Alberto Lupo Movies

Bruno Martel Luc Merenda is an idealistic hero who questions the meaning of life in this confusing and sometimes hallucinatory erotic drama. After a night in jail, he is gang-raped by punk rockers in a garbage dump. He later saves an old man who believes he is Garibaldi Alberto Sorrentino and a woman he believes is Ophelia Susanna Javicoli. Bruno watches helplessly as she later jumps from a window. The feature recalls some of the more avant garde efforts of Italian cinema from the 1960s. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Adapted by Philip Dunne from the novel by Irving Stone, The Agony and the Ecstacy is the story of the 16th century war of wills between Renaissance artist Michelangelo (Charlton Heston) and "warrior pope" Julius II (Rex Harrison). Commissioned to paint a religious fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the independent-minded Michelangelo balks at the assignment. He is virtually strongarmed into accepting the job by Pope Julius, who wants to leave something for future generations to remember him by. Director Carol Reed deftly juggles screen time between the Pope's activities on the battlefield and Michelangelo's slow, arduous completion of his monumental task. The film also gingerly approaches the subject of Michelangelo's sexual orientation vis-a-vis his relationship with the Contessina de Medici (Diane Cilento). Too long and limited in subject matter to score at the box office, The Agony and the Ecstacy holds up pretty well when seen today, especially when viewed in a wide-screen print. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Acclaimed Italian director Riccardo Freda takes the helm for this sword and sandal classic produced at Cinecittà studios. In desperate need of a doctor after being violently ambushed by bandits, Count Sigfrido of Treviri (Alberto Lupo) seeks refuge at the nearby castle of the Duke of Brabant. There, the ailing Count is nursed back to help by the Duke's lovely daughter Genoveffa (Maria Jose Alfonso). Over the course of his convalescence, Sigfrido and Genoveffa fall deeply in love. Shortly thereafter, the pair decides to marry and the Sigfrido returns to Treviri with his beautiful bride in tow. There romance is short-lived, however, when Sigfrido is summoned to fight in the Crusades. In his absence, Sigfrido requests that his trusted counselor Golo (Stephen Forsyth) to watch after his lonely wife. But Golo's intentions are less than pure, and when Genoveffa rebuffs his advances, he insisits that she be imprisoned for adultery and sentenced to death. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

This French-filmed trifle is based on the roguish character created by Ponson du Terrail. American actor Channing Pollock is Rocambole, living by wits in Paris. The film recounts his adventures as he goes from one swinging nightspot to another. Along the way, he breaks a few hearts, but holds out promise for others. A moderate success in the American art-house circuit, Rocambole did even better when released to TV. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This is a typical costume drama and adventure story with plenty of fencing, and swash and buckle but not much ingenuity. Based on a story by Anthony Marshall, a swordsman by the name of Thomas Stanwood (Stewart Granger) finds himself fending off a multitude of attackers before he is captured and realizes he was defending himself against the very duke, Don Carlos (Riccardo Garrone), that he is supposed to be helping. The Duke overlooks the mistake and puts Thomas to guard his intended spouse, Orietta Arconti (Sylvia Koscina). She is a cold, arrogant woman who immediately antagonizes Thomas -- until he begins to realize a few things. Orietta's father was killed by the Duke when he took over their city, so how could she really be on the side of Don Carlos? As certain as night follows day, Thomas and Orietta are going to make an unbeatable pair when it comes to righting the wrongs of the past. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

A less-stylish variant on Franju's classic Les Yeux Sans Visage, this low-budget Italian production borrows heavily from that film's plot to tell the tale of a scientist who employs a radical new procedure to restore the beauty of a young hoochie-koochie dancer disfigured in a car accident. All goes well after the bandages come off... but after all, this is a horror film, and it's only a matter of time before the young lass begins transforming into a monster -- which, despite the title, is not really a vampire, but more like something resembling an overcooked pizza roll with eyes. In order to return her to normal, the loony doc sets out to "borrow" the faces of other young women without their permission. Released in its native country (where the dubbing might have been a bit less painful) as Seddock, L'Ereda de Satana or Seddock, Heir of Satan. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Rather than telling a dramatized version of the exploits of the Greek runner Phidippides (or Philippides, as used here), this standard Italian costume drama has the great athlete almost single-handedly defeating the Persians. Set in 490 B.C. when the Persian armies were ready to finish conquering Greece and head into Europe, Phidippides (Steve Reeves, who else?) rallies the Athenians and they fight a series of spectacular, massive battles. In reality, Phidippides had run 140 miles to Sparta and back to ask for their help before any battles began. The Persians had already landed on the plains of Marathon, 26 miles from Athens but thanks to Phidippides forewarning, they were defeated by advancing Athenian forces. Phidippides' final run from Marathon back to Athens to warn them about a second attack by the Persian forces is not depicted in this drama -- that last run on top of the futile, 280-mile round trip to Sparta, cost him his life. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide