The Executioner of Venice [Il boia di Venezia] *** (1963, Lex Barker, Guy Madison, Alessandra Panaro, Mario Petri) – Classic Movie Review 9718

American action stars Lex Barker and Guy Madison combine their efforts for director Luigi Capuano’s handsome and enjoyable 1963 Italian swashbuckler film production The Executioner of Venice [Il Boia di Venezia].

The story by producer Ottavio Poggi is about plotting and fighting in 17th-century Venice, where the evil Grand Inquisitor Rodrigo Zeno (Madison) is scheming to usurp the Doge Giovanni Bembo (Feodor Chaliapin Jr). Lex Barker plays the Doge’s son Sandrigo Bembo, falsely accused of treason by Rodrigo Zeno.

Rodrigo Zeno gets the help of a pirate chief who mistakenly thinks the Doge is responsible for his son’s death.

This entertaining, good-looking, fast-paced picture is well above average for these Sixties Euro-swashbucklers. Madison has a grand old time as the evil Grand Inquisitor, Mario Petri is outstanding as Boia [Executioner] Guarnieri, the Executioner of Venice, and Chaliapin Jr is notable too.

Also in the cast are Alessandra Panaro [Sandra Panaro], Alberto Farnese, Giulio Marchetti, Franco Fantasia, Raf Baldassarre, Mirella Roxy, John Bartha and Giuliana Farnese.

The Executioner of Venice [Il boia di Venezia] [Der Henker von Venedig] is directed by Luigi Capuano, runs 90 minutes, is made by Liber Film, is released by Euro International Film (EIA) (1963) (Italy) and Compton-Cameo Films (1964) (UK), is written by Luigi Capuano, Arpad DeRiso and Milton Krims, based on a story by Ottavio Poggi, is shot in Eastmancolor and Totalscope widescreen by Alvaro Mancori, is produced by Ottavio Poggi and is scored by Carlo Rustichelli.

 © Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9718

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