The Tartars [I Tartari] *** (1961, Orson Welles, Victor Mature, Liana Orfei) – Classic Movie Review 2668

Director Richard Thorpe’s Italian/Yugoslavian-made 1961 epic The Tartars [I Tartari] stars Orson Welles as Burundai, leader of the nasty Tartars, who battle the apparently less nasty Vikings, led by Oleg, played by Victor Mature.

Liana Orfei.

This daft but busy and enjoyable Italian historical action adventure finds time for a spot of romance for both the main characters, from Liana Orfei as Helga and Bella Cortez as Samia.

Victor Mature.

Here it’s the energetic action that counts for a lot more than historical accuracy or medieval atmosphere. The two American stars plus Thorpe’s enthusiastic direction keep it entertaining and agreeably watchable, and Amerigo Gengarelli’s lovely Technicolor and Totalscope cinematography is a huge asset.

Unsurprisingly, Welles’s enunciation is praised while the knives are out for Mature, who was considered miscast as an archetypal Viking. He said: ‘I’m not an actor — and I’ve got 64 films to prove it!’

Arnoldo Foà.

Also in the cast are Arnoldo Foà as Ciu Lang, Folco Lulli as Togrul, Luciano Marin, Furio Meniconi, Renato Terra and Pietro Ceccarelli.

It is written by Domenico Salvati, Sabatino Ciuffini, Oreste Palella, Gaio Frattini, Ambrogio Molteni and Julian De Kassel (story and screenplay).

The Tartars [I Tartari] is made by Dubrava Film and Lux Film, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1962) (UK and US) (theatrical, dubbed). It is shot at Titanus, Rome, and in Yugoslavia.

According to MGM records, the movie made a profit of $34,000.

Playing a tartar leader similar to his role 11 years earlier in The Black Rose (1950), Welles alleged that Mature had his sandals built up by three inches to make him look taller, but that seems a likely tale because Mature was already 6 feet 2 inches. Welles was just 6 feet.

Liana Orfei was born on 6 January 1937 and is known for Hercules, Samson & Ulysses (1963), Hercules in the Valley of Woe (1961) and Pirates of the Coast (1960). Her last film is Fortunata and Jacinta (1970). She is the cousin of circus queen Moira Orfei.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2668

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Orson Welles.