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. It was a co-production between France, Italy and Spain. It was shot at the Cinecittà studios in Rome with sets designed by Gastone Medin and Vittorio Nino Novarese. It was part of a growing trend of epic historical films of 1950s. In 1954 a dubbed English version was released in the United States by Columbia Pictures.

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