Porsena , the Etruscan leader (Jean Chevrier) , attacks and besieges Rome. He is supported by a warrior chieftain (Louis Jourdan) and his barbaric allies . But Rome is being defended by embattled women warriors , then Porsena takes hostages the valiant Amazon Warriors led by Clelia (Sylvia Syms) . Meanwhile , a Roman youth named Gaius Mucius (Corrado Pani) sneaked into the Etruscan camp with the approval of the Senate, intent on assassinating Porsena . He advised Porsena that he was merely the first of 300 Roman youths who would attempt such a deed, one after another until they succeeded. To prove his valour, Mucius thrust his right hand into a sacrificial fire, thereby earning for himself and his descendants the cognomen Scaevola ("lefty"). Later on , Lars Porsena was really impressed by particular acts of Roman bravery and the Amazon Warriors .
This is a passable sword and sandals movie with action , a love story , battles , spectacular scenarios and historical backstage . There are some historical characters as Mucius Escevola and Porsena who watching the courage and bold acts from Roman people defending the city he chose to make peace . Louis Jourdan is acceptable as a Barbarian and historical hero who finds many dangerous situations while attempting to attack Rome and save his true love , Clelia : Sylvia Syms , of several risks .Being an Italian/French co-production , here appears various notorious actors from both nacionalities such as: Corrado Pani , Ettore Manni , Nicole Courcel , Jean Chevrier , Jacques Dufilho , and Michel Piccoli . The motion picture was professionally directed by two Peplum experts : Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, and Vittorio Cottafavi .
The motion picture is based on true events but has not prospect historical . The real deeds are the followings : Lars Porsena came into conflict with Rome after the revolution that overthrew the monarchy there in 509 BC, resulting in the exile of the semi-legendary last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus . Tarquino(534-509, B.C.) was the seventh and last king of Rome and he governed tyrannically . The rape of Lucrecia by his son caused a riot and he was overthrown , the Roman Republic was proclaimed and he actually disappeared . The deposed monarch, whose family was of Etruscan origin, tried and failed to retake the throne a number of times before appealing to Porsena for assistance. Lars Porsena agreed to help. One story tells that, during his siege of Rome, a young enemy called Mucius who came into the king's presence, he could not distinguish Porsena from his secretary, who was similarly attired. Through misrecognition Mucius stabbed the secretary and then tried to flee . He was immediately captured by the Etruscans and brought before Porsena, whereupon Mucius bluntly declared his identity and his intent . Then Mucius puts his hand into a sacrificial fire . Astonished and impressed by the young man's courage, Porsena gave Mucius his freedom and dismissed him from the camp. Another tale of the war concerns the Roman hostages taken by Porsena as part of the treaty. One of the hostages, a young woman named Cloelia, fled the Etruscan camp, leading away a group of Roman virgins. Porsena demanded that she be returned, and the Romans consented. On her return, however, Porsena was so impressed by her bravery that he asked her to choose half the remaining hostages to be freed. She selected all the youngest Roman boys . In 507 BC, Porsena once again sent ambassadors to the Roman senate, requesting the restoration of Tarquinius to the throne. Legates were sent back to Porsena, to advise him that the Romans would never re-admit Tarquinius, and that Porsena should out of respect for the Romans cease requesting Tarquinius' readmittance. Porsena agreed, telling Tarquinius to continue his exile elsewhere than Clusium. Porsena also restored to the Romans their hostages, and also the lands of Veii that had been taken from Rome by treaty. Livy records that, by these matters, a faithful peace between Porsena and Rome was created . Rating : 5.5/10 , Average Peplum fodder , though better than most Sword and Sandals movies , thanks to Louis Jourdan and slick direction .
