Bride of Vengeance (1949)

Director:

Mitchell Leisen

Writers:

Michael Hogan (story)
Michael Hogan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

7 April 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | History

Plot:

A female Borgia is sent out to live up to the family name by killing someone, but falls in love with her intended victim.

Plot Keywords:

Borgia | Sister | Poison | Murder | Doctor

Cast

Paulette Goddard	...	Lucretia Borgia
John Lund	...	Alfonso D'Este
Macdonald Carey	...	Cesare Borgia
Albert Dekker	...	Vanetti
John Sutton	...	Prince Bisceglie
Raymond Burr	...	Michelotto
Charles Dayton	...	Bastino
Donald Randolph	...	Tiziano
Rose Hobart	...	Lady Eleanora
Nicholas Joy	...	Chamberlain
Fritz Leiber	...	Filippo
Kate Drain Lawson	...	Gemma
William Farnum	...	Conti Peruzzi
Anthony Caruso	...	Captain of the guard
Douglas Spencer	...	False physician

Also Known As:

A Mask for Lucretia (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:Approved | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The part of Alfonso D'Este, played by John Lund, was originally assigned to Ray Milland. However, Milland disliked the title and script so much that he refused, and was suspended from his contract at Paramount for two months. He didn't regret this, as he used the time off to go skiing and sailing, and Bride of Vengeance was critically mauled upon release.

Paulette Goddard still holds her own.

In spite of a trite and pretty silly scenario and some terrible acting by her supporting men (John Lund and MacDonald Carey) Miss Goddard holds her own. I'm not sure that in history, Lucretia Borgia had a change of heart in murdering her husband, but Paulette does. In some rather over-the-hill make-up, she manages to bring some honest work to her character, even when the script forbids it. Carey comes off better than Lund. Lund seems to be out of place in a costume drama. Carey, looking much like Mandrake the Magician, at least appears evil and menacing as Lucretia's manipulating brother. Raymond Burr, in his early career stage, plays another villain. There is one scene that is priceless. Billy Gilbert, the fat, sneezing, comedian serenades Paulette under the balcony at Lund's wishes. What makes it funny is Gilbert's expressions and a beautiful dubbed voice doing his singing. It's not one of Goddard's best, but it's always good to see her on film, no matter what vehicle she is forced to play. Let us not forget Brando's DESIREE and Anthony Quinn's PORTRAIT IN BLACK.