Messalina or The Affairs of Messalina is a 1951 historical drama film directed by Carmine Gallone and starring María Félix, Georges Marchal and Memo Benassi. It was a co-production between France, Italy and Spain. It was shot at the Cinecittà studios in Rome with sets designed by the art directors Gastone Medin and Vittorio Nino Novarese. It was part of a growing trend of epic historical films of 1950s.
Synopsis
The film portrays the story of the Messalina, the third wife of the Roman Emperor Claudius.
Main cast
María Félix as Messalina
Georges Marchal as Caio Silio / Gaius Silius
Memo Benassi as Claudio / Claudius
Delia Scala as Cinzia
Erno Crisa as Timo / Timus
Carlo Ninchi as Tauro / Taurus
Camillo Pilotto as Ottavio / Octave
Jean Tissier as Mnester
Jean Chevrier as Valerio / Valerius Asiaticus
Germaine Kerjean as Ismene
Ave Ninchi as Locusta / Locuste
Michel Vitold as Narciso / Narcissus
Giuseppe Varni as Pallante
Luigi Almirante as the jeweler
Lamberto Picasso as the astrologer
Gino Saltamerenda as the brothel's manager
Cesare Barbetti as Lucio / Lucius
Achille Majeroni as Appolonio / Appolonius
Giovanna Galletti as the Christian woman
References
Bibliography
Winkler, Martin N. Cinema and Classical Texts: Apollo's New Light. Cambridge University Press, 2009.