Main Cast: John Derek, Anthony Quinn, Jody Lawrance, Arnold Moss, Eugene Iglesias
Release Year: 1951
Country: US
Run Time: 83 minutes
Plot
Auteur theorists may have trouble discerning the "signature" of director Phil Karlson in the Columbia costume adventure Mask of the Avenger. John Derek stars as Capt. Renatu Dimorna, the son of an Italian aristocrat, who vows revenge after his father is murdered during the European political upheaval of 1848. To this end, Dimorna becomes a dashing Robin Hood type, swashbuckling his way throughout Italy. His principal rival is a traitorous military leader (Anthony Quinn), who is also Dimorna's rival for the affections of a beautiful woman (Jody Lawrance). Production values are quite good in Mask of the Avenger, belying the picture's modest budget. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Mask of the Avenger shouldn't really be as much fun as it is. After all, in terms of its screenplay, there's nothing to distinguish it from any number of other Zorro-like swashbucklers of the period. In some ways, the screenplay hasn't so much been written as it has been compiled -- a little bit from Robin Hood here, a pinch of Three Musketeers there, and some heavy heapings of Zorro and Count of Monte Cristo throughout. Yet despite its lack of originality (and some pretty big plot holes), the script manages to work. Mask also shines even with John Derek in the lead. Derek certainly looks the part, and that helps a lot. His performance, however, is merely echoes of what Errol Flynn would have done in the part -- and yet it's enough to keep the viewer interested in Avenger throughout. Jody Lawrence is no better an actor than Derek, but she's gorgeous and has tremendous sex appeal. And Anthony Quinn's villain is so magnificently entertaining that he simply steals the whole show. Working in a rather unfamiliar genre, director Phil Karlson delivers the goods. And there's some gorgeous Charles Lawton cinematography as an added bonus. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Mask of the Avenger is a 1951 Drama directed by Phil Karlson, starring John Derek, Anthony Quinn and Jody Lawrance. Renatu Dimorna, the son of an Italian aristocrat, who vows revenge after his father is murdered during the European political upheaval of 1848.
