The Queen of Babylon [La Cortigiana di Babilonia] ** (1954, Rhonda Fleming, Ricardo Montalban, Roldano Lupi, Carlo Ninchi) – Classic Movie Review 8070

Co-writer/ director Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia’s fluffy, flashy, good-looking, nicely done Italian 1954 international spectacle The Queen of Babylon [La Cortigiana di Babilonia] is made in glorious colour (Ferraniacolor), which has the benefit of doing full justice to the beauty of fiery star Rhonda Fleming as Semiramide [Semiramis]. Ah, yes, she was ‘LOVE’S SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD!’

Ricardo Montalban stars as rebel Babylon leader Amal, who falls for lovely humble Semiramis (Rhonda Fleming), who catches the eye of the King Assur (Roldano Lupi), whom Montalban wants to overthrow.

[Spoiler alert] When the King is poisoned, Semiramis is the number one suspect, but the person whodunit is in fact the duplicitous royal adviser Sibari (Carlo Ninchi).

Montalban and Fleming enjoy themselves extravagantly in this lustily entertaining historical action drama.

Also in the cast are Tamara Lees, Anna Maria Mori and Leonardo Bragaglia.

The Queen of Babylon [La Cortigiana di Babilonia] [The Slave Woman] is directed by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, runs 109 minutes (Italy) or 98 minutes, is made by Panthéon Productions and Rialto, is released (English soundtrack) by 20th Century Fox (US), is written by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, Ennio De Concini, Alessandro Ferraù, S Continenza and Giuseppe Mangione, Cesare Ludovici (adaptation) and Nicola Manzari (adaptation), is shot in Ferraniacolor by Gábor Pogány, is produced by Nat Wachsberger and is scored by Renzo Rossellini, with production design by Vittorio Valentini.

Fleming also travelled to Italy again to make The Revolt of the Slaves (1960).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8070

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