Duel of Champions

Duel of Champions (Italian: Orazi e Curiazi) is a 1961 film about the Roman legend of the Horatii, triplet brothers from Rome who fought a duel against the Curiatii, triplet brothers from Alba Longa in order to determine the outcome of a war between their two nations.

Duel of Champions
Directed byFerdinando Baldi
Terence Young
Produced byDominico Fazzari
Written byCarlo Lizzani
Ennio De Concini
Giuliano Montaldo
Based onstory by Luciano Vincenzoni
StarringAlan Ladd
Music byAngelo Francesco Lavagnino
CinematographyAmerigo Gengarelli
Edited byRenzo Lucidi
Production
company
Lovcen Film
Lux Film
Tiberia Film
Distributed byLux Film
Release date
19 October 1961
Running time
90 minutes
CountryItaly
Yugoslavia

This film was directed by Ferdinando Baldi and Terence Young. The screenplay was written by Ennio De Concini, Carlo Lizzani, Giuliano Montaldo and Luciano Vincenzoni. It was shot at the Cinecittà Studios in Rome.

Plot

During the period prior to the unification of Alba and Rome, the legendary Roman hero Horatius leads his troops against the forces of Alba in the region of Tullus Hostilius. He is wounded and taken prisoner but escapes and hides in the hills.

The king of Rome, believing Horatio to have been a coward, announces the engagement of his daughter Marcia to Horatio's brother Marcus, whom he names his heir.

Both Alba and Rome are anxious to find a peace. After consulting an oracle, the two kings decide that three brothers from each side should compete in a fight to the death, the winning side to dominate in the unification of the two kingdoms.

Horatio comes back to Rome, but finding his name dishonored and Marcia married, he returns to the hills.

On the day of the contest, however, he comes to fight alongside his two brothers. Both are killed. Horatio continues the fight alone and kills the three Alban brothers, including Curiazio, who was the lover of Horatio's sister, Horatia. She stabs herself to death. Horatio is now free to marry Marcia.

Cast

Production

Tiberia Films had to cooperate with Lux Film in order to finance the venture.[1] Lux were making a number of movies aimed at the international market around this time, others including The Tartars, The Thief of Bagdad, and The Wonders of Aladdin.[2]

The film was originally called Horatio and was also known as Ojario and The Gladiator of Rome. Shooting took place in Yugoslavia and Rome.[2][3] Ladd walked off the set after 11 weeks of filming because he had not been paid. When his salary was guaranteed he resumed filming. "My advice to any American actor making a film abroad is to develop his own foreign policy beforehand", said Ladd. "My own, for the future, will be 'Speak softly, but carry an iron contract'."[4]

Biography
  • Hughes, Howard (2011). Cinema Italiano – The Complete Guide From Classics To Cult. London – New York: I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84885-608-0.

See also
  • List of historical drama films

References
  1. Hughes, p.55
  2. Archer, Eugene (26 Apr 1961). "2 FILM SPECTACLES SLATED BY ITALIAN: Head of Lux to Do 'Pontius Pilate' and 'Sign of Cross'". New York Times. p. 32.
  3. Hopper, Hedda (Feb 16, 1961). "Entertainment: Bryan Foy Returns to Warner Brothers Will Produce Drama of Marines; Julie London to Sing in D.C.". Los Angeles Times. p. B12.
  4. Scheuer, Philip K. (Mar 31, 1961). "More TV Notables Grabbed for Films: Ladd Among Us for 'Tiger'; Should Nation Honor Artists?". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.
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