2011La visita meravigliosa: Viaggio in Italia sulle tracce di Nino RotaActor
- 2022New Year's Eve Concert 2022 With the Berlin Philharmonic OrchestraComposer
- 2022OSN: Il ballo al Cinema con John AxelrodComposer
- 2025Chelsea Zurflüh & Jonathan Tetelman @ Château de Neuschwanstein 2025Composer
- 2026Nino – A Film About Nino Rota · as Self (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.