Wikipedia

Zenabel

Zenabel is a 1969 film directed by Ruggero Deodato.

Zenabel
Italian film poster
Directed byRuggero Deodato
Screenplay by
  • Antonio Racioppi
  • Gino Capone
  • Ruggero Deodato[1]
Story by
  • Antonio Racioppi
  • Gino Capone[1]
Starring
CinematographyRoberto Reale[1]
Edited byAntonietta Zita[1]
Music byBruno Nicolai[1]
Production
companies
  • I.C.A.R.
  • Gemini Pictures International
  • Pierson Production[2]
Release date
  • December 1969 (1969-12) (Italy)
Running time
90 minutes
Countries
  • Italy
  • France

Plot

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The film is set in 1627 and is about a young woman named Zenabel (Lucretia Love) who finds out that she is the daughter of a Duke who was killed by the Spanish Baron Imolne. Zenabel gathers a group of women to lead them to fight against Imolne to exact revenge.

Cast

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Production

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Zenabel was directed by Ruggero Deodato to work again with producer and actor Mauro Parenti, who he had worked with previously on Phenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankhamen.[2] The title role was given to Lucretia Love, Parenti's wife at the time, and Parenti also demanded an acting role for himself, and was given that of the bandit Gennaro.[3] John Ireland played the role of the villain Baron Alfonso Imolde.[3]

The film was shot in Bracciano in Rome and Tuscania.[2] Deodato recalls during a scene in Tuscania's main square where Love's character is about to be burned alive, John Ireland was missing.[3] Ireland was at the Hilton Hotel in Rome waiting for his check as the producer had not paid him yet.[3] When Ireland arrived on set, he refused to give an act in a scene that was to give the signal to light Zenabel aflame.[3][4] Ireland refused to act not knowing the character's motivation, which led to Deodato giving him a dwarf actor in his arms like a baby to light to signal which pleased Ireland and let him complete the scene.[4]

Release

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Zenabel was released in Italy in December 1969.[1][4] Italian film critic and historian Roberto Curti stated that the film was a "financial disaster" in Italy as it was released during the same week as the Piazza Fontana bombing.[4] Deodato later stated that he put his "heart and soul into Zenabel, but the film was affected by the lack of a popular lead actress."[3]

The film was re-released in France in 1975 under the title La Furie du Desir with hardcore pornography scenes added.[5] These scenes were directed by Claude Mulot.[5]

Reception

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In a retrospective overview of Deodato's career, Louis Paul, author of Italian Horror Film Directors, stated that Zenabel was "Deodato's first film where he exhibits a unique persona as director".[6]

See also

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References

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Curti 2016, p. 131.
  2. ^ a b c Curti 2016, p. 132.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Curti 2016, p. 133.
  4. ^ a b c d Curti 2016, p. 134.
  5. ^ a b Paul 2005, p. 119.
  6. ^ Paul 2005, p. 110.

Sources

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  • Curti, Roberto (2016). Diabolika: Supercriminals, Superheroes and the Comic Book Universe in Italian Cinema. Midnight Marquee Press. ISBN 978-1-936168-60-6.
  • Paul, Louis (2005). Italian Horror Film Directors. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-8749-3.
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