Prince of Foxes (1949)

Absolutely the worst movie.

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Filmed in authentic historic locations, The Prince of Foxes is a gorgeous production with some good Orson Welles action going for it. His part here is substantial. There are about 8-10 long scenes, many are key scenes. He plays Cesare Borgia, and the entire film is about him and a plot he puts in motion with the help of Tyrone Power's character. One of the better Welles acting parts. Recommended to those who like these kinds of rapier and robes period pieces. Perfect world for Welles, his voice sounds wonderful in it, and he is convincing as Borgia. For Welles aficionados this one is a 10/10 among the non-directorial pictures. Deserves to be viewed as much as The Third Man. 7/10

My opinion is that Prince of Foxes could have been as popular as Captain From Castile if it would have been produced in color. The actors were wonderful and Everet Sloan as Belli was perfect. Could there be a better Cesare Borgia than Orson Welles playing everyone against everyone else? The locations and background shots added to the authenticity of the era and personalities portrayed. The shots within the hall with the tapestries on the walls were lost in the black and white production. This movie stoked my interest in Italian history of the Borgia period and Italian history in general. It is a classic story of Italy buried by cheap producers. I wonder how it would look colorized?

The filming of Prince Of Foxes started a two year run for Tyrone Power in which he worked abroad. This film was shot in Italy and following its completion, Power married his second wife Linda Christian. His next project was The Black Rose filmed in Great Britain and then he appeared in the London production of Mister Roberts on stage and then another British film, I'll Never Forget You. I guess we should call this Power's European period.One thing that Prince Of Foxes was sorely lacking was color in a film that cried for it. I can't conceive of going to Italy and shooting a film about the Renaissance on the very sites of the same and not spending the extra dollars for color. The bean counters at 20th Century Fox got to Darryl Zanuck. As it was one of the two Academy Award nominations that Prince Of Foxes got was for black and white cinematography and the other for costume design.Tyrone Power certainly looked and acted the part of a Renaissance man. His character is peasant born whose parents worked hard to get him an education because of his talent for painting. But in the Renaissance tradition, Power plays a man of many accomplishments. An excellent duelist, a diplomat, courtier, and military strategist, Power serves Orson Welles who plays Cesare Borgia and his sister Angela played by Marina Berti in all those capacities.The assignment he takes on for Welles calls for a combination of all those talents, Power is sent to the duchy ruled by Felix Aylmer and his young wife Wanda Hendrix. The mission is to maybe seduce the wife and cause the old duke to die in some manner and then to turn the strategically located duchy over to Welles without loss of life.Easier said than done after Power sincerely falls for Hendrix, but also becomes friends with the aged Duke. Orson Welles was in a European period of his own so to speak. Right around this time Welles was busy filming Othello and financing it intermittently. He took roles in Prince Of Foxes and Tyrone Power's next film, The Black Rose for just such financing. He makes an impressive, but subtly sadistic Cesare Borgia, almost my perfect conception of what that gentleman has come down in history as.Everett Sloane has the most interesting role in the film, but it's also the films chief weakness. His character motivations, his capriciousness are never quite explained. But as it turns out it's Sloane's very caprice on which the plot of the story turns. He plays a professional assassin, loyal to no one.Director Henry King staged some impressive battle sequences and with the location got the proper feel for what Renaissance Italy might be like. In some sense this film ought to be seen back to back with The Agony And The Ecstacy which essentially is the next generation of Italian politics mixed with art played out on screen. Even without color Prince Of Foxes holds up remarkably well today. This is one case where Ted Turner's coloring techniques might really come in handy.

This is a highly unusual movie simply because of the subject matter--the Borgias and the consolidation of power in the Italian states during the 15th and 16th centuries. I've gotta admit that this earns an extra point or two just for originality. Power plays a soldier of fortune--a role he is well suited for, as in many ways, it's almost like his pirate movies or Zorro! So, the transition is smooth. Also, the story and supporting actors are excellent. I recommend this film especially to lovers of old films and adventure movies. I think some teens and kids would also enjoy it, but considering the short attention-spans of most kids these days, you might think twice before having them watch this movie (or just force them to watch because it's good entertainment by gum!).