Francis of Assisi (1961)

In 13th century Italy, Francis Bernardone, the son of an Assisi merchant, renounces a promising army career in favor of a monastic life and starts his own religious order, sanctioned by the Pope.

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Ludwig von Wohl (novel) (as Louis De Wohl), Eugene Vale (screenplay)

Stars:

Bradford Dillman, Dolores Hart, Stuart Whitman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bradford Dillman	...	Francis Bernardone of Assisi
Dolores Hart	...	Clare
Stuart Whitman	...	Count Paolo of Vandria
Cecil Kellaway	...	Cardinal Hugolino
Eduard Franz	...	Pietro Bernardone
Athene Seyler	...	Aunt Buona
Finlay Currie	...	The Pope
Mervyn Johns	...	Brother Juniper
Russell Napier	...	Brother Elias
John Welsh	...	Canon Cattanei
Harold Goldblatt	...	Bernard
Edith Sharpe	...	Donna Pica
Jack Lambert	...	Scefi
Oliver Johnston	...	Father Livoni
Malcolm Keen	...	Bishop Guido

Storyline

Francis Bernardone (Bradford Dillman) is the son of a wealthy cloth merchant in Assisi, who gives up all his worldly goods to dedicate himself to God. Clare (Dolores Hart) is a young aristocratic woman who, according to the film, is so taken with St. Francis that she leaves her family and becomes a nun. By this time (1212 A.D.), St. Francis has a well-established reputation for his vows of poverty. The movie goes on to note miracles (such as the appearance of the stigmata on Francis's hands and feet) and other aspects of his life, up to and including his death on October 3, 1226.

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Plot Keywords:

religious conversion | reference to allah | israel | reference to jesus christ | forgiveness | 

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Taglines:

The story of a lusty, fighting young adventurer who exchanged his sword for a cross

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Average Shot Length = ~10.6 seconds. Median Shot Length = ~10.3 seconds.

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Goofs

Several times in the movie, you can see the Basilica of Saint Francis in the background. It wasn't built before 1230, four year after Saint Francis' death.

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Quotes

Count Paolo of Vandria: If this be victory, blessed be defeat.

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Crazy Credits

[Right before the closing title card] Pax et Bonum ("peace and all good [be with you]"). This Latin phrase is the traditional greeting and goodbye of the Franciscans, and it was established by Francis himself.

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 2 (1999)

User Reviews

correct

For each Romano-Catholic believer, the portrait of Francis of Assisi has precise traits, impecable nuances, the right frame. a film about him change nothing. for a Greek - Orthodox like me, it is more simple. legends adapted by different directors for a great effect. in this case, maybe, two pillars define the film - too Catholic sensitivity and too much Hollywood. each of them are far to be real errors or sins. it is a film by Michael Curtiz, represents part of an age of American cinematography, the time of impressive shows but , maybe, after the experience of other films about the Poor from Assisi, the film seems for me just a correct homework. sure, Iam really subjective.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 July 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Francis of Assisi

Filming Locations:

Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$2,015,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Perseus Productions, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) 4-Track Stereo (To update data for categories that aren't listed above, select this box)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1