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The Nights of Lucretia Borgia
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Wikipedia article
'The Nights of Lucretia Borgia' is a 1959 Italian film. It was also known as 'Le notti di Lucrezia Borgia' and 'Nights of Temptation'.[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1223118/index.html Belinda Lee] at BFI Screenonline It was one of a series of sexually aggressive characters Lee played in European movies.
Plot
Diana d'Alva is part of a family who are leading a conspiracy against the Borgias in medieval Italy. She is rescued from being attacked by Federico, a virtuous nobleman from an impoverished family.
Federico goes to serve Cesare Borgia. Cesare's sister Lucrezia desires Federico but he is in love with Diana. Lucrezia's former lover, Astorre, is jealous of Frederico.
Frederico rescues Diana from the Borgias and kills Atorre in a duel.
Cast
*Belinda Lee as Lucretia Borgia
*Jacques Sernas as Frederico
*Arnoldo Fo as Astorre
*Michle Mercier as Diana d'Alva
*Franco Fabrizi as Cesare Borgia
*Marco Tulli as Jacopo
*Lilli Scaringi as Serafina
*Germano Longo as Ufficiale
*Nando Tamberlani as Duca d'Alva
*Raf Baldassarre as Ruggero
Production
It was Belinda Lee's first movie after her contract with Rank ended. Filming ended by February 1959.
Jacques Sernas later made 'The Loves of Salammbo' for the same director
Reception
The 'Monthly Film Bulletin' said the film had "sumptuous sets and costumes, an almost unbroken flow of sword and bodour play and the somewhat mechanical athleticism of its Fairbanks hero (Jacques Seras) all fail to lend this period confection the right kind of robust self-assertion. Since the scenes of eroticism and flagellation constituting the film's actual basic appeal have all been pared away, little remain to divert the undemanding but some memorably inappropriate dubbing and Belinda Lee's uninhibited resolve to come to grips with Lucrezia's villainy."NOTTI DI LUCREZIA BORGIA, Le
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 27, Iss. 312, (Jan 1, 1960): 156.
The film was released in the US in 1960. The 'Los Angeles Times' said "Miss Belinda Lee proves that no really bad girl is Lucretia Borgia - just look out, though, for what she pourgia."
The 'New York Times' said "Miss Lee, in a Veronica Lake hairdo, studiously imitates Mae West, but her elementary activities in the field of orgies will disappoint any former serviceman who caught Martine Carol's uncensored Lucretia overseas in one of the most popular tourist attractions ever filmed in France."The Screen: A Realistic Slice of New York Life: ' Weddings and Babies' Bows at New Yorker Viveca Lindfors Stars in Morris Engel Film
By BOSLEY CROWTHER, EUGENE ARCHER. New York Times 6 Oct 1960: 51.
The 'San Francisco Examiner' called it "a sort of solo Musketeer show. The more surprising thing about it is the grandiose score."
References
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