Messalina (1960)
"Messalina Venere imperatrice" (original title)

Director:

Vittorio Cottafavi

Writers:

Ennio De Concini (screenplay), Ennio De Concini (story),

Stars:

Belinda Lee, Spiros Focás, Carlo Giustini

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Belinda Lee	...	Messaline
Spiros Focás	...	Lucio Massimo
Carlo Giustini	...	Lucius Geta (as Carlo Justini)
Giancarlo Sbragia	...	Aulo Celso
Giulio Donnini	...	Narcissus
Arturo Dominici	...	Gaius Lilius
Ida Galli	...	Silvia (as Arianna Galli)
Marcello Giorda	...	Nicodemus
Mino Doro	...	Claudius
Annie Gorassini
Aroldo Tieri
Giuliano Gemma	...	Marcellus
Lia Angeleri
Vittorio Congia
Paola Pitagora	...	(as Paola Gargeloni)

Storyline

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

12 March 1960 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Messalina

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineproduzione Emo Bistolfi

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

The infamous Roman empress is portrayed perhaps somewhat more sympathetically than her reputation warrants

In this opulent spectacle the corruption that was at the heart of the Roman Empire is embodied by the infamous empress Messalina, portrayed by Belinda Lee with surprising range from a vulnerable Vestal to the power mad, sexually insatiable, callous mudereress she supposedly became. If anything, the film underplays her infamy, though she is certainly evil enough.

In a memorable scene, a young would-be assassin (Giuliano Gemma) is lured into her bed only to be beheaded before fully awake the following morning. Messalina triumphantly parades into the palace quarters of the desperate plotters bearing the gift of his severed head. Spiros Focas is fine as the naif and devoted centurion who fell in love with her before the rot set in. As mounting evidence of her treachery and licentiousness builds, the enamored lover struggles to break free of her amorous toils and to eventually oppose her reign. Although present and participating in her last violent moments, he at last admits the necessity of her death.