Graf Cagliostro (1949)

Graf Cagliostro: Directed by Gregory Ratoff, Orson Welles. With Orson Welles, Nancy Guild, Akim Tamiroff, Frank Latimore. Hypnotist uses his powers for revenge against King Louis XV’s court.

“Not having readt the story by Dumas,I really donu0026#39;t feel qualified to comment as to this filmu0026#39;s fidelity to the original work.However,it has very little,if anything,to do with the actual history.till,itu0026#39;s a superb example of a cross between swashbuckling and film noir. Has anybody ever commented on the fact that,when Orson Welles did historical or Shakespearean figures,he was really telling so much about himself.Noble,talented,gifted people,whose grandiose designs were brought low by their own tragic flaws.And how good looking he was.If he hadnu0026#39;t doubled his girth in later years,he could have played leading men similar to those of Walter Pidgeon.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e HISTORICAL NOTE:The real Cagliostro was exiled from France in 1789,following the business about the diamond necklace.He then moved to Rome,where he established a Masonic Lodge.Now,in Europe,the Masons are NOT viewed as a menu0026#39;s fraternal organization,as in the U.S.A.,but,rather,as a hot bed of treason,treachery,and heresy.Consequently,he was arrested,and sentenced to be executed.The Pope commuted the sentence to life imprisonment,and he spent the rest of his life in prison.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e MORAL:We really donu0026#39;t need anyone else to foul up our lives,now,do we?We happen to do a great job on our own.”