I first saw PRINCE OF FOXES on The Fabulous 52, a movie TV premier series, on KNXT-TV back in the 1950s. The film made such an impact on me I later searched for the source book, Samuel Shellabarger's novel, and read it and his other historical adventures. The movie is better than the book. Power, Welles and in particular Everett Sloane excel; only Wanda Hendrix disappoints. She is by far too shallow and light for the role of the Lady Dona Camilla. Filmed where it would have happened, with money trapped in Italy after the war by Italian monetary policy that wouldn't allow Fox movie profits to leave the country (there was enough money for the movie, but not for color, alas), PRINCE is evocative of a real place and a real time.
Sloane's betrayal of Power, and reversal, is one of the best moments in film. When Sloane plucks out Power's eyes with his thumbs "Scream! Scream, I tell you!" it's one of the great moments in adventure film. And later, when Belli (Sloane), who posed for painter Power as Judas, laughs at his revolving duplicity, you can't help but laugh with him.
If PRINCE OF FOXES has weakness (excepting those already mentioned, the absence of color and the leading lady's absence of presence), it's that there isn't enough of it. The film is too quick, the afterimage too fleeting from the eye. I'm always left wanting to see more.
PRINCE OF FOXES is the best swashbuckler I've ever seen. It should be available on DVD for everyone to enjoy.
Sloane's betrayal of Power, and reversal, is one of the best moments in film. When Sloane plucks out Power's eyes with his thumbs "Scream! Scream, I tell you!" it's one of the great moments in adventure film. And later, when Belli (Sloane), who posed for painter Power as Judas, laughs at his revolving duplicity, you can't help but laugh with him.
If PRINCE OF FOXES has weakness (excepting those already mentioned, the absence of color and the leading lady's absence of presence), it's that there isn't enough of it. The film is too quick, the afterimage too fleeting from the eye. I'm always left wanting to see more.
PRINCE OF FOXES is the best swashbuckler I've ever seen. It should be available on DVD for everyone to enjoy.