The Saracen Blade (1954)

"Pietro" (Ricardo Montalban) has vowed revenge on the dastardly "Count Siniscola" (Michael Ansara) after he imprisoned then killed his father many years ago. The fly in his ointment is, though, that he has a crush on "Iolanthe" (Betta St. John) whom he has known since his youth, and whom he learns is to be betrothed to the son of the evil Count. To avoid this fate worse that death they elope - but are captured. She begs for his freedom and it is given, in a most perilous way. Luckily, he encounters the King (Whitfield Connor) in the woods and they concoct a cunning - if somewhat over complicated plan that could serve both men well. There is an hell of a lot packed into this film; plenty to make Machiavelli proud, and Montalban is actually not bad in the lead. The rest, though, don't really work at all. St. John and the manipulative "Elaine" (Carolyn Jones) look the part OK, but neither have the dialogue or the presence to elevate this beyond a Crusader's version of a sword and sandals escapade where the sets wobble. It's colourful, and decently paced - just way too messy - it needed more of a budget.