Sword of the Conqueror [Rosmunda e Alboino] ** (1961, Jack Palance, Guy Madison, Eleonora Rossi Drago) – Classic Movie Review 13,043

‘THE MOST BARBARIC CONQUEROR WHO EVER PILLAGED THE WORLD!’

Writer/ director Carlo Campogalliani’s well contrived, nicely shot and overall quite pleasing 1961 Italian historical adventure film Sword of the Conqueror [Rosmunda e Alboino] stars Jack Palance, Guy Madison and Eleonora Rossi Drago.

Jack Palance stars as the cruel Alboino, the king of Lombard, and Rossi-Drago plays the lovely Rosmunda, in this jolly, complex Italian historical action adventure, set in battle-afflicted sixth-century France. Rosmunda is previously promised to her true love Amalchi (Guy Madison) and won’t marry Alboino as he demands in return for peace in the kingdom.

But Rosmunda’s father King Cunimond (Andrea Bosic) arranges her marriage to Alboino, who then kills him and leaves Amalchi for dead. However, Amalchi survives and manages to recover, and then leads a major popular revolt against Alboino to reclaim Rosmunda.

A good-looking, sweeping movie from Palance’s busy short stay in Italy – also including The Barbarians (1960) and The Mongols (1961) – provides considerable vintage entertainment and interest, though of course it is afflicted (outside Italy) with the usual problem of atrocious dubbing suffered by these Euro-epics on their journey to English-speaking countries.

Also in the cast are Edy Vessel, Carlo D’Angelo, Andrea Bosic, and Ivan Palance.

Release date: August 24, 1961 (Italy).

Jack Palance in Man in the Attic.

Sword of the Conqueror [Rosmunda e Alboino], is directed by Carlo Campogalliani, runs 95 minutes, is made by Titanus, is released by United Artists, is written by Carlo Campogalliani (uncredited), Roberto Gianviti (screenplay), Alessandro Ferraù (screenplay), Paola Barbara (story) and Primo Zeglio (story), is shot by Raffaele Masciocchi, is produced by Gilbert Carbone, and is scored by Carlo Rustichelli.

The cast are Jack Palance as Alboino (Alboin), Eleonora Rossi Drago as Rosmunda (Rosamund), Guy Madison as Amalchi (Helmichis), Carlo D’Angelo as Falisque, Edy Vessel as Matilda, Andrea Bosic as King Cunimund, Ivan Palance as Ulderico, Vittorio Sanipoli as Wolfango, Raf Baldassarre, Guido Celano as Delfo, and Renato Mori.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,043

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