Sword of Venus

Robert Dantes, the rakish son and heir of the Count of Monte Cristo, is framed for murder by enemies of his father who lust after his legacy. Will he, like the original Dantes, escape from prison and take vengeance upon his persecutors? --- This is, admittedly, a somewhat obscure and cheaply made black-and-white swashbuckler, but is reasonably entertaining, if one doesn't expect too much of it. Robert Clarke, who would appear in many low-budget sci-fi films, is a likable hero, and Catherine McLeod does her best to lend some interest to the part of the lady who conspires against Dantes and then falls in love with him. Daniel O'Herlihy, a very fine and perhaps under-appreciated actor, is a first-rate villain, and the rest of the cast is solid. The action scenes and sword fights are amateurishly handled, however, and the settings are scarcely an asset. On the plus side, some interest is afforded by the ladies' gowns, which are more décolleté than one might expect. --- Recommended only for fans of the genre or as a pleasant time killer.