Sword of Venus

I had never heard of this movie, never, and after watching it, I understand why.... I won't say any harm about this little cute swashbuckler from RKO Pictures. Howard Hughes' company did not provide so many of such films, besides AT SWORDS POINT, from director Lewis Allen, with Cornel Wilde. This one is definitely below this level, but it remains agreeable and deserves respect, despite the low budget and bland performances. The title may let you expect a science fiction film, beware, not a swashbuckler. I hardly know any of the actors and actresses. Just try, it will only cost you seventy two minutes of your time.

Dantes (Clarke), the son of the famous Count of Monte Cristo, is something of a playboy. Unbeknownst to him, one of his father's few surviving enemies,

Danglars (O'Herlihy), continues to harbor resentment toward the Monte Cristo

family. He hatches an elaborate plot to destroy Dantes and seize the Monte

Cristo fortune. Reminiscent of the plot to eliminate his father, Dantes is framed for a murder he did not commit. The French court system is used as a weapon

to destroy Dantes who is the only impediment to Danglars's attempt to acquire the great fortune.

"Sword Of Venus" is a rather tepid production. Robert Clarke is only adequate in the role of the heroic Dantes. The romance between his character and the

beautiful Claire (McLeod) seems rather contrived and unconvincing. Dan

O'Herlihy does not deliver a particularly inspired performance as the villainous Danglars. Perhaps most annoying is that in what many would consider to be a

swashbuckler, the fight scenes are laughably amateurish. On the bright side, William Schallert's effort is (as usual) noteworthy. He plays the inebriated, corrupt lawyer Valmont who helps execute the plot. The general production

values (sets, costumes, etc.) are decent. Despite being inspired by the writings of Alexandre Dumas, no credit is given.

Overall, the film is a lackluster attempt at a period adventure. It is probably best suited for genre completists.

How many versions of Dumas ' famous book are there? More than you'll ever see ;Lewis Wallace declared that "le comte de Monte Cristo" was his main inspiration for "Ben Hur " ; "the shawkshank redemption " is based on a S. King 's novella which borrows a lot from it too....

"Sword of Venus " is the story of the heir of a dying father Edmond Dantès with a heart condition ; the sword of Venus is represented by a reluctant femme fatale who will be the baddies' bait ; but the song remains the same ,as though history repeated itself : Dantès son is falsely accused of murder, sent to the guillotine (but winds up in a quarry where convicts do hard labor ) ,escapes and revenge is a dish best eaten cold .

The story is action-packed , with enough plot holes to fill the Albert Hall , and too hurried for comfort.

Robert Clarke is the son of the Count of Monte Cristo, whom he adores, but from whom he is estranged. In the meantime, Clarke takes noble ladies on tours of Paris' dives. But the descendants of the men the Count has revenged himself on seek their own vengeance, and the Count's fabulous wealth, so Clarke is accused of murdering the man the baddies have offed, married to Catherine McLeod so she can beg. Mercy from the judge, and sent to the mines to work out his sentence. Will he escape? Will he gain his vengeance on the men who seek vengeance on the Count for taking his vengeance? What is he mining?

It's directed with some ability by Harold Daniels, but alas, it's from a script by Aubrey Wisberg and Jack Pollexfen, whose specialty lay in writing horrible sequels to swashbuckling masterpieces, like Daughter of Doctor Jekyll and Lady in the Iron Mask.

At this point in my reviews, I usually include some well known names, but the most interesting among the cast and crew is production designer Theobold Holsopple. That seems to be his real name, from which I conclude that his parents hated him from birth.

Robert Dantes, the rakish son and heir of the Count of Monte Cristo, is framed for murder by enemies of his father who lust after his legacy. Will he, like the original Dantes, escape from prison and take vengeance upon his persecutors? --- This is, admittedly, a somewhat obscure and cheaply made black-and-white swashbuckler, but is reasonably entertaining, if one doesn't expect too much of it. Robert Clarke, who would appear in many low-budget sci-fi films, is a likable hero, and Catherine McLeod does her best to lend some interest to the part of the lady who conspires against Dantes and then falls in love with him. Daniel O'Herlihy, a very fine and perhaps under-appreciated actor, is a first-rate villain, and the rest of the cast is solid. The action scenes and sword fights are amateurishly handled, however, and the settings are scarcely an asset. On the plus side, some interest is afforded by the ladies' gowns, which are more décolleté than one might expect. --- Recommended only for fans of the genre or as a pleasant time killer.