Star of India
Cast & Crew
Arthur Lubin
Cornel Wilde
Jean Wallace
Herbert Lom
Yvonne Sanson
John Slater
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In seventeenth century France, upon returning home from combat, Pierre St. Laurent, a young nobleman, finds that his lands and chateau have been confiscated by Narbonne, the treacherous governor of the province, and sold to Katrina, a beautiful Dutch widow. Katrina agrees to return Pierre's property if he will help her recover the "Star of India," a precious sapphire that Narbonne stole from the Dutch. Pierre obtains an invitation to Narbonne's castle while King Louis XIV is visiting, and by ingratiating himself with Mme. de Montespan, a favorite of the king, discovers that Narbonne keeps the Star of India in the hilt of his sword. Pierre then provokes Narbonne into challenging him to a duel, and after disarming Narbonne with his superior swordsmanship, Pierre extracts the jewel from the sword. After escaping from the castle, Pierre is pursued by the king's men, but manages to return the jewel to Katrina. To protect Katrina from his pursuers, Pierre allows himself to be captured, but later escapes and joins Katrina on a ship bound for Holland. Although Katrina deeds back the property as promised, Pierre, who has fallen in love with her, asks her to return to the chateau as his wife. Before the ship can sail, Narbonne and his men catch up with them. In the ensuing duel between Narbonne and Pierre, Narbonne is killed, thus allowing Pierre and Katrina to face a peaceful life together.
Director
Arthur Lubin
Cast
Cornel Wilde
Jean Wallace
Herbert Lom
Yvonne Sanson
John Slater
Walter Rilla
Basil Sydney
Arnold Bell
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to a March 1952 Los Angeles Times news item, actor Cornel Wilde wanted to produce the film as well as star in it. A Variety February 1955 news item adds that the film, a co-production between the British company Raymond Stross Productions, Ltd. and the Italian company Titanus Films, was completed in 1954. Wilde then filed suit to restrain the film's release because he felt the original dubbing did a disservice to his wife, Jean Wallace, who appeared in the film as "Katrina." Wilde dropped the suit after United Artists Corp. agreed to pay to redub and rescore the film in exchange for distribution rights. A May 1953 Hollywood Reporter news item notes that exteriors were filmed in Turin, Italy and interiors were shot in England. The Monthly Film Bulletin notes that the British release of the film ran 97 minutes.
