Sign of the Gladiator

Made at a time when the popularity of the Sword and Sandal sub-genre was at its height, before giving way to the Spaghetti Western, this is a rare example of romance and court intrigue taking precedence over mindless, muscle bound heroics.

At one would expect it plays fast and loose with historical fact for although Queen Zenobia was defeated by the Romans and her life spared by Emperor Aurelian, there is no record anywhere of a relationship with a Roman General whilst the makers have gone so far as to give him the name of Marcus Valerius whose military exploits took place a century later!

The film's poster promises 'a wondrous spectacle bigger than anything you've seen before' which certainly applies to Anita Ekberg's chest whilst the exotic Chela Alonso, affectionately known as the Cuban H-Bomb, performs one of her hoochie-coochie dances guaranteed to quicken the pulse and send a rush of blood to the corpora cavernosa.

The film itself is something of a hotchpotch and betrays the input of various contributors. Credited director Guido Brignone became ill during production, fatally as it turned out so Riccardo Freda and a certain Michelangelo Antonioni were drafted in whilst the cinematography by uncredited Mario Bava is evident, especially in the dungeon scenes. Heaven only knows which segments Antonioni directed but there is no doubt that Freda was responsible for the climactic battle scene which will have animal rights activists foaming at the mouth. Credited composer Angelo Lavagnino provides a truly magnificent score.

The production is certainly well mounted and lavishly decorated whilst the version I saw has mercifully been spared the dreaded mid-Atlantic dubbing with Ekberg's Zenobia and Aurelius of Georges Marchal voiced by the ubiquitous Lydia Simoneschi and Emilio Cigoli.

Zenobia was a fascinating woman and by the standards of her time an enlightened ruler and one would hope that one day a film will emerge that will do her justice but that alas hardly seems likely.

Only ruins remain of Palmyra today, but it was once one of the greatest cities in the east dominating the eastern part of the Roman empire from Ancyra down to Egypt. Zenobia was always the object of myths and legends, she was not stupid but highly cultivated, and Palmyra was second only to Alexandria for culture and civilisation. However, Rome would not allow it but had to swallow it all down in its own imperial preponderance and bring Zenobia a prisoner to Rome. There she was apparently granted some freedom and worthy sustenance unto her dying day. The film makes a romance out of it, making a Roman soldier a prisoner in Palmyra, whom Queen Zenobia falls in love with, thus complicating both the lives of herself and her Roman lover. Eventually they find each other in peace at Rome. The film is a monumental typical Peplum feature with very much pomp and circumstance and a great battle in the end. The music tries to equal the pompous ostentation without succeeding. It is no more than a superficial entertainment with Anita Ekberg at the centre of it with plenty of space for the admiration of her beauty, but she was never a great actress. Her best performances were in totally different genres.

I believe it is. Even reduced in it's intended length, the film has a number of curious elements to make it worth while even today. It was one of the first great productions from the "peplum" film industry, in this case in association with German, French, and Jugoslav studios. The army action relied entirely on men and horses, and also the war machines and traps that are here quiet realistic - catapults and multi-spear throwers, mainly (Stalin Organs, avant la lettre). Then, for arty fans, this is a good way to see where did Michelangelo Antonioni start perfecting his interior shots of dialogue; if you watch the German video copy (one of the best colors and editing around) without knowing the language (as I did), you'll notice that the interior shots are never boring - although you get to see some very poor "Egyptian" wall paintings... Finally, the two most prominent topics for most male viewers: Anita Ekberg riding a horse in mini-skirt, wearing daring low-cut evening dresses, and getting her man with a kiss, and a vengeful spear; Chelo Alonso proving in 4 minutes (longer, in the original version) how to be the focus of attention of the film industry with just one choreography... She mixes hand movements from Indian dance, with minimalist ballet and Turkish belly-dance to a perfection; she was famous as a dancer when discovered by film-makers, and with good reason.

Roman consul "Marcus Valerio" (Georges Marchal) finds himself captured and tortured by "Zenobia" (Anita Ekberg), the warlike Queen of the rebelling Palmyra. Rather than just crucify him, though, she reckons he might be of some use as they plan to defeat their enemy in an even bigger battle yet to come and so secure their freedom. He's very easy on the eye is old "Marcus", and the Queen promptly takes a bit of a shine to him - despite the protestations of her scheming minster "Semanzio" (Folco Lulli). Pretty swiftly we are let into the truth about the Roman's mission in her kingdom, but just as with the queen, he too is becoming just a bit conflicted. Can he save her without losing his honour and betraying his own people? Can she survive the machinations of her warlike advisor and save her new love? Well none of that is really in jeopardy at any point in this amiably colourful piece of peplum, but the writing (from Sergio Leone, no less) and the acting are really pretty woeful and there's not the slightest jot of chemistry between the wooden as a post Marchal and an Ekberg who really did look like she was there for the cash and the holiday. There are some enjoyably photographed and staged battle scenes at the end with flames and catapults a-plenty and though it could never be called good, it's by no means the worst of these 1950s sword and sandal efforts.

Many legends surround Zenobia ancestry ; she was probably not a commoner and she married the ruler of the city, Odaenathus. Her husband became king in 260, elevating Palmyra to supreme power in the Near East by defeating the Sassanians and stabilizing the Roman East. After Odaenathus' assassination, Zenobia became the regent of her son Vaballathus and held de facto power throughout his reign. In 270, Zenobia launched an invasion that brought most of the Roman East under her sway and culminated with the annexation of Egypt. By mid-271 her realm extended from Ancyra, central Anatolia, to southern Egypt, although she remained nominally subordinate to Rome. However, in reaction to the campaign of the Roman emperor Aurelian in 272, Zenobia declared her son emperor and assumed the title of empress (declaring Palmyra's secession from Rome). Then there happens revolts against Rome and she defeats the Roman troops. But Zenobia (Anita Ekberg) makes a big mistake when she falls in love with enemy officer Marcus Valerius (George Marchal) . Forced into slavery and tortured , Marcus manages to getaway , and come to the presence of the queen, offering her his services. They fall in love, which complicates his task, and his loyalty towards Rome that has sent General Marcello (Alberto Farnese) to defeat her. Marcus will help the Romans to conquer her country , but he will also save her life from a coup led by the treacherous Zemanzius (Folco Lulli).

This Sword-and sandals movie is plenty of adventures , emotions, thrills , sword-play , impressive battles, atmospheric settings , powerful score by prolific Angelo Francesco Lavagnino and colorful scenarios well photographed by Luciano Trasatti , shot mostly on location in Zagreb, Croatia. In Nel segno di Roma (1959) stands out a stunning main and support cast with plenty of notorious Italian actors. The motion picture was professionally directed by Guido Brignone assisted by Riccardo Freda and Michelangelo Antonioni , though it has a lot of flaws and gaps.

If the picture hasn't historical perspective , the historical events about this known are the following ones : Zenobia was a cultured monarch and fostered an intellectual environment in her court, which was open to scholars and philosophers. She was tolerant toward her subjects and protected religious minorities. The queen maintained a stable administration which governed a multicultural multiethnic empire. Zenobia married Odenato , around 266 had a common son, Lucius Iulius Aurelius Septimius Vaballathus Atenodoro, better known as Vabalato. In 267 her husband and her stepson were murdered, her respective nephew and cousin Meonius was accused, for which Zenobia sentenced him to death. Her son Vabalato was then only one year old, so Zenobia succeeded her husband and ruled Palmyra as regent for the minor. Both were awarded the honorary titles of Augusta and Augusto. After the death of Gallienus in 268 and seeing that her successor, Claudius the Gothic, had to dedicate all his efforts to countering a Gothic invasion, Zenobia revolted at Palmyra and tried to create her own empire. Her stated goal was to protect the Eastern Roman Empire from the Sasanian Empire, for the peace of Rome, however, her efforts significantly increased the power of her throne. Rome, involved in a new period of chaos due to the different successions, left the queen of Palmyra, who was well established in her kingdom, to try to aspire to create a third empire, with the intention of dominating the two empires that flanked her. Zenobia fortified and beautified the city of Palmyra, which then had a population of over 150,000. The walls surrounding the city were said to be 21 kilometers in circumference. It had an avenue guarded by large Corinthian columns over 15 meters high. It was full of beautiful temples, monuments, gardens and public buildings, among them the Temple of the Sun stood out. In Palmyra about two hundred statues could be found on its columns and on the walls of the agora. Zenobia was conquering new territories, increasing the territory of the Empire of Palmyra in memory of her husband and as a legacy to her son. Zenobia made expeditions with her great army and conquered Egypt , Anatolia as far as Ancyra and Chalcedon, and later Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon. In her short-lived empire, Zenobia seized trade routes vital to the Romans. The Emperor Aurelian, who came to the throne in 270, after stabilizing the Danube border, finally decided to launch a military campaign against it. He sent some of his forces into Egypt and the bulk of his army east through Asia Minor. Zenobia had a large army, made up of her archers and cataphracts commanded by two generals, Zabdas and Zabbai. But Aurelian conquered Egypt and sent his forces into Syria. Zenobia was defeated at the battle of Emesa (present-day Homs), and withdrew to Palmyra, where it was besieged by Aurelian in 272. Palmyra had stocked up on food and relied on the strength of her excellent archers, hoping to hold out for months, but thanks Against the Arab chiefs of the desert, whom Zenobia had disdained, Aureliano overcame the resistance of the city. Zenobia and her son escaped from there on a camel with the help of the Sassanids, but were captured on the Euphrates River by Aurelian's horsemen, and ordered to be taken to Rome. Zenobia's short reign over Egypt and the Palmyrene Empire was over. The remaining Palmyrenes who refused to surrender were captured and executed on Aurelian's orders. She battled the Roman Empire , but the Romans were victorious after heavy fighting; the queen was besieged in her capital and captured by Aurelian, who exiled her to Rome, where she spent the remainder of her life. Zenobia died after 274, and many tales have been recorded about her fate. Her rise and fall have inspired historians, artists and novelists, and she is a patriotic symbol in Syria.