I remember seeing this film on TV as a young teenager and being impressed with the look of Renaissance Italy in 1500. Well, I never saw it again and never came across it in any DVD stores. Then last week I saw it advertised on Amazon and wondered if I'd imagined it being better than it was, so I ordered a copy, a foreign import for Region2. When it arrived I was somewhat startled to find that the box was all in Italian. However, the opening menu allowed for Italian, English or German language version without subtitles showing. As with the original it was b/w but what surprised me was the care which had evidently been taken in researching the dress, armour and weaponry of 1500 in Italy: bombards with stone cannonballs, infantry in tight hose and sallets armed with glaives, missile troops with bows and crossbows and wealthier troops in fantastically decorated sallets and kettle hats. For my money it was better researched than the recently screened Borgias. Orson Welles made for a very sinister Cesare Borgia. The attack on Citta del Monte (a very thinly disguised San Marino) was worth the £12 alone. A recommended rip-roaring 50s yarn and one of the sparks for my interest in the Italian Wars.
Nice review, will keep an eye out for it when I have some spends.
I saw the film once, long, long ago and remember enjoying it. I do have the original novel, which is one that I like to re-read every few years. It's a bit dated in style, being published in 1947, but good fun.
A quick Google says that it's on You Tube. In several parts however.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWByp_TR2wpYsAsEFaJFfk29xHZafJQhW
Not the same as a quality runthrough on the old TV.