Movie Review: Duel of Champions

Duel of Champions (Orazi e Curiazi) 

Starring: Alan Ladd, Franca Bettoia, Franco Fabrizi, Robert Keith, Jacqueline Derval, Luciano Marin, Andrea Aureli, Mino Doro, Osvaldo Ruggieri, Piero Palermini, Violette Marceau, Umberto Raho, Alfredo Varelli, Evi Marandi, Alana Ladd, Nando Angelini, Franca Pasut, Jacques Sernas, William Conroy, Andrej Gardenin 

Directors: Ferdinando Baldi, Terence Young 

Lovcen Film, Lux Film, Tiberia Film, Italy, Yugoslavia, 1961. 

This movie is published as a part of Warriors 50 movie pack box published by Mill Creek Entertainment. 

In 7th century BC Rome is conquering neighbouring nations. City of Alba resists and the battle results in stalemate. Both cities lose too many men in the battle. The King of Alba, Mettius (Andrea Aurelis) sends troops to stop the Roman reinforcements. Centurion Horatio (Alan Ladd) and Sabinus (Alfredo Varelli) are bringing the troops through a ravine. The Albans attack and Horatio tries to get behind their lines. Sabinus thinks that Horatio is trying to run away.

King of Alba, Mettius

Horatio and Sabinus

Sabinus thinks that Horatio is a traitor

Only Sabinus and one another man are left alive of the 4th Legion. Albans take Horatio as prisoner. Caius (Mino Doro) is the father of the brothers. His brothers Marcus (Jacques Sernas) and Elio (Luciano Marin) ask Sabinus about what happened to Horatio. They do not believe that Horatio is a traitor and go to search for his body but find nothing.

Father of the Horatio Brothers, Caius

King of Rome, Tullio Hostilio

Albans force the Roman prisoners fight in wolf pit. A slave girl named Scilla (Alana Ladd, Alan's daughter) secretly helps him to win the fight. Then she and Horatio escape and depart their ways. In Rome King Tullio Hostilio (Robert Keith) nominates Marcus as the next king and gives Marcia (Franca Bettoia) to be his wife. However the people of Rome are hungry and tired of war. A wounded man has lost his both sons because of the war. This makes Hostilio to reconsider the war with Alba. 

Scilla

Marcus

Marcia

A healer woman from the Tiberian mountains (Violette Marceau) and his grandfather Cervia cure wounded Horatio. Hostilio negotiates with King Mettius. The High Priest (Umberto Raho) suggest thay they should ask the gods to decide who will rule the two cities. The priestess says that three brothers from both sides must fight to decide the war. Until then there will be a truce. The Albans will be presented by Curatio brothers: Curatio (Franco Fabrizi), Nevio (Piero Palermini) and a third one. 

Horatio wakes in a mountain cabin

Healer woman (Violette Marceau)

Helaer woman's grandfather

Soldiers arrive in the Tiberian village. They are Roman soldiers. A soldier tells that the Rome thinks he is a traitor. Meanwhile Marcus and Marcia wedding begins. Horatio arrives and defends his honour. Marcia was an old girlfriend of Horatio. Being seen as a traitor and seeing Marcia with Marcus, he leaves. His sister Horatia (Jacqueline Derval) begs him to stay but in vain. Also Marcia comes to meet him and tells him that she still loves him but Horatio has to leave. 

Marcia and Horatia

Elio

Roman girls go swimming in the Alban lake. Curatio brothers kidnap one of them, it is Horatia! Nevio says he will tame her. Then they start kissing. Horatio returns to the Tiberian village. His younger brother Elio comes to search for him and tells that Horatia has been abducted. He still will not return. Horatio's father forgives Horatio and believes that he will save Rome. Horatia and Nevio fall in love although it is forbidden. Horatio teaches mathematics to the healer woman. Marcia comes to say that his all of his family are unhappy. Also Hostilio wants Horatio to return and fight the Curatios. He asks Marcia to return and say that Horatio is dead. However he decides to return to Rome. The Horatio brothers will fight for Rome. Two brothers of Horatio die in he battle and Horatio runs away. 

Nevio of the Curatio Brothers

Horatia and Nevio fall in love

The Curatio Brothers must also kill him to claim victory. Hiding in the forest Horatio ambushes and kills Nevio. Horatio also manages to kill the second brother. Curatio goes back and reports that Horatio has fled. But Horatio comes back again and duels with Curatio. Horatio wins and the Romans celebrate except Horatia. Horatia sees that Nevio has died and she kills herself in grief. Rome and Alba make peace, and Horatio goes to live in Alba. Marcia follows him. 

The third Curatio brother and Curatio

Alban Army at hte gates of Rome

Roman trumpeteers give a fanfare

The movie is lightly based on Roman legend. It is interesting because it is set in time before the Rome became an great empire. The movie is quite good mix of romance and action. Alan Ladd looks very tired in this movie. Music by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino is very good. The tragic story of the Horatii brothers has been subject of at least two operas by Mercadante and Cimarosa. There is also a painting by Jacques-Louis David (1784): Oath of the Horatii.

Jacques-Louis David: Oath of the Horatii

Rating: Good