Duel of Champions
| Duel of Champions | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by |
Ferdinando Baldi Terence Young |
| Produced by | Dominico Fazzari |
| Written by |
Carlo Lizzani Ennio De Concini Giuliano Montaldo |
| Based on | story by Luciano Vincenzoni |
| Starring | Alan Ladd |
| Music by | Angelo Francesco Lavagnino |
| Cinematography | Amerigo Gengarelli |
| Edited by | Renzo Lucidi |
Release dates |
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| Country | Italy |
Orazi e Curiazi (English title: Duel of Champions) is a 1961 film about the Roman legend of the Horatii, triplet brothers from Rome who fought a duel against the Curiatii, triplet brothers from Alba Longa in order to determine the outcome of a war between their two nations.
This film was directed by Ferdinando Baldi and Terence Young. The screenplay was written by Ennio De Concini, Carlo Lizzani, Giuliano Montaldo and Luciano Vincenzoni.
Plot
During the period prior to the unification of Alba and Rome, the legendary Roman hero Horatius leads his troops against the forces of Alba in the region of Tullus Hostilius. He is wounded and taken prisoner but escapes and hides in the hills.
The king of Rome, believing Horatio to have been a coward, announces the engagement of his daughter Marcia to Horatio's brother Marcus, whom he names his heir.
Both Alba and Rome are anxious to find a peace. After consulting an oracle, the two kings decide that three brothers from each side should compete in a fight to the death, the winning side to dominate in the unification of the two kingdoms.
Horatio comes back to Rome, but finding his name dishonored and Marcia married, he returns to the hills.
On the day of the contest, however, he comes to fight alongside his two brothers. Both are killed. Horatio continues the fight alone and kills the three Alban brothers, including Curiazio, who was the lover of Horatio's sister, Horatia. She stabs herself to death. Horatio is now free to marry Marcia.
Cast
- Alan Ladd as "Horatius"
- Franca Bettoia as "Marcia"
- Franco Fabrizi as "Curiatius"
- Robert Keith as "Tullus Hostilius"
- Jacqueline Derval as "Horatia"
- Luciano Marin as "Eli"
- Andrea Aureli as "Gaius Cluilius"
- Mino Doro as "Caius"
- Osvaldo Ruggieri as "Warrior of Alba"
- Jacques Sernas as "Marcus"
Production
Tiberia Films had to cooperate with Lux Films in order to finance the venture.[1]
The film was originally called Horatio and was also known as Ojario. Shooting took place in Yugoslavia and Rome.[2] Ladd walked off the set after 11 weeks of filming because he had not been paid. When his salary was guaranteed he resumed filming. "My advice to any American actor making a film abroad is to develop his own foreign policy beforehand," said Ladd. "My own, for the future, will be 'Speak softly, but carry an iron contract'."[3]
The movie was also known as The Gladiator of Rome.[4]
Biography
- Hughes, Howard (2011). Cinema Italiano - The Complete Guide From Classics To Cult. London - New York: I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84885-608-0.
See also
References
- ↑ Hughes, p.55
- ↑ Entertainment: Bryan Foy Returns to Warner Brothers Will Produce Drama of Marines; Julie London to Sing in D.C. Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 16 Feb 1961: B12.
- ↑ More TV Notables Grabbed for Films: Ladd Among Us for 'Tiger'; Should Nation Honor Artists? Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 31 Mar 1961: B7.
- ↑ 2 FILM SPECTACLES SLATED BY ITALIAN: Head of Lux to Do 'Pontius Pilate' and 'Sign of Cross' By EUGENE ARCHER. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 26 Apr 1961: 32.
External links
- Duel of Champions at the Internet Movie Database
- Complete copy of film at Internet Archive
- Historical analysis of film at Vernon Johns
- Duel of Champions at TCMDB