Alexandre Dumas pere tells one of his stories to Alexandre Dumas fils about Joseph Balsamo who begins as a conjurer and patent medicine seller and ends up as Count Cagliostro in the French court of Louis XV as a healer and mystic, involving himself in royal politics. This is partly due to him having under his sway a woman called Lorenza who is the double of Marie Antoinette. On the way he encounters Franz Anton Mesmer who will have a great effect on his life. Handsomely mounted with a big cast and filmed in Italy it is a beautiful looking film with a splendid music score by the prolific Paul Sawtell.
Count Cagliostro is played by Orson Welles and no one could have done it better. A villain indeed but one with a sense of humour. He dominates all the scenes he is in. Nancy Guild plays two roles, the biddable Lorenza and the fiery Marie Antoinette and acquits herself well in both parts. Added to this are able supporting actors like Akim Tamiroff, Valentina Cortese, Margot Grahame and familiar British face Ronald Adam. It makes for good entertainment.
The title 'Black Magic' for the film is not really appropriate as none is involved though Mr Welles does get to show off some of his skilled conjuring.
Count Cagliostro is played by Orson Welles and no one could have done it better. A villain indeed but one with a sense of humour. He dominates all the scenes he is in. Nancy Guild plays two roles, the biddable Lorenza and the fiery Marie Antoinette and acquits herself well in both parts. Added to this are able supporting actors like Akim Tamiroff, Valentina Cortese, Margot Grahame and familiar British face Ronald Adam. It makes for good entertainment.
The title 'Black Magic' for the film is not really appropriate as none is involved though Mr Welles does get to show off some of his skilled conjuring.