Another rousing swashbuckling adventure from the pen of Alexandre Dumas. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. stars as the storied Corsican Brothers.
The story opens with Count Franchi (Henry Wilcoxen) awaiting the imminent birth of his first born and heir. Twin boys are delivered to Countess Franchi (Gloria Holden). Dr. Paoli (H.B. Warner) delivers the news that the twins are in fact Siamese twins joined at the hip. The Count has prepared a celebration nonetheless, however the evil Baron Colonna (Akim Tamiroff) and his men have infiltrated the gathering and attack the Franchi household burning the estate to the ground killing all inside.
Dr. Paoli and dedicated servant Lorenzo (J. Carroll Naish) manage to escape through a secret passage with the twins. The doctor manages to separate the babies in an operation. They are named Lucien and Mario respectively. They then decide that to protect the twins, they should be raised separately. Trusted Franchi friends, the Dupres (Walter Kingsford, Nana Bryant) agree to raise Mario in Paris while Lorenzo takes Lucien to be raised deep within the Corsican forest.
Twenty years later, the boys have grown. Lucien has become a bandit praying upon Colonna's men. Mario meanwhile, has been living the good life in Paris. When they turn twenty-one they are re-united in the forest camp of Lucien and Lorenzo. The two lead separate raids on Colonna and his men, popping up in two separate places to confuse Colonna and his cousin Tomasso (John Emery) in the process.
Countess Isabelle Gravini (Ruth Warrick) whom Mario had met in Paris arrives on the scene having been forced to listen to Colonna's proposal of marriage following the latter's murder of her father. Isabelle is abducted and taken to the Corsican Brothers camp. Since each twin experiences the feelings and pain of the other, they of course both fall in love with her.
Isabelle prefers Mario which causes feelings of jealousy and vengeance within Lucien. Fearing that she has come between the two, she returns to Colonna's house. Mario impersonating a jewel salesman attempts to rescue her. His ruse is discovered and he is arrested by Colonna. As Mario is being tortured, Lucien feels his pain. Will he ride to save his brother? Will the evil Baron be defeated? Who will win the hand of the lovely Isabelle? And, there's a great sword fight at the story's climax, not to be missed.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. had been in films since his childhood. Although he tried not to emulate his famous father, he was always at his best in adventure films. This was his final film before entering WWII after which (six years later) his career never regained its momentum. Akim Tamiroff makes a suitably distasteful and slimy villain. J. Carroll Naish turns in another of his solid supporting roles. Henry Wilcoxen's role is all but too brief, but he does get in a little sword play before his exit. Ruth Warwick makes a fetching Countess worthy of the brothers competition.
Other recognizable faces in the cast include William Farnum (who had worked with Doug Sr.), Henry Brandon. Ric Vallin, Anthony Carouso and Charlie Stevens.
An exciting adventure in the tradition of The Three Musketeers.
The story opens with Count Franchi (Henry Wilcoxen) awaiting the imminent birth of his first born and heir. Twin boys are delivered to Countess Franchi (Gloria Holden). Dr. Paoli (H.B. Warner) delivers the news that the twins are in fact Siamese twins joined at the hip. The Count has prepared a celebration nonetheless, however the evil Baron Colonna (Akim Tamiroff) and his men have infiltrated the gathering and attack the Franchi household burning the estate to the ground killing all inside.
Dr. Paoli and dedicated servant Lorenzo (J. Carroll Naish) manage to escape through a secret passage with the twins. The doctor manages to separate the babies in an operation. They are named Lucien and Mario respectively. They then decide that to protect the twins, they should be raised separately. Trusted Franchi friends, the Dupres (Walter Kingsford, Nana Bryant) agree to raise Mario in Paris while Lorenzo takes Lucien to be raised deep within the Corsican forest.
Twenty years later, the boys have grown. Lucien has become a bandit praying upon Colonna's men. Mario meanwhile, has been living the good life in Paris. When they turn twenty-one they are re-united in the forest camp of Lucien and Lorenzo. The two lead separate raids on Colonna and his men, popping up in two separate places to confuse Colonna and his cousin Tomasso (John Emery) in the process.
Countess Isabelle Gravini (Ruth Warrick) whom Mario had met in Paris arrives on the scene having been forced to listen to Colonna's proposal of marriage following the latter's murder of her father. Isabelle is abducted and taken to the Corsican Brothers camp. Since each twin experiences the feelings and pain of the other, they of course both fall in love with her.
Isabelle prefers Mario which causes feelings of jealousy and vengeance within Lucien. Fearing that she has come between the two, she returns to Colonna's house. Mario impersonating a jewel salesman attempts to rescue her. His ruse is discovered and he is arrested by Colonna. As Mario is being tortured, Lucien feels his pain. Will he ride to save his brother? Will the evil Baron be defeated? Who will win the hand of the lovely Isabelle? And, there's a great sword fight at the story's climax, not to be missed.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. had been in films since his childhood. Although he tried not to emulate his famous father, he was always at his best in adventure films. This was his final film before entering WWII after which (six years later) his career never regained its momentum. Akim Tamiroff makes a suitably distasteful and slimy villain. J. Carroll Naish turns in another of his solid supporting roles. Henry Wilcoxen's role is all but too brief, but he does get in a little sword play before his exit. Ruth Warwick makes a fetching Countess worthy of the brothers competition.
Other recognizable faces in the cast include William Farnum (who had worked with Doug Sr.), Henry Brandon. Ric Vallin, Anthony Carouso and Charlie Stevens.
An exciting adventure in the tradition of The Three Musketeers.