Messalina (1951 film)

Messalina or The Affairs of Messalina is a 1951 historical drama film directed by Carmine Gallone and starring María Félix, Georges Marchal and Memo Benassi.^[1] It was a co-production between France, Italy and Spain. It was shot at the Cinecittà studios in Rome with sets designed by the art directors Gastone Medin and Vittorio Nino Novarese. It was part of a growing trend of epic historical films of 1950s.

Messalina
A promotional picture for the film featuring María Félix.
Directed by	Carmine Gallone
Written by	Carmine Gallone Vittorio Nino Novarese Albert Valentin Pierre Laroche Cesare Ludovici
Produced by	Carmine Gallone Cesáreo González Georges Lourau
Starring	María Félix Georges Marchal Memo Benassi
Cinematography	Anchise Brizzi
Edited by	Niccolò Lazzari
Music by	Renzo Rossellini
Production companies	Produzione Gallone Filmsonor Suevia Films
Distributed by	CEI Incom
Release dates	4 December 1951 (1951-12-04) November 1954 (1954-11) (US)
Running time	102 minutes
Countries	Italy France Spain
Language	Italian

Synopsis

The film portrays the story of the Messalina, the third wife of the Roman Emperor Claudius.

Main cast

• María Félix as Messalina
• Georges Marchal as Caio Silio / Gaius Silius
• Memo Benassi as Claudio / Claudius
• Delia Scala as Cinzia
• Erno Crisa as Timo / Timus
• Carlo Ninchi as Tauro / Taurus
• Camillo Pilotto as Ottavio / Octave
• Jean Tissier as Mnester
• Jean Chevrier as Valerio / Valerius Asiaticus
• Germaine Kerjean as Ismene
• Ave Ninchi as Locusta / Locuste
• Michel Vitold as Narciso / Narcissus
• Giuseppe Varni as Pallante
• Luigi Almirante as the jeweler
• Lamberto Picasso as the astrologer
• Gino Saltamerenda as the brothel's manager
• Cesare Barbetti as Lucio / Lucius
• Achille Majeroni as Appolonio / Appolonius
• Giovanna Galletti as the Christian woman