Carlo Franci (Buenos Aires , July 18, 1927), also known under the pseudonym Francis Clark, studied in Rome with Goffredo Petrassi. He is an orchestra conductor and a composer for theatre productions. He did the music for many films during the 50s and 60s including: "Woe to the Vanquished Ones”, "79 A.D.”, "Goliath and the Rebel Slave” and "The Secret Seven”.
For this film the composer wrote a symphonic score to describe the heroic endeavours, where dramatic and violent passages for the battle scenes are alternated with a romantic and nostalgic love theme which is gloriously reprised in the finale. Maestro Franci used a symphonic orchestra, dominated by powerful French horns. For the realization of our CD (total running time 68:48 minutes) we used the mono master tapes of the recording session which took place over half a century ago and have been kept in good condition until now.
DIRECTOR AND CAST:
Directed in 1961 by Antonio Momplet. Starring Richard Harrison, Livio Lorenzon, Leo Anchóriz, Ricardo Canales, Isabelle Corey, Antonio Molino Rojo, Jole Mauro, Edoardo Nevola, José Marco.
PLOT:
In the kingdom of Acaste the wicked Rabirio holds the fate of the government in the name of ten-year-old Dario who is heir to the throne. Recio, a gladiator, saves Rabirio’s life by killing the man who had attacked him. Recio is released and put in charge of the soldiers, who must defeat a gang of bandits hiding out in the mountains. Recio discovers that the bandits are actually patriots being led by Sira, Dario’s sister, and they are fighting against Rabirio‘s oppression. Rabirio decides to get rid of Recio and little Dario (against Recio’s wishes), but he fails. The people rise up against Rabirio and he is executed. Peace returns to Acaste and Recio can finally marry the beautiful Sira.