The Lion of St Mark [Il Leone di San Marco] ** (1963, Gordon Scott, Gianna Maria Canale, Rik Battaglia) – Classic Movie Review 7965

Director Luigi Capuano’s 1963 The Lion of St Mark [Il Leone di San Marco] is colourful Italian swashbuckling pirate adventure nonsense with Gordon Scott as the Venetian Doge’s son Manrico Venier, the heir to great Italian riches in 1620, battling pirates terrorising the Adriatic coast, while being amorously pursued by lusty pirate lady Rosanna (Gianna Maria Canale).

The lavish costumes and sets and Carlo Rustichelli’s score, as well as some well-staged pirate action, are the main plus points. Perhaps the fairly slapdash script, handling and acting are best forgotten, but The Lion of St Mark is still quite professionally and briskly done by experienced director Luigi Capuano.

Also in the cast are Rik Battaglia, Alberto Farnese, Giulio Marchetti, Franca Battoia, Feodor Chaliapin Jr, Mirko Ellis, John Bartha, Franco Fantasia and Giulio Maculani.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7965

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