Stewart Granger was a major star for a time and led the cast of several swashbucklers.
SWORDSMAN OF SIENA (1962) – In the Spanish-controlled Italian states of the 1500s, English mercenary Thomas Stanswood (Stewart Granger) is currently employed by the Italian nobles of Siena. The resented Don Carlos (Riccardo Garrone), Imperial Governor of Siena, is forcing a political marriage between himself and the beautiful Orietta Arconti (Sylva Koscina).
The Imperial Governor hopes to quiet the local rebels by marrying into the revered Arconti family. Because rebels have tried assassinating Orietta to prevent the marriage from taking place, Thomas gets assigned to be Orietta’s bodyguard. She feels she does not need protection and constantly bickers with Stanswood.
Meanwhile, Orietta’s younger sister Serenella falls in love with the mercenary and can tell his sympathies really lean toward the rebels, like hers do. Amid action and intrigues in which Thomas saves Orietta from the rebels called the Ten, Serenella gets killed by Don Carlos’ men.
This pushes Stanswood firmly into the rebel camp, leading him to learn that Orietta also sides with them. The two fall in love. On the day of an exciting horserace between Thomas and one of Carlos’ men, our hero leads an uprising against the Spanish occupiers and Siena is free. 92 minutes. Continue reading
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