Theodora, Slave Empress

Theodora, Slave Empress (Italian: Teodora, imperatrice di Bisanzio) is a 1954 film about Theodora, a former slave who married Justinian I, emperor of Byzantium in AD 527–565. It was directed by Riccardo Freda.

Theodora, Slave Empress
Directed byRiccardo Freda
Screenplay by
  • Rene Wheeler
  • Claude Accursi
  • Ranieri Cochetti
  • Riccardo Freda[1]
Story by
  • André-Paul Antoin
  • Riccardo Freda[1]
Starring
Music byRenzo Rossellini[1]
CinematographyRodolfo Lombardi[1]
Edited byMario Serandrei[1]
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • Lux Film (Italy)
  • Lux Compagnie Cinématographique de France (France)
Release date
  • 29 September 1954 (1954-09-29) (Italy)
Running time
92 minutes[1]
Country
  • Italy
  • France[1]
Box office₤592 million

Cast

Release

Theodora, Slave Empress was distributed theatrically in Italy on 29 September 1954 by Lux Film.[1] It grossed a total of 592 million Italian lire on this domestic release.[1]

It was also distributed in France by Lux Compagnie Cinématographique de France as Théodora, impératrice de Byzance.[1] The film was the first of director Riccardo Freda's film to obtain a wide distribution outside Italy.[2]

Reception

In a contemporary review, The Monthly Film Bulletin spoke of the film in negative terms, calling it a "dispiriting experience".[3] The piece referred to Freda's direction as "laboured", stating that he "brings neither gusto nor honest vulgarity to the narrative".[3] Regarding the action scenes, the reviewer felt that only the chariot race was staged with "any suggestion of real flamboyancy or flair" and that Canale's erotic dance before Justinian was "painfully unexciting".[3]

See also

References

Footnotes
  1. Curti 2017, p. 311.
  2. Quinlan 1999, p. 119.
  3. "Theodora, Slave Empress "(Teodora, Imperatrice di Bisanzio)"". Monthly Film Bulletin. London: British Film Institute. 22 (252): 36. 1955. ISSN 0027-0407.

Sources
  • Curti, Roberto (2017). Riccardo Freda: The Life and Works of a Born Filmmaker. McFarland. ISBN 1476628386.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Quinlan, David (1999). Quinlan's Film Directors. B.T. Batsford. ISBN 0713477539.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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