The infamous Borgia family who ruled Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries and the scandals surrounding them have provided juicy fodder for film and television since the very beginning, and were the subject of at least seven Italian productions during the golden years of peplum ('49-'69), of which this predominantly French production was the first, and reputedly the best, though several appear to be missing presumed lost.
This lavish, lively and colourful film focuses on Lucrezia Borgia (doe-eyed Martine Carol), her second marriage of convenience to and romance with Spaniard Alphonse D'Aragon (Massimo Serato, looking youthful and handsome), and the succession of lovers who follow him.
Of the many scandals which surround the Borgia family legend, the incestuous relationship with her brother Cesar (Pedro Armendariz) is strongly hinted at but not shown, her reputation as a woman of loose morals is ably demonstrated, Lucrezia suffers kicking and whipping at the hands of her brother, numerous foes are assassinated by an assortment of means, while the family's penchant for cruelty is adequately displayed in one scene where they laugh as prisoners are publicly tortured for their entertainment, and another where men are hunted and killed for sport.
Martine Carol, who at 33 is rather too old to convincingly play the role of an 18 year old, does get several quite-shocking-for-their-time naked bath scenes which leave practically nothing to the imagination, not to mention a fairly graphic orgy scene featuring numerous topless women, which were cut for international release.
Production values are high with beautiful costumes and sets, while the performances are uniformly excellent and the script is constantly engaging, making this one of the most enjoyable and compelling of the peplum costume dramas.
This lavish, lively and colourful film focuses on Lucrezia Borgia (doe-eyed Martine Carol), her second marriage of convenience to and romance with Spaniard Alphonse D'Aragon (Massimo Serato, looking youthful and handsome), and the succession of lovers who follow him.
Of the many scandals which surround the Borgia family legend, the incestuous relationship with her brother Cesar (Pedro Armendariz) is strongly hinted at but not shown, her reputation as a woman of loose morals is ably demonstrated, Lucrezia suffers kicking and whipping at the hands of her brother, numerous foes are assassinated by an assortment of means, while the family's penchant for cruelty is adequately displayed in one scene where they laugh as prisoners are publicly tortured for their entertainment, and another where men are hunted and killed for sport.
Martine Carol, who at 33 is rather too old to convincingly play the role of an 18 year old, does get several quite-shocking-for-their-time naked bath scenes which leave practically nothing to the imagination, not to mention a fairly graphic orgy scene featuring numerous topless women, which were cut for international release.
Production values are high with beautiful costumes and sets, while the performances are uniformly excellent and the script is constantly engaging, making this one of the most enjoyable and compelling of the peplum costume dramas.