The Mexican release of the original Italian film by Cinemato Grafica Filmex. The original title, Las Esclavas de Cartago (The Slave Girls of Carthage), was released in the US in 1960 under the title, "The Sword and the Cross." Another Italian sword-and sandal epic, The Slaves of Carthage is about two Christian sisters, Esther and Lea, who are sold to Julia, the cruel wife of the Roman governor of Cilicia. A Roman officer, Marcus Valerius, falls in love with Lea, which causes Julia to fly into a rage, torture Lea to the point of blindness, and convince her husband to order a mass execution of Christians. Marcus brings soldiers to save the Christians and Julia is killed. He marries Lea and is elected the new governor of Cilicia. The film is notable for featuring a female crucifixion scene.
The film offers a confusion of titles with the Italian-titled The Sword and the Cross, which was released in the United States in 1960 as Mary Magdalene, and the Italian-titled The Slave of Carthage, which was released in the United States in 1960 as The Sword and the Cross. Adding to the confusion is the male lead in both films being played by Italian actor Jorge Mistral.
The interchangeability of some of the titles and actors only speaks to the popularity of Italian sword-and-sandal or “peplum” films of the late fifties and early sixties. American film distributors could purchase the films at low cost and make tidy profits by marketing them to American movie audiences–regardless of mistranslation of titles.
- Framed: 39 x 28.75 in
- Subject Matter: Christian martyrs
- Created: 1956
- Collections: Biblical Movie Posters