The Queen of the Pirates [La Venere dei Pirati] ** (1960, Gianna Maria Canale, Massimo Serato, Scilla Gabel, Livio Lorenzon, Moira Orfei, Paul Muller) – Classic Movie Review 7963

Director Mario Costo’s 1960 swashbuckling adventure The Queen of the Pirates [La Venere dei Pirati] [Venus der Piraten] is yet another dubbed Italian costume drama of the peplum film genre’s era of wild popularity, set in the 16th century, with natty frocks, pretty sets and cardboard characters.

Gianna Maria Canale stars as Sandra, ship-owning merchant Captain Mirko (José Jaspe)’s daughter, the eponymous heroine fighting against the evil despotic Duke Zulian of Doruzza (Paul Muller) and his daughter Isabella (Scilla Gabel) in Italy on the Adriatic coast.

Alas, with performances so low on humour, life or invention, it is not only the ships here that are in danger of getting woodworm.

However, Canale is an impressive presence and so is the fabulous Moira Orfei as Pirate Girl Jana, and The Queen of the Pirates is still quite likeable and was successful at the box office, being especially popular in Italy, hence the 1962 sequel Tiger of the Seven Seas, with the same star.

Also in the cast are Massimo Serato, Scilla Gabel, Livio Lorenzon, Giustino Durano, Andrea Aureli, José Jaspe and Giustino Durano.

The story is by Kurt Nachmann and Rolf Olsen, the screenplay is by Nino Stresa, with dialogue by collaborating writer Ottavio Poggi, the film’s producer. John Byrne wrote the screenplay for the dubbed version.

The Queen of the Pirates [La Venere dei Pirati] [Venus der Piraten] is directed by Mario Costo, runs 80 minutes, is made by MAX Film and Rapid Film, is distributed by Euro International Film (Italy) and Columbia Pictures Corporation (UK and US), and is written by Nino Stresa, Ottavio Poggi and John Byrne (dubbed version), is shot in Eastmancolor and widescreen by Rafaelle Masciocchi, is produced by Ottavio Poggi and is scored by Carlo Rustichelli.

The original Italian title translates as The Venus of the Pirates.

Producer Ottavio Poggi’s Nefertite, Regina del Nilo [Queen of the Nile] (1961) stars Moira Orfei’s cousin Liana Orfei.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7963

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