Theodora, Slave Empress (1954)

Teodora, a Roman courtesan and former slave girl, marries the Roman emperor Justinian and assumes the throne as Empress of Rome. But the divide between nobility and slave is too great. ... See full summary »

Director:

Riccardo Freda

Writers:

André-Paul Antoine (story) (as André Paul Antoine), Riccardo Freda (story)

Stars:

Georges Marchal, Gianna Maria Canale, Renato Baldini

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Georges Marchal	...	Giustiniano
Gianna Maria Canale	...	Teodora
Renato Baldini	...	Arcas
Irene Papas	...	Faidia
Carlo Sposito	...	Scarpios (as Carletto Sposíto)
Nerio Bernardi	...	Belisario
Olga Solbelli	...	Egina
Alessandro Fersen	...	Metropolita
Loris Gizzi	...	Smirnos
Umberto Silvestri	...	L'atleta cieco
Mario Siletti	...	Il magistrato
Oscar Andriani	...	il difensore di Scarpios
Giovanni Fagioli	...	Il cancelliere di corte
Henri Guisol	...	Giovanni di Cappadocia
Roger Pigaut	...	Andres

Storyline

Teodora, a Roman courtesan and former slave girl, marries the Roman emperor Justinian and assumes the throne as Empress of Rome. But the divide between nobility and slave is too great. Teodora seeks justice for her people, and revolution and armed conflict erupt in both Byzantium and Rome.

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Plot Keywords:

byzantium | emperor | courtesan | spear in back | blinding | 

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Taglines:

Mistress Of A Barbaric Empire - Master Of An Unconquerable Emperor! [us]

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

20 December 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Theodora, Slave Empress

Filming Locations:

S.A.F.A. Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lux Film, Lux Compagnie Cinématographique de France

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Ferraniacolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The gigantic settings were built in Rome on grounds intended for an international fair to take place in 1943, but never took place because of the war.

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Connections

Remake of Theodora (1921)

User Reviews

A show of splendid costumes.

The director of this movie Riccardo Freda, made films of all sort, even fantasy-horror films and this for a lapse of time of 40 years. Maciste al l'inferno (1962) among others is still worth seeing. This movie is full of beautiful women, of course Teodora (a magnificent Gianna Maria Canale) and the treacherous Faidia (Irene Papas!). The general Belisario, (Nerio Bernardi) a complice of Teodora, who wants to save the empire, is also worth to be mentioned. The emperor Justinian (Georges Marchal) acts like a fool but sometimes Teodora has also good ideas he must admit. We have a look at the justice of that time, presided by Justinian and in the politics of the blue and the green factions. After all an entertaining movie and not at least for the splendid costumes.