Les tartares

In the 1950s and 60s, Italian filmmakers realized that if they cast American actors in the leads in their films, they'd be more marketable worldwide. As a result, many B-list actors or A-listers in their waning years went there to make films. To do this, they needed to dub the actors in various languages...which is what they did with "The Tartars" ("I tartari"). Like most of the Italian epics of the era, it looks a lot like a Hercules/Maciste film...with large casts, nice costumes and adequeate acting.

In the case of "The Tartars", two Americans lead the cast...Victor Mature plays the leader of the Russian Vikings* and Orson Wells plays the leader of the local Tartars. Of the two, Wells looks the silliest...and SHOULD look like a Mongolian, but doesn't.

The film involves a war between the Tartars and Vikings...and various women are taken prisoner in order to try to convince the other side to capitulate. Of couse, this doesn't work so they spend much of the movie splitting each others' head open and acting macho.

This film turned out to be pretty much what I expected...a lovely looking story but also a relatively dull one. Why? Because the acting seems so incredibly muted and none of the main characters seem to act like real people...more like statues that somehow talk. This makes it all seem quite sterile...and dull. For a MUCH better and more interesting film, try Hollywood's "The Vikings" (1958)...a film that is better in pretty much every way.

*While most folks think the Vikings were only from Scandinavia, some migrated to Russia and instead of sacking the land, stayed and became farmers and traders. Many Russians today can trace their ancestry to these people.

THE TARTARS is a tale of revenge set in the Russian steppes circa 900 A.D. Viking Prince Oleg (at best a weak and unintentionally humorous portrayal by Victor Mature) is asked by a Tartar chieftain to join the Mongol horde and destroy the indigenous Slavic tribes. Oleg refuses to betray his Slavic brethern and all hell breaks loose. The Tartar chieftan is murdered and his brother Ogotai (a "larger" than life Orson Welles) voys to avenge his brother's death which leads to more massacres and malicious deeds. Welles is interesting in the part of the Tartar Khan and his palace is a work of sensational art direction. Costumes in this Italian-made epic are first rate and half of the cast and crew are recognizable names from other Italian epics, sci-fi and horror films. Mature once said, "I'm a lousy actor with 75 motion pictures to prove it." This critic can only say, "Amen to that!" THE TARTARS is certainly worth seeing but is not the most memorable moment in epic filmmaking history.

I had seen this movie a long time ago and saw it as just "another Italian Spectacle" action movie. I recently viewed a great LBX version that wasn't edited. In this new version. They clearly state that Orson Wells rapes Victor Mature's wife and "throws her to his men". A rather magnanimous ending to the beautiful Liana Orfei. This key fact was usually cut out of most TV versions of The Tartars. Liana Orfei starred in many Sword & Sandal flicks in this era. She is also a famous Circus performer. I have added 2 movie stills from my collection to the galley.

I'm totally convinced that the pictures are a deep study of mankind, through them we learn too much about many ancient people, as shown in this picture The Tartars around 900 A.D. they live together at Russian plains with Slavs and Vikings neither, on movie Mature plays Oleg a faithful Viking's leader with strong friendship with his neighbors the Slavs, in a meeting with the greedy Khan of Tartars Togrul (Folco Lulli) try out persuade OLeg by high um of gold to invades Slavs's territory to, However due the peaceful coexistence of both people he refuses to fight, otherwise he is willing defend his friends against the Tartars's menace, both end up fighting there and Oleg kills Togrul in self defence, further he also kidnapped his daughter Samia (Bella Cortez) who falling in love for Eric, the wicked Burandai (Orson Welles) is Togrul's brother replaces him as new Khan, he swear a prompt vengeance even been advised by Ciu Lang (Foá) the skilful to handle on political matters, Burandai kidnapping the loved Oleg's wife Helga (Liana Orfei) after she returns of a voyage, now the clash among Tartars and Vikings is unavoidable, the gorgeous Italians actress allow us a bit redress over a weak screenplay, nevertheless far away to be bad as rated by mostly reviews!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2008 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7

This is no boring picture but it is far away from well entertainment too. The story is too simple. Most of the actors are not very convincing (especially too old and too dark "Viking" Victor Mature and an uninspired Luciano Marin). There remains an interesting Orson Welles as "Tartarian" Burundai and the experienced directing by Richard Thorpe (director of legendary historical epics like "Ivanhoe"). Good work is also done by the Italian cast members who composed the music, took the location shots and designed the costumes. To sum it up an average movie.