Baker and Umiliani first joined forces in 1958 for the crime film I Soliti Ignoti (AKA Big Deal on Madonna Street, Persons Unknown or Le Pigeon), reportedly the first instance of jazz being used for an Italian comedy film; Il Paradiso dell'Uomo and Smog followed.
Italian Movies draws from the best of Baker and Umiliani's cinematic collaborations, the atmospheric compositions backed by a group of session players centered on drummer Ralf Ferraro, acoustic bassist Berto Pisano, guitarist Enzo Grillini, tenor saxophonist Livio Cervellieri, and Franco Ciari on vibraphone, along with Baker's expressive trumpet leads and composer Umiliani on piano.