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Seven Seas to Calais

Seven Seas to Calais (Italian: Il dominatore dei sette mari) is a 1962 Italian adventure film in Eastmancolor and CinemaScope, produced by Paolo Moffa, directed by Rudolph Maté (his final film) and Primo Zeglio, that stars Rod Taylor, Keith Michell, and Edy Vessel.[2] The film depicts the career of Britain's Sir Francis Drake.

Seven Seas to Calais
US theatrical release poster
Directed byRudolph Mate
Primo Zeglio
Written byLindsay Galloway
Screenplay byGeorge St. George
Filippo Sanjust
Produced byPaolo Moffa
StarringRod Taylor
Keith Michell
Edy Vessel
CinematographyGiulio Gianini
Edited byFranco Fraticelli
Music byFranco Mannino
Production
company
Adelphia Compagnia Cinematografica
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • August 1962 (1962-08) (Italy)
Running time
102 min.
CountryItaly
LanguagesItalian
English
Budget$650,000[1]
Box office$2.25 million[1]

Plot

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Francis Drake (Rod Taylor) is one of the leading naval commanders under Queen Elizabeth I of England (Irene Worth). A veteran privateer, master strategist and skilled diplomat, he excels at disrupting Spanish shipping and taking New World gold back to England, defying the Spanish Armada. Elizabeth publicly denounces him as a pirate, but secretly supplies him support and protection.

King Phillip of Spain (Umberto Raho) is not fooled. He refuses to countenance a plot by his advisers to assassinate Elizabeth and place Mary Stuart (Esmeralda Ruspoli) on the throne, removing Drake’s support and leaving him vulnerable. However, Phillip does nothing to stop them from proceeding with the plan.

Drake, freshly knighted for his secret services to the Crown, foils the plot but is unable stop Elizabeth from having Mary executed for her alleged involvement in the attempted coup. Spain is outraged, and the Armada threatens England. Drake’s spies track the Spanish fleet as Drake looks for an opportunity to cripple the Armada before they can invade Britain.

Cast

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Main

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Uncredited roles

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  • Giuseppe Abbrescia as Chester
  • Luciana Gilli as Indian Wife
  • Massimo Righi as Lord of the Royal Court
  • Anna Santarsiero as Indian Wife
  • Gianni Solaro as Admiral Medina Sedonia
  • Jacopo TecchivGarcia
  • Bruno Ukmar as Emmanuel
  • Franco Ukmar as Francisco
  • Adriano Vitale as Recalde

Production

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The film was mainly shot at the Titanus Appia Studios in Rome, but some scenes were filmed at the Bay of Naples.[3] While filming, Rod Taylor was dating Anita Ekberg.[4]

Reception

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According to MGM records, the film earned $1,250,000 in North America and $1,000,000 in other markets, earning it a profit of $293,000.[1]

It had admissions of 534,906 in France.[5]

Biography

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  • Hughes, Howard (2011). Cinema Italiano - The Complete Guide from Classics to Cult. London - New York: I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84885-608-0.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "The Eddie Mannix Ledger", Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study, Los Angeles
  2. ^ "Il DOMINATORE DEI SETTE MARI (1962)". Archived from the original on 29 January 2009.
  3. ^ Hughes, p.40
  4. ^ Stephen Vagg, Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood, Bear Manor Media 2010 p78
  5. ^ French box office for 1963 at Box Office Story
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