In the Shadow of the Eagles (1966)
After the death of Octavian, the rebel populations of Illyria and Pannonia pose a grave threat to the Roman Empire. Tribune Marcus Ventidius is sent to subdue the uprising and, after a bitter battle, captures Pannonian chief Magdus together with a number of women hostages. These include Magdus's own daughter Helen, betrothed to cruel Illyrian warrior Batone who has killed many Romans. Julia, daughter of the Roman governor Messala, is in love with Tribune Marcus and, jealous of his sympathy for the barbarian girl, plots an escape by Helen and her father. Pursuing the fugitives, Marcus crosses a mountain pass where Batone has laid a trap.
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Just perfect...
Good concept, poorly executed.
Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.
what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.
This film was made in a time where many Italian directors and their teams were really taking their depictions of the Greco-Roman era very seriously and making very thorough historical renditions, recruiting stellar actors and going all out for sets, costumes, etc. Originally in Italian, I had to wait for a good English dub to follow properly and enjoyed the storyline (no spoilers). The costumes fell short (except for the jewelry design for one of the female characters). The progression of the film is great at the beginning but then drags a little in the middle for no apparent reason. If you like this movie you will also enjoy FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE with Sophia Lauren vs. Christopher Plummer (OOF! 9/10 imo).
1966...where was this shot? It looks like Spain, and the sets look like those from The Fall of the Roman Empire. The big interior set is probably one of the 33 entire finished interior spaces built for that massive Anthony Mann film that were never used in the production. Otherwise, this movie stinks, with awful dramatic scenes and absurd battles - the people who made this movie apparently never heard of the Roman legion, as the fights all involve a bunch of extras just running at each other in chaotic scrimmages.
Definitely a B movie but entertaining and correct; the uniforms and staging were quite excellent and the fight scenes sufficiently prof. A film of the times, seen in perspective, see it and enjoy. I have only seen the lead Tribune as a detective or other roles of that niveau but he handels his star roll as a good actor would. Good film.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE EAGLES is an extremely rare peplum directed by Ferdinando Baldi, apparently shot back-to-back with his MASSACRE IN THB BLACK FOREST. Cameron Mitchell more or less repeats his role from that film, staring as a Roman general matching wits with a rebellious tribe of barbarians at the border of the Empire. Recommended.