Ennio Morricone Denies Calling Quentin Tarantino a ‘Cretin’

UPDATE: Ennio Morricone has denied participating in an interview with Playboy Germany in which he is quoted as calling Quentin Tarantino a “cretin” whose movies are “trash.” Read his full statement, in which he praises Tarantino and threatens legal action with Playboy Germany:

It has come to my attention that Playboy Germany has come out with an article in which I have called Tarantino a cretin and consider his films garbage. This is totally false. I have not given an interview to Playboy Germany and even more, I have never called Tarantino a cretin and certainly do not consider his films garbage. I have given a mandate to my lawyer in Italy to take civil and penal action.

I consider Tarantino a great director. I am very fond of my collaboration with him and the relationship we have developed during the time we have spent together. He is courageous and has an enormous personality. I credit Tarantino for being one of the people responsible for getting me an Oscar, which is for sure one of the greatest acknowledgments of my career, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to compose music for his film.

In London, during a press conference in front of Tarantino, i clearly stated that I consider Quentin one of the greatest directors of this time.

Ennio Morricone

Playboy Germany has yet to respond to requests for comment.

EARLIER: Ennio Morricone continues to have a mixed view of Quentin Tarantino, with whom he collaborated on “The Hateful Eight” — and finally won a competitive Academy Award in the process. The famed composer called out the filmmaker in a new Playboy Germany interview, the translation of which (courtesy of Google) paints an unflattering view: Morricone referred to Tarantino as a “cretin” whose movies are “trash.”

“The man is a cretin,” Morricone said. “He just steals from others and puts it together again. There is nothing original about that. And he is not a director either. So not comparable to real Hollywood greats like John Huston, Alfred Hitchbad or Billy Wilder. They were great. Tarantino is just cooking up old stuff.” He goes on to admit he isn’t a fan of Tarantino’s films, calling them “trash”; Tarantino was present when Morricone received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2016.

Part of the problem stems from their working relationship: “He calls out of nowhere and then wants to have a finished film score within days, which is impossible. Which makes me crazy!” Morricone said. “Because that’s just not possible. And I do not go there anymore. I told him that last time. But next time I will be tough. Then he can kiss me.”

Among the Italian composer’s best-known scores are “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” “Days of Heaven,” and “Once Upon a Time in the West,” among many others. Today marks his 90th birthday.

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