Francis of Assisi
Brief Synopsis
The story of a lusty, fighting young adventurer who exchanged his sword for a cross.
Cast & Crew
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Michael Curtiz
Director
Bradford Dillman
Francis Bernardone
Dolores Hart
Clare Scefi
Stuart Whitman
Paolo
Pedro Armendariz
The Sultan
Cecil Kellaway
Cardinal Hugolino
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Adaptation
Biography
Historical
Religion
Release Date
Jan
1961
Premiere Information
Chicago opening: 12 Jul 1961
Production Company
Perseus Productions
Distribution Company
Twentieth Century--Fox Film Corp.
Country
United States
Location
Italy; Spain
Screenplay Information
Based on the book The Joyful Beggar by Louis De Wohl (Philadelphia, 1958).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 46m
Sound
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Color
Color (DeLuxe)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
2.35 : 1
Synopsis
Early in the 13th century, young Francis Bernardone, the pleasure-seeking son of an Assisi cloth merchant, becomes increasingly aware of the emptiness of his life. Hoping to find some meaning for his existence, he answers the call of Pope Innocent III and joins the army being formed to liberate Sicily for King Frederick. Accompanying him is Paolo de Vandria, an impoverished nobleman and a close friend. In battle Francis hears a voice commanding him to return home. When he does so, he is branded a coward and traitor and is thrown into prison. Following his release, the Lord's voice again speaks to Francis and orders him to rebuild a church that stands in ruins outside Assisi. Enlisting the aid of farmers and workmen, he reconstructs the church and then forms a religious order, which receives the approval and blessing of the pope. Paolo, meanwhile, has fallen in love with Francis' childhood friend, Clare, the beautiful daughter of the aristocratic Scefi family. But the young girl is so moved by Francis' preachings that she renounces the worldly life and becomes a nun. Blaming Francis for her decision, Paolo, filled with bitterness and hate, rides off to the Crusades. As the Franciscan Order grows, Francis answers a plea from the pope and journeys to the Holy Land, where the crusaders are battling the sultan's forces. By offering to walk through fire to prove the strength of his faith, Francis wins the sultan's respect. He is disgusted, however, by the plunder of the crusaders, led by Paolo. Returning home, Francis is further disheartened to discover that some of the Franciscan brothers have forsaken the vow of poverty. After upbraiding his fellow monks, Francis retreats to a cave. There he resigns himself to progressive blindness and is comforted by Clare. While praying on a hillside he receives the stigmata. On his deathbed Francis is visited by the repentant Paolo and mourned by a crowd of admirers.
Director
Michael Curtiz
Director
Cast
Bradford Dillman
Francis Bernardone
Dolores Hart
Clare Scefi
Stuart Whitman
Paolo
Pedro Armendariz
The Sultan
Cecil Kellaway
Cardinal Hugolino
Eduard Franz
Pietro Bernardone
Athene Seyler
Aunt Buona
Finlay Currie
Pope Innocent III
Mervyn Johns
Brother Juniper
Russell Napier
Brother Elias
John Welsh
Canon Cattanei
Harold Goldblatt
Bernard
Edith Sharpe
Donna Pica Bernardone
Jack Lambert
Scefi
Oliver Johnston
Father Livoni
Malcolm Keen
Guido
Brendan Fitzgerald
Enrico
Fernando Hilbeck
Ricardo
Feodor Chaliapin
Cardinal Savelli
Odoardo Spadaro
Gregory
Leonardo Porzio
Mario
Evi Marandi
Saracen girl
Manuela Ballard
Lucia
Jole Mauro
Elfrida
Uti Hof
Regina
Nicholas Hannen
Beggar
Paul Muller
John Karlsen
David Maunsell
Cyrus Elias
Curt Lowens
Jack Savage
Walter Maslow
Renzo Cesana
Friars
Crew
Benedictines Of Assisi
Coöp
Edward Carrere
Art Director
Franco Ferrara
Music Conductor
James Forsyth
Screenwriter
Franciscan Orders
Coöp
International Film Service
Prod coordinator
Italian Government
Coöp
Vincenzo Labella
Technical Advisor
Hal Lierley
Makeup
Louis R. Loeffler
Film Editor
Annalisa Nasalli-rocca
Wardrobe Supervisor
Mario Nascimbene
Music comp & Arrangements
Joseph Natanson
Photography Effects
Vittorio Nino Novarese
Costume Design
Ottavio Oppo
Assistant Director
People Of Assisi; Perugia; Bevagna; Rome And Oristano
Coöp
Joe Popkin
Unit Manager
Piero Portalupi
Director of Photography
Ferdinando Ruffo
Set Decoration
Walter M. Scott
Set Decoration
Wesley Sherrard
Wardrobe Supervisor
Plato A. Skouras
Producer
Superintendency Of Fine Arts Of Umbria
Coöp
Jack Thomas
Screenwriter
Helen Turpin
Hairstyles
Eugene Vale
Screenwriter
Leo Wilkins
Sound
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Adaptation
Biography
Historical
Religion
Release Date
Jan
1961
Premiere Information
Chicago opening: 12 Jul 1961
Production Company
Perseus Productions
Distribution Company
Twentieth Century--Fox Film Corp.
Country
United States
Location
Italy; Spain
Screenplay Information
Based on the book The Joyful Beggar by Louis De Wohl (Philadelphia, 1958).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 46m
Sound
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Color
Color (DeLuxe)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
2.35 : 1
Articles
Francis of Assisi
The story of a lusty, fighting young adventurer who exchanged his sword for a cross.
Francis of Assisi
The story of a lusty, fighting young adventurer who exchanged his sword for a cross.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Location scenes filmed in Italy and Spain.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Summer July 1961
CinemaScope
Released in United States Summer July 1961
