IL SOLDATO DI VENTURA: credits
Directed by Pasquale Festa Campanile
Based on a widely-read literary action epic "Ettore Fieramosca" by Massimo D'Azeglio
Writing by Franco Castellano, Luigi Magni,
Giuseppe Moccia, Marcello Verucci
Cinematography by Marcello Masciocchi
Music by Guido e Maurizio De Angelis
Cast: Bud Spencer (Ettore Fieramosca), Enzo Cannavale (Bracalone), Philippe Leroy (La Motte), Franco Agostini (Romanello da Forlì), Jacques Dufilho (Capoccio), Andrèa Ferrèol (Leonora), Angelo Infanti (Grajano d'Asti), Oreste Lionello (Giovenale)
Production Company: Atlantida Film e Pacific Cinema
Runtime: 115 min.
Country and release date: Italia, 1975

the plot
Medieval soldier of fortune Ettore is travelling through Europe with his partners looking for fight where they can earn some money. When they come across a Spanish castle under siege by the French army, Ettore first bides his time to determine which side is the winning one (and thus more likely to pay his fee). This is as first the French, but the treatment he receives from them is unpleasant enough to make him change his mind and turn to the Spanish side. Somehow, Ettore must rally the weakened Spanish troops to battle their enemy long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

the director
Pasquale Festa Campanile (1927-1986).
Italian filmmaker and screenwriter Pasquale Festa Campanile penned his first screenplay, Faddija, in 1950. Prior to that he had studied law, worked as a newspaper journalist, and wrote short stories, plays and novels. His 1963 screenplay The Leopard received awards at Cannes. During the '50s he wrote numerous screenplays and began directing in the '60s.
Most important films directed by Campanile are Le Voci Bianche (1964), La Ragazza e il Generale (1967), Quando le Donne avevano la Coda (1970), Il Merlo Maschio (1971), Il Soldato di Ventura (1975), La Ragazza di Trieste (1982), Uno Scandalo Perbene (1984).

sound clip
Soundtrack's sample available here (right click and save as...) in mp3 format.

photos

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