The Magnificent Adventurer

Last updated
The Magnificent Adventurer
Il-magnifico-avventuriero-italian-movie-poster-md.jpg
Directed by Riccardo Freda
Screenplay byFilippo Sanjust [1]
Story by
  • Filippo Sanjust
  • Riccardo Freda [1]
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography
Edited byOrnella Micheli [1]
Music by Francesco De Masi [1]
Production
companies
  • Panda Cinematografica
  • Les Films du Centaure
  • Hispamer Films [1]
Distributed byRegional
Release date
  • 3 August 1963 (1963-08-03)(Italy)
Countries
  • Italy
  • France
  • Spain [1]
Box office 121 million

The Magnificent Adventurer (Italian : Il magnifico avventuriero) is a 1963 adventure film directed by Riccardo Freda. It is loosely based on real life events of Benvenuto Cellini. [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

Cast

Production

The Magnificent Adventurer was director Riccardo Freda's last film for Panda Cinematografica. [4] It was based on the real-life character of Benvenuto Cellini, a sculptor, goldsmith, draftsman, soldier and musician. [4] A memoir of his life gained huge popularity during the 19th century which became the inspiration for other famous writers such as Alexandre Dumas. [4] Freda was fascinated by Cellini, declaring him Cellini has "always been a model of independence for me. However, he was more of a great brigand than a great artist." [5] The script does follow Cellini's memoirs, and places him in an imaginary scenario. [5]

The Magnificent Adventurer was shot under the title Le avventure di Benvenuto Cellini between March and April 1963 in Rome at Castle Sant'Angelo, Castle d'Ostia, and at the De Paolis Studios. [6]

Release

The Magnificent Adventurer was released in Italy on August 3, 1963 where it was distributed by Regional. [1] It grossed 121 million lire in Italy which film historian and critic Roberto Curti described as "nondescript". [1] [7] The film was released as Laventurier magnifigue (L'Aigle de Florence) and was purchased by American International Pictures for distribution to television as The Magnificent Adventurer. [6] It was also released under the title The Burning of Rome. [6]

Reception

A contemporary review in the Monthly Film Bulletin described the film as "more serious and sober than much of Freda's other recent work, and his admirers may be a little disappointed at the often lethargic and lackluster result, which is quite inferior to the very similar Seventh Sword for instance." [8]

Richard Roud referred to the film as "a constant pleasure to the eye" and "a glittering riot of delicate colour shadings in both sets and costumes". [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Witchs Curse</i> 1962 film

The Witch's Curse is a 1962 peplum-fantasy film, directed by Riccardo Freda.

<i>The White Warrior</i> 1959 film

The White Warrior is a 1959 adventure film directed by Riccardo Freda. It is loosely based on Lev Tolstoy's posthumously published 1912 novel Hadji Murat.

<i>The Mysterious Rider</i> (1948 film) 1948 Italian historical-adventure film by Riccardo Freda

The Mysterious Rider is a 1948 Italian historical-adventure film directed by Riccardo Freda.

Caravaggio, il pittore maledetto is a 1941 Italian historical drama film directed by Goffredo Alessandrini and starring Amedeo Nazzari, Clara Calamai and Lamberto Picasso. Nazzari portrays the painter Caravaggio as a wayward genius. It was one of his favourite screen roles.

<i>Uno contro laltro, praticamente amici</i> 1981 Italian crime comedy film

Uno contro l'altro, praticamente amici is a 1981 Italian comedy film directed by Bruno Corbucci.

<i>Frankenstein allitaliana – Prendimi, straziami, che brucio de passion!</i> 1975 film

Frankenstein all'italiana – Prendimi, straziami, che brucio de passion! is an Italian film directed by Armando Crispino.

<i>Amarsi un po</i> (film) 1984 film

Amarsi un po is a 1984 Italian romantic comedy film co-written and directed by Carlo Vanzina.

<i>Catherine of Russia</i> (film) 1963 film

Catherine of Russia (Italian: Caterina di Russia is a 1963 biographical drama film directed by Umberto Lenzi, and starring Hildegard Knef.

<i>The Seventh Sword</i> 1962 film

The Seventh Sword is a 1962 Italian-French adventure film directed by Riccardo Freda. It is a remake of Freda's debut film Don Cesare di Bazan.

<i>City Under Siege</i> (1974 film) 1974 film

City Under Siege is a 1974 Italian poliziottesco film directed by Romolo Guerrieri. The film is loosely based on Il commissario di Torino by Riccardo Marcato and Ugo Novelli.

<i>The Black Hand</i> (1973 film) 1973 film

The Black Hand is a 1973 Italian crime film written and directed by Antonio Racioppi and starring Lionel Stander, Rosanna Fratello and Michele Placido.

<i>House of Pleasure for Women</i> 1976 film

House of Pleasure for Women is a 1976 satirical comedy film written and directed by Pupi Avati and starring Gigi Proietti, Christian De Sica, Gianni Cavina, Al Lettieri and Vincent Gardenia.

<i>Mexican Slayride</i> (film) 1967 film

Mexican Slayride is a 1967 Eurospy film directed by Riccardo Freda and starring Lang Jeffries. It is based on the Paul Kenny's novel Coplan fait peau neuve and it is the fifth chapter in the Francis Coplan film series.

<i>Alone Against Rome</i> 1962 film

Alone Against Rome is a 1962 peplum film directed by Luciano Ricci and starring Lang Jeffries and Rossana Podestà.

<i>The Giants of Thessaly</i> 1960 film

The Giants of Thessaly is a 1960 Italian-French adventure-fantasy film directed by Riccardo Freda. It is loosely based on the epic poem Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius.

<i>Trapped in Tangiers</i> 1957 film

Trapped in Tangiers is a 1957 spy film directed by Riccardo Freda and starring Edmund Purdom.

<i>Double Cross</i> (1951 film) 1951 film

Double Cross is a 1951 Italian crime-melodrama film directed by Riccardo Freda and starring Amedeo Nazzari, Vittorio Gassman and Gianna Maria Canale.

<i>The Iron Swordsman</i> 1949 film

The Iron Swordsman is a 1949 Italian historical drama film directed by Riccardo Freda and starring Carlo Ninchi and Gianna Maria Canale. It is loosely based on real life events of Ugolino della Gherardesca.

Luigi Carpentieri (1920-1987) was an Italian assistant director (1940-1949) and film producer (1947-1968). Together with Ermanno Donati, he founded the production company "Athena Cinematografica", which in 1960 became "Panda Cinematografica". All films produced by [[the company were genre films.

Ermanno Donati was an Italian film producer. Along with Luigi Carpentieri, Donati won the Nastro d'Argento award for Best Producer for the film The Day of the Owl.

References

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Curti 2017, p. 320.
  2. Roberto Poppi, Mario Pecorari. Dizionario del cinema italiano. I film. Gremese Editore, 2007. ISBN   8884405033.
  3. Paolo Mereghetti. Il Mereghetti - Dizionario dei film. B.C. Dalai Editore, 2010. ISBN   8860736269.
  4. 1 2 3 Curti 2017, p. 201.
  5. 1 2 Curti 2017, p. 202.
  6. 1 2 3 Curti 2017, p. 203.
  7. Curti 2017, p. 204.
  8. "Magnifico Avventuriero, Il". Monthly Film Bulletin . Vol. 31, no. 360. British Film Institute. 1964. p. 135. ISSN   0027-0407.
  9. Richard Roud. Cinema: a critical dictionary : the major film-makers, Volume 1. Viking Press, 1980. ISBN   0670222577.

Sources

  • Curti, Roberto (2017). Riccardo Freda: The Life and Works of a Born Filmmaker. McFarland. ISBN   978-1476628387.