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7.6/10
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The Dacian kingdom lies at the eastern border of the Roman Empire.Only the river Danube separates the two mortal enemies.The Dacian king Decebalus knows that soon the vastly superior Roman l... Read allThe Dacian kingdom lies at the eastern border of the Roman Empire.Only the river Danube separates the two mortal enemies.The Dacian king Decebalus knows that soon the vastly superior Roman legions will cross the river and attack Dacia.The Dacian kingdom lies at the eastern border of the Roman Empire.Only the river Danube separates the two mortal enemies.The Dacian king Decebalus knows that soon the vastly superior Roman legions will cross the river and attack Dacia.
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Ion Besoiu
- Roman Gen. Severus
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A Romanian film – better-known, if at all, by its original title DACII – about the Roman (i.e. Italian) Empire is an absolute rarity, but I was instantly drawn to it from the evocative stills I saw on the Internet. The fact that it featured a couple of French stars in Pierre (MILL OF THE STONE WOMEN {1960}) Brice and Luis Bunuel/peplum regular Georges Marchal, then, was merely the icing on the cake; however, it did feel odd hearing them speak in a completely foreign tongue! For all its obvious naivete' (being, at best, a semi-professional enterprise and actually only the director's first feature-length effort!), the end result proves reasonably impressive – primarily on the visual front (with location photography that is indeed spectacular and the battle sequences themselves emerging as not only surprisingly elaborate but rather brutal as well!).
That said, the plot offers its own interest – with even some novelty value in store: the titular people are engaged in war against the Romans (rulers of all the known world at that time). Being Pagans, to determine whether the odds are in their favor or not, it is required that the King sacrifice his first-born i.e. a son who is literally dumped upon an upturned fork and bleeding to death! This turn-of-events naturally sours the relationship between the potentate and his daughter, who leaves the castle grounds to settle in the country. The Romans, too, have their problems: Emperor Domitien is perhaps the most condescending ever portrayed; his adviser is adamantly against invasion (believing the Dacians can be persuaded to lay down their arms without the need for carnage); their ageing if still athletic champion warrior (Marchal) is suffering from temporary blindness due to an old wound; while another 'star' officer (Brice, actually the afore-mentioned bureaucrat's son) is wounded during an initial skirmish, cured for by the Dacian king's daughter (needless to say, they end up falling in love), and ultimately revealed to be a native of the very land he is intent on conquering for the glory of Rome!
A sort of follow-up, made by other hands, was 1968's COLUMNA aka THE COLUMN which similarly featured 'recognizable' names for the international market (though their overseas exposure was extremely limited in the long run!): Briton Richard Johnson and Italians Antonella Lualdi (from Vittorio Cottafavi's THE HUNDRED HORSEMEN {1964}) and Franco Interlenghi. Actually, THE DACIANS reminded me of Robert Siodmak's two-parter STRUGGLE FOR ROME (1968) – a German epic that was only released abroad in heavily-truncated form as THE LAST ROMAN.
That said, the plot offers its own interest – with even some novelty value in store: the titular people are engaged in war against the Romans (rulers of all the known world at that time). Being Pagans, to determine whether the odds are in their favor or not, it is required that the King sacrifice his first-born i.e. a son who is literally dumped upon an upturned fork and bleeding to death! This turn-of-events naturally sours the relationship between the potentate and his daughter, who leaves the castle grounds to settle in the country. The Romans, too, have their problems: Emperor Domitien is perhaps the most condescending ever portrayed; his adviser is adamantly against invasion (believing the Dacians can be persuaded to lay down their arms without the need for carnage); their ageing if still athletic champion warrior (Marchal) is suffering from temporary blindness due to an old wound; while another 'star' officer (Brice, actually the afore-mentioned bureaucrat's son) is wounded during an initial skirmish, cured for by the Dacian king's daughter (needless to say, they end up falling in love), and ultimately revealed to be a native of the very land he is intent on conquering for the glory of Rome!
A sort of follow-up, made by other hands, was 1968's COLUMNA aka THE COLUMN which similarly featured 'recognizable' names for the international market (though their overseas exposure was extremely limited in the long run!): Briton Richard Johnson and Italians Antonella Lualdi (from Vittorio Cottafavi's THE HUNDRED HORSEMEN {1964}) and Franco Interlenghi. Actually, THE DACIANS reminded me of Robert Siodmak's two-parter STRUGGLE FOR ROME (1968) – a German epic that was only released abroad in heavily-truncated form as THE LAST ROMAN.
Best fight scenes , huge masses of soldiers , very credible movie.I saw that movie when I was a child and I was very impressed . I saw again when I grew up and still impressed. I was fascinated by the story of fighting between Dacia and Rome and when I saw this movie the stories became reality. Great performance for the unforgettable actor Amza Pellea as Decebal (the king of dacians) and the best movie of Sergiu Nicolaescu. This is a super-production in the spirit of '60 movies (Spartacus , Battle for Rome).
A movie with great Romanian and international actors. The movie is better than The Gladiator or other actual historical movies.
A movie with great Romanian and international actors. The movie is better than The Gladiator or other actual historical movies.
Attractive Romanian film (actually a Romanian-French co production filmed in Romania) belonging to the swords and sandals genre and telling the story of how the Dacians confronted and resisted the Roman Empire at around 100 AD. Great action scenes, attractive outdoor locations (in pastoral like locations) are a plus. This was made in 1967, when many films of this sort were made in the West (the so called Peplum, including Spartacus, Cleopatra and countless Italian movies), yet this particular film seems to be little known outside Romania. It is a well made, entertaining film with fine color photography. Since the Dacians are believed to be the ancestors of the Romanians, I suppose part of the purpose of the film was to raise nationalist consciousness, but this is thankfully not too heavy.
"The Dacians" (Dacii) follows a very decent plot for a sword-and-sandal genre. Roman legions invade Dacia ready to become "The Masters of the World." But this Roman world is not united, but filled with intrigues and back stabbing among the Emperor and the general. "Sufro," (I suffer it) proclaims the Emperor while hiding his satisfaction. On the Dacian side, patriotism (300 Spartans style) fills their souls. "Why the Dacian smile when they die?" asks the Roman commander.
The photography of the Romanian country side and the Roman Legions on the march is excellent. The soundtrack is superb when the Roman legions are advancing. To add to the spectacle 5,000 extras fill the landscape.
Thanks to a Web site that sells Romanian movies in the NTSC format, I could watch this little jewel again. The follow up ("Column" or "The Trajan Column")seems to be unavailable.
The photography of the Romanian country side and the Roman Legions on the march is excellent. The soundtrack is superb when the Roman legions are advancing. To add to the spectacle 5,000 extras fill the landscape.
Thanks to a Web site that sells Romanian movies in the NTSC format, I could watch this little jewel again. The follow up ("Column" or "The Trajan Column")seems to be unavailable.
I wish people were less "detached" and less bored sometimes, to appreciate valuable movies for what they really are - valuable movies. As I am about to finish watching "Columna" on TV here in Bucharest, I'm thinking how lucky we are to have this fascinating history. To us, both "Dacii" and "Columna" are excellent and make very valid points as to how ancient Dacia was conquered by the Romans.
I am sorry that these movies (as many other Romanian historical movies) are not easy to find in the West, as the viewer comments on here seem to indicate. (I'd initially come on here to see where they could be found, to recommend them to a friend in the West). I think they would also prove useful, providing a wealth of information and "insight" for anyone wanting to learn more about this part of the world.
I am sorry that these movies (as many other Romanian historical movies) are not easy to find in the West, as the viewer comments on here seem to indicate. (I'd initially come on here to see where they could be found, to recommend them to a friend in the West). I think they would also prove useful, providing a wealth of information and "insight" for anyone wanting to learn more about this part of the world.
Did you know
- TriviaThe Dacian costumes were hard to create. Director Sergiu Nicolaescu had to travel to Rome where he studied the Dacian costumes featured on Trajan's Column. The costumes were created by Romanian costume designer Hortensia Georgescu.
- GoofsIn some scenes, watches are visible on the wrists of Roman and Dacian soldiers.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Frissons teutons - Les Films Edgar Wallace (2011)
- How long is The Dacians?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- ROL 20,113,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 1h 50m(110 min)
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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