Francis of Assisi

Francis of Assisi

12/7/1961 1h 45m 7.6/10

Overview

In 13th century Italy, Francis Bernardone, the son of an Assisi merchant, renounces a promising army career in favor of a monastic life and starts his own religious order, sanctioned by the Pope.

Director

Michael Curtiz

Top Billed Cast

Bradford Dillman

Bradford Dillman

Francis Bernardone of Assisi

Stuart Whitman

Stuart Whitman

Count Paolo of Vandria

Cecil Kellaway

Cecil Kellaway

Cardinal Hugolino

Eduard Franz

Eduard Franz

Pietro Bernardone

Athene Seyler

Athene Seyler

Aunt Buona

Dolores Hart

Dolores Hart

Clare

Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

3/28/2022

6/10

This might have been better had Michael Curtiz cast it better, as it is Bradford Dillman delivers us quite an undercooked offering as the eponymous character from 13th Century Italy. The film is colourful and the story gets an authentic Hollywood makeover, but somehow the sentiment of this man who sacrificed much of the trappings of his fairly well-to-do family life is lost amongst the showier elements of the production. The plot centres around the lively and rakish "Francis" who returns from his wartime experiences, ostensibly inspired by God to set up his own religious order. Together with the help of "Clare" (real-life nun Dolores Hart) and with the support of the Pope, they work hard to abide by their chosen vows of poverty and chastity. It is quite an easy watch, but somehow neither lead performance really resonate. This is a story that ought to be inspirational, it ought to evoke emotions and yet, somehow, it is just a rather sterile chronology that offers us a glimpse of their lives and troubles, safe in the knowledge that the actor's air-conditioned Winnebago was just out of shot. The dialogue offers us little by way of interest, either - indeed, dare I say this of anything from this master of the swash and buckle - but this is actually quite dull!

Similar Movies

The Elephant Man

8.0

The Elephant Man

1980

The Last Temptation of Christ

7.2

The Last Temptation of Christ

1988

Camille Claudel

6.8

Camille Claudel

1988

Sing a Song, Poet

3.7

Sing a Song, Poet

1973

Song of Raiyantsuuri

0.0

Song of Raiyantsuuri

1994

The Virgin Spring

7.8

The Virgin Spring

1960

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

6.6

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

2004

Gods and Monsters

7.0

Gods and Monsters

1998

Under the Stars in the Sky

7.0

Under the Stars in the Sky

2025

Amazon Adventure

4.0

Amazon Adventure

2017