King of Romantic Epics!
1949-11-11
N/A
107 min
In 1500, Duke Cesare Borgia hopes to marry his sister to the heir apparent of Ferrara, which impedes his conquest of central Italy. On this delicate mission he sends Andrea Orsini, his sister's lover and nearly as unscrupulous as himself. En route, Orsini meets Camilla Verano, wife of the count of Citta' del Monte, and sentiment threatens to turn him against his deadly master, whom no one betrays twice...
Tyrone Power cuts quite a dashing figure in this superior swashbuckler. Set during the Borgia papacy, it follows the machinations of an ambitious young man - a country bumpkin - who decides to better himself by assuming the identity of "Andrea Orsini" and taking employment in the service of Cesare Borgia (Orson Welles) who is out to conquer and consolidate the independent states of Italy. On one such mission, however, he falls for "Camilla Verano" (Wanda Hendrix) who is married to the rather aged, but remarkably - for the times - decent and honourable "Count Marc" (Felix Aylmer). When Borgia starts to throw his weight around with the old man, "Orsini" takes his very life in his hands and swaps sides... Welles features quite sparingly in this, but he is pretty convincing as a man not to be crossed, and needless to say he has no intention of tolerating the treacherous behaviour of his erstwhile agent. The lead performances are strong, here - as is the writing. The romance doesn't clutter up the adventure elements (too much, anyway) and there are plenty of sieges and sword fights in their authentic locations to keep it moving along well.
