THE LION OF ST. MARK is an action-packed swashbuckler of the kind that the Italians loved making. The director had a prolific career almost entirely devoted to action movies and this might well be one of the best of them; it's certainly an engaging little picture with lots of colour, energy, and excitement. The underrated Gordon Scott plays a man fed up with the pirate raids that have been taking place on the coast around Venice, so he decides to don a Zorro-style disguise and take the fight to the enemy. This is one of those films where an energetic sword fight pops up every five minutes or so and the toughness of the bad guys is only matched by the resolution of the hero. Gianna Maria Canale has a strong supporting role as a female pirate and overall this is a fast and fresh viewing experience.
Review of The Lion of St. Mark
