Musings!

Horst Buchholz and Gina Lollobrigida in CERVANTES (1967) 

A late 1960s release, this movie, which is quite elaborate, is more entertaining than most films of this kind of the same era. The sea battle is spectacular. The movie was criticized for taking liberties with Cervantes' actual history. It is sorta melodramatic at times. The relationship between these two actually works. The two have chemistry, at the expense of the rest of the movie. It almost feels like two movie: the relationship - love story, and the rest. The love story works because both actors seem interested in each other, but casting Gina, who was 40, with Horst, who was 34, seems a bit odd, even if it works thanks to the actors. The age difference is part of the storyline. When the two are not on screen, the movie is on Horst's shoulders. And as good as he is, he's not a strong enough presence to support all of it on his own. The movie also stars Louis Jourdan, who's much better in this than the disappointing THE STORY OF THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (1961). The film is filled with familiar actors of the PEPLUM genre, which is always fun to spot and one of the reasons I enjoy watching these films. A mixed bag but at times very entertaining, in a late 1960s kinda way. It reminds me of ROMULUS AND THE SABINES (1961). A mixed bad as well but still entertaining. The ending is a dud though.