Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1960
Messalina (1960 film)
Buy Messalina (1960 film) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = Messalina
| image = Messalina Venere imperatrice.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| director = Vittorio Cottafavi
| producer = Erno Bistolfi
| writer =
| screenplay =
| story =
| based_on =
| starring =
| music = Angelo Francesco Lavagnino
| cinematography = Marco Scarpelli
| editing =
| studio = Cineproduzione Erno Bistolfi
| distributor = AIP TV (US)
| released =
| runtime = 96 minutes
| country = Italy
| language = Italian
| budget = slightly less than $1 million
| gross =
}}
'Messalina' is a 1960 Italian 'peplum' film directed by Vittorio Cottafavi.
Plot
After the death of the Emperor Caligula, Claudius is chosen to replace him. Claudius decides to take a new wife, the Vestal Virgin Messalina, the niece of Augustus Caesar.
The night before the wedding Messalina murders a noble via poison. An assassin is sent to kill Messalina; she seduces him, has him killed and presents his severed head.
Cast
* Belinda Lee as Valeria Messalina
* Spiros Focs as Lucius Maximus
* Carlo Giustini as Lucius Geta (as Carlo Justini)
* Giancarlo Sbragia as Aulo Celso (as Gian Carlo Sbragia)
* Arturo Dominici as Gaius Lilius
* Giulio Donnini as Narcissus
* Ida Galli as Silvia
* Mino Doro as Claudius
* Giuliano Gemma as Marcellus
* Annie Gorassini as Courtisan lover of Aulo Ceso
* Lia Angeleri as Vipidia
* Aroldo Tieri as Pirgo Pollinice
* Vittorio Congia as Ortotrago
* Paola Pitagora (as Paola Gargeloni)
* Bruno Scipioni
Production
Belinda Lee's casting was announced in July 1959.
'Messalina' was shot at Cinecitta Studios in Rome in November-December 1959.
It was the first notable role for Giuliano Gemma.Obituary: Giuliano Gemma: Strikingly handsome star of spaghetti westerns including A Pistol for Ringo
Bergan, Ronald. The Guardian; London (UK) [London (UK)]11 Nov 2013: 29.
Release
'Messalina' was released in Italy on 12 March 1960 with a 96-minute running time. It was released in the United States in 1962 with an 84-minute running time.
'Filmink' called it "The most fun of Lees European movies was Messalina (1960), a silly sword and sandal epic with Lee having a high old time as the notorious empress, taking milk baths and seducing gladiators."
References
Bibliography
*
Buy Messalina (1960 film) now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1960