Adventure film about Renaissance Venice with Tarzan and Peplum star Gordon Scott
This film, also known as "Il leone di San Marco" and "The Lion of St. Mark", was released in Italian cinemas on November 21, 1963. The film was directed by Luigi Capuana, who also made "Der Henker von Venedig / The Executioner of Venice" (1963) with Lex Barker in the same year.
In 1620, Venice was repeatedly attacked by pirates from the Dalmatian coast. The Venetians want to defend themselves, but the Doge (Feodor Chaliapin Jr.) wants to leave it to hired mercenaries. This doesn't sit well with his son Manrico (Gordon Scott) and his friend Giandolo (Rik Battaglia). Since the mercenaries don't fight decisively enough, the two powerful ruffians really want to take on the fight themselves. Manrico, disguised as the Lion of San Marco, begins to trouble the pirates more and more and gradually becomes a folk hero. But there are also problems on the private front. The Doge wants to marry his son to the beautiful Isabella (Franca Bettola), who is already dreaming of a diplomatic career alongside her future husband at the French court. That's nothing for the tough daredevil. Luckily, he runs into the pugnacious pirate daughter Rosanna (Gianna Maria Canale)...
You can already tell that a predictable story is supposed to be crossed with beautiful images of Venice and lots of action-heavy fight scenes. This works quite well too. The pictures of Venice are really impressive. Gordon Scott, who became Lex Barker's successor in the USA as Tarzan (particularly worth seeing: "Tarzan's Greatest Adventure" (1959) and "Tarzan, the Mighty" (1960) ), does a large part of his own stunts and is actually a Quite an agile guy who definitely doesn't mind the many fights. Even next to Steve Reeves, he really didn't have to hide, which he impressively demonstrated in "Romulus and Remus" (1961). Incidentally, Gordon Scott (1926-2007) was married in Hollywood to Vera Miles (1954-1959), who is unforgettable for her appearance as Marion Crane's sister Lila in "Psycho" (1960) by Alfred Hitchcock.
As the Lion of San Marco's sidekick, the attractive Rik Battaglia (1927-2015) also gets to shine a bit, appearing in films such as "La risaia / The Rice Girl" (1956) with Elsa Martinelli, "Sandokan" (1963) with Steve Reeves and - it should will not be left out here - is also known as Winnetou's murderer in German sauerkraut western "Winnetou III" (1965).
Gianna Maria Canale (1927-2009), who was married to director Riccardo Freda, had already been seen as the Amazon queen in "Le fatiche di Ercole / The Incredible Adventures of Hercules" (1958) alongside Steve Reeves (1926-2000), with his success The grandiose boom with Italian adventure films (Peplum or, as here, Cloak and Dagger) had only just begun at the box office around the world.
Highly recommended because of the beautiful Venice pictures and the good-humored actors!
