PRINCE OF FOXES
(20th Century-Fox) [Tt is a reflection upon Orson Welles whom one at least suspects of intelligence and good taste that he should have permitted, in a film in which he has a hand, such Solecisms as Tyrone Power (in the role of a 16th Century Italian. diplomat) exclaiming, "So the duke said to me, ahd I quote ...." The amazing thing is that so much care was taken to make the film a faithful portrait, externally, of the period during which it occurred. It was-all made in \ Italy, many of the internal scenes being photographed (by Leon Shamroy). inside the actual old buildings and chapels of Italy, decorated with the fresooes and madonnas of the old masters. The scréenplay itself is a sinister piece of sadism in parts, with little to recommend it. A swashbuckling tale of cloak and dagger, as it might have been in less sophisticated hands, would have been better than this unhappy attempt to create with Machiavellian "realism" the evil deeds and times of the Borgias. Apart from the improbable’ plot and dialogue, and the meretricious Shellabargian atmosphere, the film is faintly worth seeing for its rich settings, and for the virtuoso performance of Orson Welles as the power-mad Cesar Borgia. I liked the way he nonchalantly stole scene after scene from Tyrone Power, infusing a world of imperious egoism into the merest lift of an eyebrow or a smug twitch of those blubbery lips, Felix Aylmer also gave Tyrone Power a lesson in acting in his Polonius-like portrayal of the wise old Duke who opposes the Borgias. Yet I felt that the fairly obvious influence of Welles on the director Henry King, who once knew how to make a very good film, was to no good purpose, especially in the horrible torture scenes and close-ups of boiling oil being poured’ from the battlements. Welles may not have been responsible for it all, but one suspects him, knowing his past performances, and seeing the obvious enjoyment he gets out of being as cruel and | terrifying as possible in this role. —
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19500210.2.29.1.3
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 22, Issue 555, 10 February 1950, Page 14
Word count
Tapeke kupu
346PRINCE OF FOXES New Zealand Listener, Volume 22, Issue 555, 10 February 1950, Page 14
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in