Watch Swordsman of Siena

Swordsman of Siena is a swashbuckling adventure film released in 1962 directed by Baccio Bandini and starring Stewart Granger, Sylva Koscina, and Christine Kaufmann. The movie is set in 1555 Italy, in the city-state of Siena, where a power struggle between the residents and the occupying Spanish forces takes place. The story follows Thomas Stanswood (played by Stewart Granger), an English knight who is hired as a mercenary to aid the Sienese.

The movie opens with Stanswood fighting in a tournament where the winner would be given the hand of the beautiful Sienese noblewoman, Bianca (played by Sylva Koscina). Stanswood is victorious, but Bianca is not pleased with the prospect of marrying a man who fights for money. Stanswood is also not fully interested in her, as he has come to Siena for a different reason.

Soon after the tournament, Stanswood is hired by the Sienese council to lead an attack on a Spanish fortification. The plan goes wrong, and the mercenary is forced to retreat, but not before saving the life of a young and courageous boy, Marco (played by Riccardo Garrone), who becomes his loyal ally.

With the help of Marco, Stanswood embarks on a mission to retrieve a valuable Sienese treasure from a Spanish fortress. Along the way, the pair is joined by a group of young Sienese men who are eager to fight for their city's freedom.

The rest of the movie follows Stanswood and his band of rebels as they launch various daring raids against the Spanish forces to weaken their hold on the city. As the violence escalates, Stanswood begins to develop romantic feelings for Bianca and starts to question his motivations for fighting in the war. Meanwhile, Bianca faces pressure from her aristocratic family to marry a nobleman and secure her family's power, but she remains steadfast in her support for the Sienese cause and her affection for Stanswood.

Overall, Swordsman of Siena is a classic swashbuckling adventure movie that is full of action, romance, and political intrigue. It is notable for its strong performances from its lead actors, particularly Stewart Granger, who delivers a charismatic and complex portrayal of a mercenary torn between loyalty and personal gain. The film also boasts stunning cinematography, with breathtaking shots of the Tuscan countryside and impressive fight scenes that showcase Granger's dexterity with a sword.

While the movie adheres to some of the expected tropes of the genre, such as the dashing hero and the beautiful damsel in distress, Swordsman of Siena also offers a nuanced portrayal of the complicated political landscape of Renaissance Italy. The film explores themes of loyalty, honor, and sacrifice, and depicts the Sienese as a people fighting for their freedom against a foreign power. Despite the film's somewhat predictable plotline, Swordsman of Siena is an entertaining and engaging adventure movie that still holds up well over fifty years after its release.

Swordsman of Siena is a 1962 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8.