ETTORE FIERAMOSCA: credits
Directed by Alessandro Blasetti
Based on a widely-read literary action epic "Ettore Fieramosca" by Massimo D'Azeglio
Writing by Alessandro Blasetti, Cesare Vico Ludovici, Augusto Mazzetti, Vittorio Nino Novarese
Cinematography by Vaclav Vich, Mario Albertelli (black and white)
Music by Alessandro Cicognini
Montage by Ignazio Ferronetti, Alessandro Blasetti
Cast: Gino Cervi, Elisa Cegani, Mario Ferrari, Osvaldo Valenti, Clara Calamai, Andrea Checchi, Arnoldo Foà
Production Company: Nembo Film
Runtime: 110 min.
Country and release date: Italy, 1938

the plot
The lady of the Monreale Castle, Guinevere, falls in love with a brave and valiant Italian knight, Fieramosca, who fought victoriously for her, disguised in the armour of Grajano d’Asti. The woman, won over by his charm, accepts his courtship and marries him. That is, she marries Grajano, whose deceptive valour has bewitched her. However, her husband deceives her because he makes an agreement, favourable to him, with the French to expropriate her ancestral manor-house. The invaders massacre the farmers and the subjects of the shire. Ettore is indignant to learn of this and reacts with wrath and fury, especially angry because he is in love with Guinevere. Fieramosca responds to the insult that Captain La Motte makes about the valour of the Italian knights by challenging the French to erase the shame of the affront in a battle, 13 per side.
During the battle, the Italians beat the French, who kill only Grajano, the vile traitor. Guinevere, now free of any ties to him, runs into the arms of her brave knight.

the director
Alessandro Blasetti (Rome, 1900-1987).
Alessandro Blasetti was one of the premiere Italian directors of the 1930s and was later considered one of the fathers of Italian neorealism. He was originally educated as a lawyer, but after completing law school he found journalism more interesting and became a film critic for a daily newspaper. He then founded his own monthly paper "Lo Schermo" which became "Cinematografo" in 1928.
Later he, Goffredo Allesandrini and Umberto Barbaro formed the Augustus cooperative, which produced Blasetti's first film, Sole. Blasetti is the director who in 1952 created the episodic film genre that became so popular in Italian cinema over the next twenty years.

sound clip
Soundtrack's sample available here (right click and save as...) in wav format.

photos

<<<