The Brigand

In my opinion, watching one Anthony Dexter would be a delightful experience, but, in this movie, he played a dual role, so it was a real treat, and, I must say, he acquitted himself quite well! His performance was quite good, and he also did some dancing, a la his role in "Valentino". Two beautiful actresses supported him quite well, Gale Robbins and Jody Lawrence. Anthony Quinn in the cast has to be considered a definite asset, and you know Anthony Quinn will give a good performance! Ditto for Carl Benton Reid and Ron Randell! I found this movie quite interesting, as far as B-movies go, and much of it was due to the dual role played so well by Anthony Dexter!

I was at first afraid that this costume adventure flick was produced by the Columbia Pictures home producer, the infamous Sam Katzman who was so greedy that it often made films worst than they could have been with bigger budgets. But this Phil Karlson's film is maybe also very cheap, however the Sam Katzman's touch, trademark, is not here. I was very surprised, because this kind of story, period is totally in the Katzman's fashion. Many movie buffs forget this film when they present or talk about Phil Karlson. But Karlson was more a film noir specialist than anything else, I admit. This movie remains a good gem to watch anyway.

Based on a Dumas novel,a writer who was always fascinated by twins: the last part of "les trois mousquetaires" ,"le vicomte de Bragelonne " -which was often filmed as "the iron mask " - ,but also "les frères corses ".The French title of Karlson's movie is "le proscrit" but the eponymous novel is the story of "Robin Hood prince of thieves"which reportedly inspired Kevin Reynolds ' version.I found no trace of the book which spawned "the brigand".

Probably made to capitalize on the success of the second version of "the prisoner of Zenda "(1952) ;the screenplays are very similar ,but except for the delightful vilain played by the mighty Quinn , the actors do not have the appeal of Stewart Granger,Deborah Kerr and James Mason .

That said ,the colors are glimmering , the story is eventful ,with a curious prologue in Morocco,and the denouement is smart ,and all in all,it's pretty entertaining;the historical hints at the Napoleon era remain vague though.

The year 1951 Anthony Dexter made his film debut in "VALENTINO". The resemblance to the original silent screen idol was uncanny. I felt Columbia Pictures thought they would build him as a swashbuckler like his predecessor. So Mr.Dexters next film was an adventure story based on a novel by Alexandre Dumas. He plays a dual role - a badly wounded king(assassination attempt) and a desert adventurer who is persuaded to double for him.

The plot had been used a number of times previous to 1952. Mr.Dexter handles his role(s)well including sword duels and several dance routines including the tango(Valentino reference).This film is well mounted in Technicolor and excellent direction by Phil Karlson.

The supporting cast does fine - Anthony Quinn as the villain, the two female leads Jody Lawrence and Gale Robbins,and Carl Benton Reid handle their roles expertly.I have not seen this film since

1964 and would like to view again on DVD!!!

In the 1800s, after an assassination attempt by Prince Ramon against the king of Mandorra, a brigand resembling the king surreptitiously impersonates the incapacitated monarch in order to throw off the plotters.

Anthony Dexter does a double role, one as a Sultan guard called Carlos who brandishes a fair sword and other a frivolous king Lorenzo who loves dancing with ladies and has this annoying tendency of doing a "ha ha" laugh every few seconds. He fairs well in these roles, making a good contrast between the two, and he's got a certain style and charisma, and he's good at the action bits. Anthony Quinn plays the royal cousin of King Lorenzo who plans a "premeditated accident" to King Lorenzo by giving him a hunting weapon that is rigged to fire backwards so he can push himself on the throne and marry the princess, and he's at his usually slippery self as the villain. Jody Lawrence is ok as the princess but someone more striking and more expressive would've been good.

The Brigand has an uncanny resemblance to the Prisoner of Zenda, and though it's not as striking or as exciting as that film ( the Ronald Colman and Stewart Granger versions), it's a competently made and an adequate viewing with lavishness, colour, some style, set pieces and some good swordplay. Phil Karlson keeps everything zipping along. Unlike the Prisoner of Zenda, it has a more happier ending for Dexter's Sultan guard in regards to the princess.