Lucrèce Borgia (also known as Lucretia Borgia or Sins of the Borgias) is a 1953 French drama film starring Martine Carol and Pedro Armendáriz. The film was directed by Christian-Jaque, who co-wrote screenplay with Cécil Saint-Laurent and Jacques Sigurd, based on a novel by Alfred Schirokauer. The film tells the story of the Borgia family of Italy during the Renaissance.
It was released on DVD in the US on May 26, 2009.
Plot In papal Rome during the late 15th century, the tyrannical Cesare Borgia (Pedro Armendáriz) ruthlessly consolidates political power across the Italian Renaissance states, exerting total control over his beautiful sister, Lucrezia (Martine Carol). Utilizing political marriages as chess pieces for his territorial ambitions, Cesare plots to manipulate Lucrezia’s domestic alliances. After eliminating her initial husband, Giovanni Sforza, Cesare orchestrates a strategic noble marriage between Lucrezia and Alfonso of Aragon (Massimo Serato), the Duke of Bisceglie.
Lucrezia reluctantly submits to her brother's demands, but during a public street carnival on the eve of the wedding, she encounters and falls in love with a handsome stranger. Upon entering the royal courts for the formal ceremony, she realizes that the unknown man she met at the carnival is her assigned husband, Alfonso. Though initially treating her with suspicion and disgust due to the dark, murderous reputation of the House of Borgia, Alfonso eventually falls deeply in love with her, resulting in a brief period of mutual passion.
However, the political climate shifts, and Cesare begins planning a new, more lucrative alliance with the House of Este to secure northern territories. Viewing Alfonso as a political obstacle, Cesare clandestinely orders his assassination. Following Alfonso's violent murder, Lucrezia is left grief-stricken and passively resigned to her fate. Recognizing her position as a helpless instrument of her family's dynamic ambition, she accepts her brother's latest terms and prepares to leave Rome to marry her next assigned suitor, Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara.
Cast Martine Carol – Lucrece Borgia Pedro Armendáriz – Cesar Borgia Massimo Serato – Duke of Aragon Valentine Tessier – Julie Farmesa Louis Seigner – Mage, Soothsayer Arnoldo Foà – Micheletto Christian Marquand – Paolo Tania Fédor – Vanna Georges Lannes – Ambassador Maurice Ronet – Perott
Notes
External links
Lucrèce Borgia at the British Film Institute Lucrèce Borgia at filmsdefrance.com