18th century France. As a boy Joseph Balsamo witnessed his parents being hanged, essentially for being gypsies. Now as an adult he had learned the art of illusion and conjuring and, more importantly, hypnotism. He achieves fame as Count Cagliostro and often uses hypnotism to "heal" people. When he is called on to heal a woman he discovers a plot against the Princess of France, Marie Antoinette, and sees a way to get revenge on the man who murdered his parents.
Starring Orson Welles, co-directed by Orson Welles and based on an Alexandre Dumas novel this film seemed to have a lot going for it. The plot seemed reasonably interesting and the setting and atmosphere seemed just right for a typically intriguing and clever Wellesian drama.
Unfortunately, the end product doesn't quite live up to expectations. The story seems more about machinations for machinations' sake than anything more profound and powerful. Tension is quite limited, as is character engagement as the person who appears to be the hero of the story is in some ways the villain.
All this makes for a reasonably conventional, linear story.
It's interesting enough though to be watchable. Welles puts in a solid performance as Count Cagliostro and clearly revels in the persona of an illusionist, likely because he sees film as the art of illusion.
Overall it's okay but far from Orson Welles's best work.
Starring Orson Welles, co-directed by Orson Welles and based on an Alexandre Dumas novel this film seemed to have a lot going for it. The plot seemed reasonably interesting and the setting and atmosphere seemed just right for a typically intriguing and clever Wellesian drama.
Unfortunately, the end product doesn't quite live up to expectations. The story seems more about machinations for machinations' sake than anything more profound and powerful. Tension is quite limited, as is character engagement as the person who appears to be the hero of the story is in some ways the villain.
All this makes for a reasonably conventional, linear story.
It's interesting enough though to be watchable. Welles puts in a solid performance as Count Cagliostro and clearly revels in the persona of an illusionist, likely because he sees film as the art of illusion.
Overall it's okay but far from Orson Welles's best work.