The Saracen Blade (1954)

48% User Rating

0min

Based on the book of the same name by Frank Yerby. Pietro is an orphan who is raised by a family friend in 15th century Italy. When the friend is killed by the same nasty baron who murdered Pietro's father as he led the peasants in revolt against the baron's tyranny, Pietro vows vengeance against the entire family. This will prove difficult, since he's been in love with the daughter of the nasty baron since he was a child and wants to marry her.

William CastleDirector

Cast

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Ricardo Montalban

Pietro Donati

Betta St. John

Lady Iolanthe Rogliano

Rick Jason

Enzio Siniscola

Carolyn Jones

Elaine of Siniscola

Whitfield Connor

Frederick II

Michael Ansara

Count Alesandro Siniscola

Edgar Barrier

Baron Rogliano

Nelson Leigh

Isaac

Pamela Duncan

Zenobia

Leonard Penn

Haroun

Reviews (1)

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CinemaSerf

Rating 50%

April 4, 2022

"Pietro" (Ricardo Montalban) has vowed revenge on the dastardly "Count Siniscola" (Michael Ansara) after he imprisoned then killed his father many years ago. The fly in his ointment is, though, that he has a crush on "Iolanthe" (Betta St. John) whom he has known since his youth, and whom he learns is to be betrothed to the son of the evil Count. To avoid this fate worse that death they elope - but are captured. She begs for his freedom and it is given, in a most perilous way. Luckily, he encounters the King (Whitfield Connor) in the woods and they concoct a cunning - if somewhat over complicated plan that could serve both men well. There is an hell of a lot packed into this film; plenty to make Machiavelli proud, and Montalban is actually not bad in the lead. The rest, though, don't really work at all. St. John and the manipulative "Elaine" (Carolyn Jones) look the part OK, but neither have the dialogue or the presence to elevate this beyond a Crusader's version of a sword and sandals escapade where the sets wobble. It's colourful, and decently paced - just way too messy - it needed more of a budget.