Marco Polo (1962)

Italian explorer rescues the daughter of the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, meets a hermit who has invented gunpowder and builds a cannon.

Directors:

Piero Pierotti, Hugo Fregonese

Writers:

Oreste Biancoli, Ennio De Concini

Stars:

Rory Calhoun, Yôko Tani, Camillo Pilotto

Cast

Credited cast:
Rory Calhoun	...	Marco Polo
Yôko Tani	...	Princess Amurroy
Camillo Pilotto	...	Grand Khan
Pierre Cressoy	...	Cuday
Michael Chow	...	Ciu-Lin
Tiny Yong	...	Tai-Au (as Thien-Huong)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Franco Ammirata
Tonino Cianci
Paola Falchi
Thea Fleming	...	Harem girl
Angelo Galassi
Robert Hundar	...	Mongka
Anna Maestri
Spartaco Nale
Ching Jen Pai

Storyline

Italian explorer rescues the daughter of the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, meets a hermit who has invented gunpowder and builds a cannon.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | marco polo character | genghis khan character | mongol | kublai khan | 

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Taglines:

Mightiest adventurer of them all!

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Genres:

Adventure

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Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

August 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Eventyreren Marco Polo

Filming Locations:

Piazza San Marco, Venice, Veneto, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alta Vista, Filmorsa, Panda Film

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

With the massive exterior sets, lavish interior sets and a multitude of Asian extras left over from this production, Panda had writers Oreste Biancoli and Duccio Tessari fashion a sword-and-sandal/mythological muscleman epic, Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World (1961), placing hero Maciste in a Chinese setting. Genre specialist Riccardo Freda was brought in to direct, Gordon Scott was cast as Maciste (renamed "Samson" for the U.S. version) and Yôko Tani was kept on as the female lead. It became regarded as one of the better films of that genre.

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Connections

Referenced in Totò d'Arabia (1965)

User Reviews

Passable version about legendary character Marco Polo though based on hokey historical events

Lavish Italian entertainment based on the exploits of the 13th-century famed Venetian explorer who rescues the daughter of the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, meets a hermit who has invented gunpowder and builds a cannon . Rory Calhoun plays the role of Marco , a venetian philander adventurer , in this Ravioli production of Marco Polo's adventures . Young Marco travels to China to help Kublai Khan fight against rebels, headed by his own assistant , with a new invention : gunpowder . Entertaining motion picture about oriental and medieval feats in superb colour cinematography and luxurious scenarios . Acceptable budget Italian production deals with Marco Polo travels from Venice to China , where he falls in love with the Emperor's daughter . Marco (sympathetic Rory Calhoun) becomes the first traveler to record his visit to the Eastern court of the Emperor Kublai Khan . Once there he possesses his protection to merchandise between China and Europe but he prefers to seek out for more adventures . There Marco falls for gorgeous Princess Amurroy (Yoko Tani) . Grand Khan (Camillo Pilotto) is a kindly emperor , but his villain aide Mongka (Robert Hundar) wants to get rid of Khan so he can be emperor, and to get rid of Marco Polo so he can marry the princess . Then Khan sends Marco Polo to the West to fight rebels led by a chief called Kudai (Pierre Cressoy), Khan's niece , but he goes back just in time to save the day . The Italian explorer rescues the daughter of the emperor Khan from nasty Prime Minister , and meets a wise man who has invented gunpowder . During his adventures Polo is imprisoned and will suffer numerous dangers , adventures and risks ; besides he'll quickly encounter many Chinese invents as silk ¡ spaghetti! , postmen , and gunpowder , among others .

It's a spectacular adventure and plenty of emotions , Chinese dances , action , romance and evocative musical score from Angelo Francesco Lavagnino and Les Baxter (US version) . The picture blends far eastern adventures and medieval scenario . The movie results to be an inferior remake to classic Hollywood film 'Adventures of Marco Polo' starred by Gary Cooper and including a villain performed by Basil Rathbone who bears remarkable resemblance to Robert Hundar . This is one of the most bemusing Italian oriental adventure movies ever made , being well produced , lush production design and shot in awesome brilliant photography Riccardo Pallottini . This juvenile romp is utterly amusing and entertaining though inexactly based on facts . Don't expect historic accuracy from this typical Spaghetti product full of adventures , a love story and lots of action . The producers ,Luigi Carpentieri and Ermanno Donati were more concerned with offering moving and enjoyable amusement than factual information . With the huge exterior sets, lavish interior sets and a multitude of Asian extras left over from this flick , the producers realized a sword-and-sandal/mythological muscleman epic, ¨Maciste in the court of Grand Khan¨ played by Gordon Scott and also Yoko Tani , placing hero Maciste in a Chinese setting . The motion picture was middlingly directed by Piero Pierotti and Hugo Fregonese . The film was received poorly at the box-office, becoming a moderated flop . The flick will appeal to far eastern saga fanciful and adventure enthusiasts.

Other pictures based on this legendary character are the followings : Classic version ¨Adventures of Marco Polo¨ by Archie Mayo with Gary Cooper , Alan Hale and Basil Rathbone ; "Marco the Magnificent" by Raoul Levy and Denys de La Patellière with Horst Buchhold, Anthony Quinn , Elsa Martinelli , Akin Tamiroff and Omar Sharif ; ¨Marco¨ (1973) by Seymour Robbie with Desi Aznar Jr , Zero Mostel ;¨The Incredible Adventures of Marco Polo on His Journeys to the Ends of the Earth¨ (1998) with Don Diamant , Jack Palance and Oliver Reed ; and ¨Marco Polo¨ (2007) by Kevin Connor with Ian Somerhalder , BD Wong and Brian Dennehy . The best results to be ¨Marco Polo¨ TV (1982) by Giuliano Montalvo with Ken Marshall , David Warner , F Murray Abraham , Leonard Nimoy .