The film 7 Times 7, directed by Michele Lupo in 1968, is a brilliant comedy with heist movie overtones, crafted in a very British style but with a strong Italian identity. The international cast (including Gastone Moschin, Lionel Stander, and Raimondo Vianello) plays a group of inmates who break out of prison solely to rob the Bank of England... and then comfortably return to their cells, using prison as the perfect alibi. In this lighthearted and clever setting, the soundtrack by Armando Trovajoli is a small gem that truly deserves special mention.

Trovajoli, one of the most eclectic and refined composers in Italian cinema, brings to 7 Times 7 a soundtrack full of rhythm, elegance, and irony. The sound is a perfect melting pot: bursting jazz, funky interludes, and brass sections that seem to smile at the audience. The main theme is infectious: a swinging, catchy tune that’s never trivial, accompanying the protagonists through their absurd plans and the most unlikely plot twists. It’s not just background music—it’s an integral part of the storytelling, highlighting each moment with that signature "Trovajoli touch" – light yet sophisticated.

The film makes you laugh, but with class. And the music does exactly the same. Each track feels designed to enhance the protagonists’ ingenious (and sometimes clumsy) schemes. There’s a sense of playfulness, almost cartoon-like, in certain rhythmic and tonal choices, making the soundtrack engaging even outside the context of the film. The 7 Times 7 soundtrack is a hidden treasure for fans of Italian cinema and lovers of '60s groove. It’s a work that shows how film music can be both narrative and defining. Trovajoli manages to create a sound that shapes the very identity of the film, making it memorable even after the closing credits.