Gordon, Il Pirata Nero ** (1961, Ricardo Montalban, Vincent Price, Giulia Rubini, Liana Orfei) – Classic Movie Review 12,808

Ah yes, Gordon the good. Well, it had to happen sometime. And, oh yes, Romero the bad.

The priceless Vincent Price valiantly goes through all the motions and emotions as an evil slave trader Romero, who comes up against Ricardo Montalban as Captain Gordon, the swashbuckling good Black Buccaneer.

The 1961 Italian epic Gordon, Il Pirata Nero is a cheerful and plush-looking costume adventure film with attractive outfits (costumes designed by Giancarlo Bartolini Salimbeni and made by Casa d’Arte di Firenze) and a decent production (set designs by Ernest Kromberg and Amedeo Mellone) battling a simple-minded, duff script. It is flatly directed by Mario Costa, and Mario Bellero’s Eastmancolor and Totalscope cinematography looks very messy, but there is enough action and romance to keep it fairly involving and quite amusing.

Also in the cast are Giulia Rubini as Manuela, the Governor’s daughter, Liana Orfei as Luana, a Gordon’s faithful, Mario Feliciano as The Governor, Mario Feliciani as Governor, Giustino Durano as Juan, Gisella Sofio as Rosita, José Jaspe as Captain Tortuga, Edoardo Toniolo as Felipe Cortez, Gino Marturano as Tarto, Andrea Fantasia as Bonifacio, and Franco Fantasia as Official.

Gordon, Il Pirata Nero goes under a number of different titles: Gordon, the Black Pirate; Rage of the Buccaneers; The Black Pirate; The Black Buccaneer; Pirate Warrior.

Gordon, Il Pirata Nero Mario Costa, runs 88 minutes, is made by Max Production, is released by Midas and Colorama Features (US, 1963, dubbed, theatrical), is written by John Byrne and Ottavio Poggi, is shot by Carlo Bellero, is produced by Ottavio Poggi, is scored by Carlo Rustichelli, and is designed by Ernest Kromberg.

It was shot at Porto Ercole, Monte Argentario, Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy.

Liana Orfei (born 6 June 1937).

Liana Orfei (born 6 June 1937) was primarily a circus performer who entered the movie business in 1959, followed a year later by her cousin Moira. Both sisters went on to act in many peplum and adventure films, often with American stars. The sultry and exotic Liana starred in War of the Trojans [La leggenda di Enea] (1962) with Steve Reeves, in The Tartars (1961) with Victor Mature, in Queen of the Nile (1961) also with Vincent Price, in Ercole Sfida Sansone (1963) with Kirk Morris, and in The Tyrant of Syracuse (1962), among many others. She appeared in more than 30 films between 1959 and 1971, but retired from acting after playing a role inspired on herself in Federico Fellini’s I clowns (1970).

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,808

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