Edmund Purdom Movies

Director Riccardo Freda does not take this uninspired, turgid spy film very far in its story about a federal agent (Edmund Purdom) and his efforts at blasting apart an international drug cartel. In one of the more unlikely turns of a plotline, the agent falls in love with the daughter of the cartel's head honcho. Needless to say, he is not expecting his future father-in-law to give his blessings at any possible nuptials. Instead, the action pits the agent against his arch-enemy as circumstances plod along (unless racing through an action scene in speeded-up time) to a final and deadly confrontation. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Health faddist Mulvain (Louis Calhern) and his astrology-minded wife Salome (Norma Varden) hold court over their seven musical-prodigy daughters. Each girl is named after a mythical Greek: Athena (Jane Powell), Minerva (Debbie Reynolds), Niobe (Virginia Gibson), Aphrodite (Nancy Kligas), Medea (Jane Fischer), Calliope (Dolores Starr) and Ceres (Cecile Rogers). They also run around dressed in skimpy miniskirts, for those of you not interested in mythology. Athena falls in love with lawyer Adam Shaw (Edmund Purdom) and Minerva is ga-ga over crooner Johnny Nyle (Vic Damone), neither of whom come up to Mulvain's notions of mental and physical perfection. A lesser product from the Joe Pasternak musical mill, Athena is unremarkable save for an early appearance by future Hercules star Steve Reeves and a nicely bitchy performance by the usually resistable Linda Christian. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This undistinguished drama from Austrian director Arthur Maria Rabenalt overdoses on melodrama and clichés as it tells the story of a young girl who tries to help her father find happiness. He is an important conductor who has been living alone with his daughter since his wife died. The daughter knows what her father needs is the right woman and is not likely to sit back and let him handle his own romantic life. Even well-known actors like Linda Christian and Edmond Purdom cannot overcome the deficiencies in the script. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Anyone who really tried to ride to Santa Cruz in this western would have had to negotiate the Alps. The explanation? The film's original title was Die Letzte Ritt nach Santa Cruz. That's right, this Austrian/German coproduction is what is known in the trade as a "strudel western." Briton Edmund Purdom is the good guy, German Klaus Kinski is the villain, and another Teutonic talent, Marianne Koch, is the heroine. The action follows the usual pattern of American horse operas, with a little more emphasis on bloody beatings and graphic gunplay. And wait until you see those German Mexicans: Ach Caramba! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The long-forgotten Italian historical epic Herod the Great (AKA Erode il Grande, 1960), dramatizes the dark final years of the title figure, an evil Judean Tetrarch notorious for sending Christ to the cross in league with Pontius Pilate. The story begins with Herod (Edmond Purdom) and Antony's shared defeat by Rome (when the two men foolishly decide to form an allegiance and go head to head with the colossal Empire), and ends with Herod's slide into insanity following Christ's death. Throughout, the ruler exhibits utter lunacy, raving constantly and spewing forth torrents of unbridled anger; the picture's overtone thus remains bleak, despairing and relentlessly gloomy throughout (take it or leave it). Arnaldo Genoino directs; Damiano Damiani, Federico Zardo, Tourjansky and Fernando Cerchio co-scripted. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Another horrible horror from Italy, which undoubtedly marked the absolute nadir of Rossano Brazzi's career in the wake of South Pacific. Brazzi plays the deranged Dr. Frankenstein (the credits list him as a Count -- someone must have gotten their monsters mixed) who, like many Frankensteins of yore, endeavors to build an enormous humanoid monster; this one has been given the more biblical name "Goliath." Again, as is the case with so many of his mad-doc brethren, Frank has failed to plan ahead and secure a proper brain for the creature's empty cranium (finding one for the director might have been a better idea). He assigns this task to his somewhat less-than-competent servants, including a dwarf named Genz (Michael Dunn). Believe it or not, the operation does not come off as smoothly as planned, and Genz is exiled from the castle. Miffed, the disgruntled fellow plots revenge against his ex-boss, enlisting the aid of a Neanderthal man named "Ook" (credited under the quaint pseudonym "Boris Lugosi"), who likes to wear jogging shorts. None of this really makes any sense, as it serves only as a vehicle for abundant female nudity and plentiful gore. Also known as House of Freaks and released to video as Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

A handful of young knights are given the grave responsibility of rescuing one of the most sacred relics in Christianity in this lavish historical epic. In the year 1272, the bloody swath of the Crusades has swept much of Europe, and King Louis IX of France dies after a battle in Tunisia. After the king's demise, the Holy Shroud (the cloth with which Jesus' body was believed to have been wrapped following his crucifixion) goes missing, and four young knights who served under him -- Simon of Clarendon (Edward Furlong), Rainiei di Panico (Marco Leonardi), Vanni delle Rondini (Thomas Kretschmann), and Jean de Cent Acres (Stanislas Merhar) -- take it upon themselves to find the shroud . Travelling with the knights is Giacomo (Raoul Bova), an assistant to Rondini who learned from a wicked blacksmith a valuable secret -- a method for making magical swords that cannot be broken. As the knights scour the land in search of the shroud, they encounter Delfinello (F. Murray Abraham), another searcher attempting to find the shroud, who persuades the knights to join him as he sets sail to the Holy Land in his quest. I Cavalieri Che Fecero L'impresa was shot in Italy with an international cast and crew; while the original version was filmed in Italian, an English-language version of the film was also shot with an eye towards an American release. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

There could be no more disparate people than Olga (Francesca deSapio), temporarily separated from her husband, and Regina (Fantu Mengasha), her Ethiopian maid and nanny. Although from different social and ethnic groups, Olga and Regina eventually become friends and help each other out in times of need. Regina keeps Olga's two feet firmly planted on the ground when she is ready to whirl out of orbit with an oddball mother, a husband who wants to be back with her, and a lover. And Olga returns the favor to Regina, helping her find her brother in some of the seedier sides of Rome. Their friendship is challenged when Olga's husband returns to live at home, and Regina is dismissed. Their relationship does not end there, as Regina turns up some time later, pregnant and in need of Olga's help. The time has come to test the depth of their friendship. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

In this historical drama, a Viking prince returns to his homeland only to learn that his father has been murdered by King Sven of Norway. He then discovers that Sven is forcing his sister to marry in order to create an alliance with the Danes. The prince rallies his loyal fighters to storm the king's fortress in an attempt to rescue his sister. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Sixth-century Italy is the setting for Fury of the Pagans. Edmund Purdom plays Toryok, the peace-loving ruler of a tranquil Northern province. Pagan leader Kovo (Livio Lorenzon) wreaks havoc upon Toryok's domain, raping and pillaging to a fare-thee-well. Years later, Toryok gets his chance to avenge his people. He intends to slay Kovo and claim the Pagan's bride Lianora (Rosanna Podesta). This being an Italian sword-and-sandal epic, there's nothing one-on-one about the final showdown; in fact, there must be ten thousand extras on that wide screen. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The story of a Frenchman who fought to liberate the American colonies from British rule is colorfully brought to the screen. Lafayette (Michel Leroyer) is an engaging young landowner who spends his time in taverns drinking and talking politics. When he ends up on the wrong side of the minister's police, he sells his land, buys a ship, and takes off to help the Americans fight the British. He meets up with General Washington (Howard St. John) and earns his rightful place in history as one of the great military leaders. British General Cornwallis is portrayed by Jack Hawkins, while Orson Welles gives a memorable performance as Benjamin Franklin. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

This routine crime drama with a dash of romance begins with a tense opening, a jewel theft is carried out almost without a word of dialogue. One of the thieves, John Bain (Trevor Howard) an expert locksmith plagued by a stint in prison, has been coerced into helping the master thief Peter Curran (Edmund Purdom) pull off the heist. Now that success is at hand, Peter double-crosses John and dumps his lover Gianna (Dorothy Dandridge) and takes off for Spain with the loot. Embittered and anxious for revenge, Gianna hooks up with John and the two of them head for Spain with an eye to getting even. As their quest brings them together, the two develop a special feeling for each other. Between their mutual libidinal interest and the intrusion of the search for Peter, the story itself becomes spread a little too thin. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi