Swordsman of Siena

Warner Archive has dipped into its MGM coffers and has released Director Etienne Perier's 'SWORDSMAN OF SIENA' aka 'LA CONGIURA DEI DIECI' -1962, a surprising coupling of romance ,tragedy and derring do packed into its 96 minute running time. Hollywood star Stewart Granger never looked more dashing harkening the days of his Beau Brummell/Scaramouche roles and just coming off Director Robert Aldrich's production of 'SODOM AND GOMORRAH' would remain in Europe doing costume and espionage films. Helping him along is the statuesque Sylva Koscina coming off her Steve Reeves/Hercules films and the beautiful Christine Kaufmann showing her naivety and fragility coming off her role in Director J.Lee Thompson's 'TARAS BULBA' with husband at the time, Tony Curtis. Peppered throughout are excellent Italian character actors including Claudio Gora, Alberto Lupo who has a great sword fight with Granger, the gorgeous Marina Berti and the always excellent villainy of the great Fausto Tozzi. The film centers around an excellently edited and photographed horse race which was a real event at that time and serves as the climax to the romance and treachery which ensues. There appears to be two different versions of the film: an Italian version directed by Baccio Bandini and this one which was a French/English language version but looks as though they are identical for the running times are the same on both. It also boasts great credits for this type of production. The music score is by the wonderful Mario Nascimbene who graced Director Richard Fleischer's 'THE VIKINGS'- 1958 and would go on to other memorable scores including Director Don Chaffey/Ray Harryhausen's grunt and groaner 'ONE MILLION YEARS B.C.'-1967. The photography is by the great Tonino Deli Colli who worked with Directors Mario Bava and Sergio Leone among others. Director Perier would have a sporadic career of writing and directing culminating in 1971's release of 'ZEPPELIN' and the underrated Alistair McLean film 'WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL'-1972. Click the add to cart button and enjoy a European dash of action which should be right up there with the over blown Hollywood opuses of their day. Warner Archive releases it in a beautiful 2.35 widescreen transfer with nice color and a US trailer its only extra.

I first learned about "Swordsman of Siena" some twenty years ago through Jeffrey Richards' "Swordsmen of the Screen", and I've been wanting to see it ever since. I thought that, perhaps, the print had been lost, since until this DVD release in September 2012, I'd never found it on Turner Classic Movies, on VHS, on LaserDisc, or on DVD. This is all to say that my expectations were pretty high when I finally viewed the film. I'm happy to say that I wasn't disappointed!"Swordsman of Siena" is a fine swashbuckler, with all the elements of a successful entry in that genre: action (one of the best rapier duels I've seen, and I own more than 80 swashbuckler films -- in addition to the dueling, the film climaxes with a thrilling and perilous horse race through the streets and countryside), humor (Stewart Granger is the equal of Errol Flynn in delivering witty riposts), romance (this nicely played by both Mr. Granger and Miss Sylva Koscina), gorgeous costumes and sets, and a clear delineation between good and evil (Riccardo Garrone as Don Carlos, along with his henchmen, provide suitably menacing villains).In my experience, this is certainly the best of the "Spaghetti Swashbucklers" done in Italy with a mixed English and Italian cast. The lips are in synch, and the Italian actors are very good and deliver their English lines convincingly. The plot is good, though the film is fifteen or twenty minutes overlong at 96 minutes. Still, there's so much to enjoy that I didn't find the "Swordsman of Siena" to have overstayed his welcome. By the way, the print looks pretty clean and bright, especially for something shot in EastmanColor, which quite often has bequeathed faded prints.I'm just a nudge away from giving the film 5 stars, but I certainly recommend it unreservedly to swashbuckler aficionados, and to fans of Mr. Granger's work.

I wanted this movie in my collection for two reasons. First, i'm a big Sylva Koscina fan. She played in classics such as Hercules; Hercules unchained; Deadlier than the male; Agent 8 3/4; and so many more. She's lovely as ever in this great classic Italian action adventure which is a rarity. And second, i love period piece dramas and those classic Italian films were so inspired and inspiring to watch! I recommend it because it's a very well done period piece wih beautiful settings; locations and costumes. Stewart Granger was very well known for his sword and action movies acting at the time. What i like about those ancient movies from another era is that they really are from another time but are still highly effective. You don't see movies like that anymore and it succeeds at entertainment and mostly allows you to enter a forgotten world by plunging you into what seems to be a realistic journey into old time period dramas. With old style romance, it does the job. You never can escape the hairstyle cuts or 50's, 60's allure of the actors/ actresses and feel that those movies were made at that time, but as the same thing happens to actual modern movies, at least you have a feeling of authenticity while watching ancient period films like this one. I had the same sensation while watching other great movies such as The Barbarians (with lovely Helene Remy, who also starred in The Vampire and the Ballerina); The Queen of Sheba; Hercules (Steve Reeves and Koscina); of The giant of Metropolis for example. All those classic films seem "out of this world" and are great to watch for this reason. There really should be an interest at releasing all those peplums; sword and sandal or period dramas on blu ray, because we would really discover for the first time the powerful impact of their classic "savoir-faire". Yes, you will enjoy Swordsman of Siena!

this is one film i have bean after for a long time,Stewart Granger is Thomas Stanwood a dashing English soldier of fortune who sells his sword to the highest bidder. so when Siena's cruel Spanish overlord Don Carlos hires him to protect his fiancee. a beautiful Tuscan noblewoman Lady Orietta.he's happily complies. but his allegiance soon changes when Orietta's innocent young sister is ordered to marry Don Carlos Sadistic cousin Captain Hugo.good film with two beautiful women some good sword fencing and a deadly horse race. enjoyable film ,excellent picture quality and sound.no extras just a trailer of the film.this film plays on my region 2 player.

A very entertaining film. Both Stewart Granger as Thomas Stanwood and Sylva Koscina as Lady Orietta give great performances. And there are also some fantastic rapier duels. A strong recommendation for this film.

très bon film les vieux films j adore les revoir sa me rappelle mon enfance

Good service.Good product Enjoyable.

Great adventure with Stewart Granger, I like very much.