Review of Prince of Foxes (1949) by Brian W — 09 Jul 2008

Great movie! Power is in one of his best acting roles. Orson Welles as Cesare Borgia (need I say more?) Renaissance era Italian political intrigue in the best Machiavellian sense, castle sieges, sword fighting, and some of the best location usage ever. I can only say I wish there was a little more swashbuckling swordplay (it is Tyrone Power, after all) but that much action and adventure might have detracted from the serious drama.

On a side note, I am almost certain that fantasy writer Raymond E. Feist took several themes from this movie for his Conclave of Shadows books...an undercover nobleman delving into court intrigue, a foiled assassin becoming the hero's personal assistant, the main character's name in this is Orsini and in the book the main character's tribe is called the "orosini" and even one of the books is called "King of Foxes".