Roland the Mighty
Encyclopedia
Orlando e i Paladini di Francia (AKA: Roland the Mighty) is a 1956 film about the Battle of Roncevaux Pass
in AD 778
, where Roland
, a knight
in the service of Charlemagne
was killed while defending the rear-guard of the Frankish
army as it retreated across the Pyrenees
.
This film was directed by Pietro Francisci
and written by Ennio De Concini
.
Battle of Roncevaux Pass
The Battle of Roncevaux Pass was a battle in 778 in which Roland, prefect of the Breton March and commander of the rear guard of Charlemagne's army, was defeated by the Basques...
in AD 778
778
Year 778 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 778 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* August 15 – Battle of Roncevaux Pass...
, where Roland
Roland
Roland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
, a knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
in the service of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
was killed while defending the rear-guard of the Frankish
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
army as it retreated across the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
.
This film was directed by Pietro Francisci
Pietro Francisci
Pietro Francisci was an Italian film director, best remembered for the film Hercules which inspired the sword and sandal boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Born in Rome, his career took a distinct turn for the worse after he directed the science-fiction film 2+5 Missione Hydra, released in...
and written by Ennio De Concini
Ennio de Concini
Ennio De Concini was an Italian screenwriter and film director, winning the Academy Award in 1962 for the "Best Original Screenplay" for Divorce, Italian Style.-Life and career:...
.
Cast
- Rik BattagliaRik BattagliaRik Battaglia is a retired Italian film actor. He was born at Corbola, near Rovigo, Veneto....
as "RolandRolandRoland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
" - Gino Buzzanca
- Lorella De Luca
- Ivo GarraniIvo GarraniIvo Garrani is an Italian actor. In films since 1952, Garrani is possibly best known for his role as Prince Vajda in Mario Bava's Black Sunday .-External links:...
- Clelia MataniaClelia MataniaClelia Matania was a British born, Italian actress.Born in London, she appeared in British films between 1936 and 1937 and in Italy runs films with Totò-Actress: *Melody of My Heart...
- Fabrizio Mioni
- Mimmo Palmara
- Vittorio Sanipoli
- Rosanna SchiaffinoRosanna SchiaffinoRosanna Schiaffino was an Italian film actress. She appeared on the covers of Italian, German, French, British and American magazines.-Early life:...
- Pietro TordiPietro TordiPietro Tordi was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 100 films between 1942 and 1988.He was born in Florence, Italy.-Selected filmography:* Quo Vadis * Attention! Bandits! * Rome 11:00...