Bride of Vengeance (1949)

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

Director:

Mitchell Leisen

Writers:

Michael Hogan (story "Chalice"), Michael Hogan (screenplay)

Stars:

John Lund, Paulette Goddard, Macdonald Carey

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Lund	...	Alfonso D'Este
Paulette Goddard	...	Lucretia Borgia
Macdonald Carey	...	Cesare Borgia
Raymond Burr	...	Michelotto
Donald Randolph	...	Tiziano
Albert Dekker	...	Vanetti
Charles Dayton	...	Bastino
Anthony Caruso	...	Captain of the Guard
Dick Foote	...	Negligent Sentry
John Sutton	...	Prince Bisceglie
William Farnum	...	Conti Peruzzi
Kate Drain Lawson	...	Gemma
Nicholas Joy	...	Chamberlain
Fritz Leiber	...	Filippo
Rose Hobart	...	Lady Eleanora

Storyline

The tiny independent duchy of Ferrara is located between Casare Borgia's Rome and Venice, and Borgia has plans to conquer Venice via Ferrara. He murders his sister's husband and makes it appear that Alfonso D'Este of Ferrara was behind the killing. To avenge herself against Ferrara and D'Este, Lucretia Borgia marries D'Este and intends to poison him. But...she falls in love with him.

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Plot Keywords:

borgia | poison | murder | death | romantic rivalry | 

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Taglines:

She Swore to Love, Honor...And Murder The Man She Married!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 April 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Mask for Lucretia

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Soundtracks

The Wine of Old Giuseppe
Written by Jay Livingston, Ray Evans and Troy Sanders

User Reviews

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.