Condottieri is a 1937 Italian historical drama film directed by Luis Trenker and starring Trenker, Loris Gizzi and Laura Nucci. It portrays the life of Giovanni de' Medici, a celebrated condottiere of the sixteenth century. A separate German-language version was also made.
The film received 9.6 million lire of funding from the Italian government, as part of a major drive by the Fascist authorities to develop the Italian film industry (which also involved the construction of the large Cinecittà complex in Rome). Along with Scipio Africanus, the film was an attempt to harness history to support the Fascist regime's current policies. Condottieri drew parallels between the dictator Benito Mussolini and the historical figure of de' Medici, portraying both as unifying Italy. The film's elaborate sets were designed by Virgilio Marchi and Erich Grave, while Herbert Ploberger produced the costumes.
Cast Luis Trenker as Giovanni de' Medici Loris Gizzi as Malatesta Laura Nucci as Tullia delle Grazie as Maria Salviati as Caterina Sforza Mario Ferrari as Cesare Borgia Angelo Ferrari Giulio Cirino as Rüschli Sandro Dani as D'Argentière Tito Gobbi as Nino Augusto Marcacci as Daniello Nino Marchetti as Corrado as Pedro Ernesto Nannicini Umberto Sacripante as Sanzio Carlo Tamberlani as Duke of Urbino Gino Viotti as Pope Giuseppe Addobbati as Duke of Imola Friedl Trenker as Giovanni Oreste Bilancia Alberto Emmerich Carlo Fontana Tullio Galvani Luis Gerold as Barbo Alberto Minoprio Carlo Simoneschi Virgilio Botti Mara Danieli Claudio Ermelli Carlo Duse
Production Luis Trenker directed and starred in the leading role.
Filming was done on location in Florence in 1936.
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