Attila

An early sword-and-sandal epic from Italy casts Anthony Quinn as Attila the Hun, with dialog that sounds as though it came from a kung fu movie. "Attila" is probably most noticeable as an early appearance of Sophia Loren (she plays Honoria, who marries the vicious warrior). Otherwise, it's the sort of movie that belongs on "Mystery Science Theater 3000". At this point, I have serious doubts as to whether its even possible to make a good movie about a historical figure from that long ago. Maybe they just work best as spoofs in the vein of "Life of Brian".

Anyway, this is certainly the sort of flick that should be of interest to bad movie buffs. Not terrible, but that year, Anthony Quinn starred in one of Italy's greatest films: "La strada".

Destroying towns and cities across the Alp to Italy, the mounted hordes led by Attila, King of the Huns, reached the gates of Rome where they were stopped by the Cross and turned back by Pope Leo I...

Anthony Quinn is Attila, the infamous 5th Century barbarian in this Italian unworthy spectacular...

Sophia Loren offers a pretty presence as the ambitious tempting Honoria who accepts Attila as a husband just to save Rome... She loses her life and half of her kingdom...

Quinn tries his best in his portrayal of the infamous Attila, but the script is bad and unreasonable...

Although not without its unintentionally funny moments, compared to most of the Sword and Sandal films that were churned out by Hollywood on the Tiber, this one is not at all bad.

Anthony Quinn's testosterone filled, Alpha male performance here certainly fits historian Edward Gibbon's description of Attila as 'a formidable barbarian' whilst the oestrogen of pneumatic Sophia Loren as Honoria practically leaps off the screen. Honoria was a tragic character who had the misfortune to be born the daughter of an emperor and to be treated miserably by her domineering mother but her one-dimensional portrayal here is par for the course in films of this type.

The year this film was released was notable for both Quinn and La Loren as he also appeared in a little opus entitled 'La Strada' and she was directed for the first time by Vittorio de Sica in the 'Pizza con credito' segment of 'L'Oro di Napoli' in which he brought out the Neapolitan earthiness and innate comedic ability that were to serve her so well through the years, not least in the amusing 'Peccato che sia una canaglia' from the same year which marked the first of her many films with a certain Marcello Mastroianni.

A good supporting cast, all of whom are adequately 'dubbed' comprises Colette Régis as the wilful Galla Placidia and Henri Vidal as Aetius. The emperor Valentinian III, described by Gibbon as 'feeble and dissolute', is convincingly played by Claude Laydu who will forever be associated with the title character of Bresson's 'Journal d'un curé de compagne'. Mention must be made of the wondrous Irene Papas in the minor role of one of Attila's many wives. She was to go from strength to strength, especially in classical Greek tragedy and utilised what one critic has called her 'elemental nobility' as the widow opposite Quinn's Zorba. For those interested in such things, neither Honoria nor Aetius met their ends in the manner depicted here.

Designed to warm the hearts of the Faithful, the final scene, complete with heavenly chorus and a crucifix in the sky, shows Attila being persuaded by Pope Leo not to attack Rome. It is not known what was said or indeed what inducements were offered but it is doubtful whether a heathen such as Attila would have been swayed by Leo's eloquence and sacerdotal robes alone and it is more likely that he turned back because of plague in his army, lack of food and the threat of Roman reinforcements from the East.

Oh well, as the man said, 'it's only a movie.'

After starring in La Strada Anthony Quinn went on to do two more films while in Italy, Ulysses where he supported Kirk Douglas and Attila where he starred as the bloodthirsty Hun chief who nearly conquered Rome. This one is possibly the least of the three.

Attila as Quinn plays it is one dude who only really gets his Mojo going with some hand to hand combat. The Huns have a treaty with Rome and to show how times have changed, the Romans pay them tribute to not attack. But in his view of things that is not quite a legitimate way for conqueror to do things. Quinn who co-rules with brother Ettore Manni murders Manni and puts the Huns on a war footing.

But Rome by 450 AD has grown soft and futile and ruled by a kid Emperor with Mom issues. The Dowager Empress is French actress Colette Regis and her idiot son is Claude Leydu. She also has a daughter played by Sophia Loren in an early role and Sophia is out to use her considerable charms to cut her own deal with Attila. But she doesn't realize that Quinn just ain't interested when he can go out run people through with sword and lance.

To General Henri Vidal comes the disagreeable task of saving this worthless bunch. And there is also the Pope who as legend has come down to us got the deed done, but only temporarily.

Attila is a film I saw half a century ago on WOR TV in New York on Million Dollar movie. Could not appreciate the color on our black and white TV set at the time. I could also not appreciate Sophia Loren who's half the reason for seeing this film.

It's passable Peplum, not down to the level of Maciste or Hercules later on. But not one of Anthony Quinn's better remembered films.

It's very hard to make a film about Attila and his times because if you want to make it historically accurate, well, that's not a simple thing. There are many Church traditions about Attila and his eventual sparing of Rome but historians of the day were notorious for shaping it to make themselves or their leaders look best. It is what it is...or was. So, it's difficult to say exactly what Attila did....such as the death of his brother...of which are contradictory accounts. This version of his latter days is based mostly on Church traditions.

Like many films of the 1950s and 60s, European filmmakers hired a famous American actor to star in the production. In this case, Anthony Quinn plays Attila the Hun...and he also appeared in a few other European films, such as Fellini's "La Strada". And, Quinn was then dubbed into Italian...as most of the actors in the film are Italians (though it's a French-Italian co-production).

The story is set from the period in which Attila agreed to a substantial bribe by the Romans not to destroy the Empire. Shortly after this, Attila reneged on the agreement and a long strong of bloody battles resulted. This film dramatizes this period and offers a traditional view as to why he spared Rome.

The film is well made and entertaining....it just isn't perfect history because of all the speculation. But this is NOT a reason to skip the film. It's well worth your time and it's also nice to see Sophia Loren in a supporting role early in her film career.

By the way, although the acting was generally good, the character Emperor Valentinian III seemed a bit overacted. Perhaps I'm wrong...he just didn't seem all that realistic.