 Gillo Pontecorvo wrote the music for "The Battle of Algiers", but because he was classified as a "melodist-composer" in Italy, he was required to work with another composer as well; his good friend Ennio Morricone collaborated with him.The solo military drum, which is heard throughout the film, is played by the famous Italian drummer Pierino Munari.Pontecorvo resisted the temptation to romanticise the protagonists.