The Tartars

The Tartars
Original film poster
Directed by Richard Thorpe
Produced by Riccardo Gualino
Starring Victor Mature
Orson Welles
Music by Renzo Rossellini
Cinematography Amerigo Gengarelli
Production
company
Distributed by MGM
Release date
 1961
Country Italy
Language English

The Tartars/I Tartari is a 1961 Italian/Yugoslavian international co-production film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Victor Mature and Orson Welles.[1]

Plot

In what is now Russia, a settlement of Vikings lives in peace with both the Tatars and the Slavs. All is well until Togrul, a Tatar chief seeks the help of Oleg, the chief of the Vikings to war on the Slavs in a surprise attack. Oleg refuses and the group does battle ending with Oleg killing Togrul and abducting Togrul's daughter Samia as a hostage.

Togrul's brother Burundai is furious and wishes the Viking settlement burnt to the ground. His high priest, Ciu Lang, reminds Burundai that Samia is promised to the leader of the Tatars as his wife; her safety and return has a higher priority than Burundai's revenge. Burundai gets his chance to retrieve Samia when a Viking longship is attacked, resulting in the capture of Oleg's wife Helga and her handmaidens. Burundai initially promises to treat Helga well as an exchange for Samia but tortures Helga's handmaidens to discover the strength of the Vikings. He also rapes Helga and gives her to his men for their further pleasure prior to exchanging her for Samia. Meanwhile, Samia has fallen in love with Oleg's brother Eric and is pregnant with Eric's child.

Cast

Production

Filming took place in Rome and Yugoslavia in October 1960.[2]

Reception

Box office

According to MGM records the film made a profit of $34,000.[3]

Critical

Orson Welles' enunciation has been praised while Victor Mature has been considered a miscast for not having the looks of an archetypal Viking.[4]

Biography

  • Hughes, Howard (2011). Cinema Italiano - The Complete Guide From Classics To Cult. London - New York: I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84885-608-0.

References

  1. ↑ Jeff Stafford, "The Tartars", Turner Classic Monthly accessed 6 November 2012
  2. ↑ Diane Baker Will Co-star With Egan: Wyler's 'Not for Children', Players and Writers Assigned Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 18 Oct 1960: C9.
  3. ↑ The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study .
  4. ↑ Hughes, p.34


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