''Head of a Tyrant'' or ''Judith and Holofernes'' () is a 1959

historical film A historical drama (also period drama, period piece or just period) is a dramatic work set in the past, usually used in the context of film and television, which presents historical events and characters with varying degrees of fiction such as ...

directed by

Fernando Cerchio Fernando Cerchio (7 August 1914 – 19 August 1974) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed more than 30 films between 1940 and 1972. Selected filmography * ''Men of the Mountain'' (1943) * ''Mistress of the Mountains'' ...

and starring

Massimo Girotti Massimo Girotti (18 May 1918 – 5 January 2003) was an Italian film actor whose career spanned seven decades. Biography Born in Mogliano, in the province of Macerata, Girotti developed his athletic physique by swimming and playing polo. While ...

, Isabelle Corey and

Renato Baldini Renato Baldini (18 December 1921 – 5 July 1995) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 87 films between 1950 and 1983. He was born in Rome, Italy. Selected filmography * ''It's Forever Springtime'' (1950) - Un carabiniere al processo ...

.Parish p.53 An Italian-French co-production, it is part of the boom in

Sword-and-sandal Sword-and-sandal, also known as peplum (: pepla), is a subgenre of largely Italy, Italian-made historical, mythological, or biblical epics mostly set in the Greco-Roman antiquity or the Middle Ages. These films attempted to emulate the big-budget ...

productions during the late 1950s. The film is based on the story of

Judith Beheading Holofernes The account of the beheading of Holofernes by Judith is given in the deuterocanonical Book of Judith, and is the subject of many paintings and sculptures from the Renaissance art, Renaissance and Baroque periods. In the story, Judith, a beautifu ...

. A 1929 film ''

Judith and Holofernes Judith and Holofernes may refer to: * Judith beheading Holofernes, a biblical episode from the deuterocanonical Book of Judith, often shown in art ''Judith and Holofernes'' or ''Judith with the Head of Holofernes'' may also refer to: Artworks 15t ...

'' was also inspired by the tale.

Cast

as Holophernes * Isabelle Corey as Judith *

as Arbar * Yvette Masson as Rispa *

Gianni Rizzo Gianni Rizzo (April 5, 1925 – February 4, 1992) was an Italian film actor. Between 1944 and 1986 he appeared in over seventy films and television productions, in a variety of supporting roles. His screen roles included parts in a number of p ...

as Ozia *

Camillo Pilotto Camillo Pilotto (6 February 1888 Birth name: Camillo Raul Vittorio Pilotto. – 27 May 1963) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 101 films between 1916 and 1963. He was born and died in Rome, Italy. Selected filmography * '' The Song ...

as Belial * Lucia Banti as Servant Girl * Ricardo Valle as Isaac *

Leonardo Botta Leonardo or The Leonardo may refer to: Arts and entertainment * '' Leonardo Journal'', an arts journal * ''Leonardo'' (Italian magazine), a philosophy magazine published in Florence, Italy, in 1903–1907 * ''Leonardo'' (journal), published b ...

as Gabriele *

Franco Balducci Franco Balducci (23 November 1922 – 7 June 2001) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 75 films between 1947 and 1978. He was born in Umbria, Italy. Selected filmography * '' Bullet for Stefano'' (1947) - Giacomo * ''Tempesta su Pari ...

as Galaad *

Luigi Tosi Luigi Tosi (15 July 1915 – 12 March 1989) was an Italian actor. He appeared in more than seventy films from 1944 to 1965. Filmography References External links * 1915 births 1989 deaths Italian male film actors Male actors from ...

as Irasa *

Gabriele Antonini Gabriele Antonini (born 16 April 1938, died October 2018) was an Italian film, stage and television actor. Life and career Born in Rome, the son of an army general, Antonini was chosen by Mario Monicelli for the role of Sandro in '' Fathers and ...

as Brother *

Daniela Rocca Daniela Rocca (12 September 1937 – 28 May 1995) was an Italian actress, model and writer. Biography Rocca was born and raised in Acireale, a small town near Catania. She became Miss Catania in 1953, and was discovered by talent scouts after ...

as Naomi *

Enzo Doria Enzo is an Italian language, Italian given name derivative of the German name Heinz (given name), Heinz. It can be used also as the short form for Lorenzo (name), Lorenzo, Vincenzo, Innocenzo, or Fiorenzo. It is most common in the Romance-speaki ...

as Daniel

References

Bibliography

* Parish, James Robert. ''Film Directors Guide:Western Europe''. Scarecrow Press, 1976.

External links

*
''Head of a Tyrant''
at

Variety Distribution Variety Distribution is an Italian-based film distribution company. It distributes Italian films worldwide, produced from the 1930s onward. History Variety Distribution (formerly Variety Film and Variety Communications) has been in the film ...

1959 films French historical drama films Films about Judith Italian historical drama films 1950s historical drama films 1950s Italian-language films French films based on plays Films about Jews and Judaism Films based on the Hebrew Bible Films scored by Carlo Savina Religious epic films Sword-and-sandal films 1959 drama films 1950s Italian films 1950s French films Universal Pictures films English-language historical drama films Films based on works by Friedrich Hebbel {{1950s-Italy-film-stub

Cast

See also

References

Bibliography

External links