L'invincible cavalier masqué (1963) Online

Ah, the loneliness of a movie without a single review. This Italian swashbuckler, though minor, doesn't deserve such a fate. It tells, in efficient though undistinguished fashion, a familiar tale of an evil nobleman, ensconced in a castle, who oppresses the local population. Though threatened by a revolt and worried by the spread of a plague, the nobleman spends much of his time arranging a financially-advantageous marriage between his beautiful but defiant ward and his foppish, violence-avoiding stepson. Complicating matters is the arrival of a masked swordsman, half-Zorro, half-Robin Hood, who threatens the nobleman even as he charms the beautiful ward. There are no surprises here but things move briskly and the sets and costumes are easy on the eyes. There's even a brief torture scene inside a dungeon for those who like bare-chested-male-bondage.

An Italian/French costume adventure film from no less than Umberto Lenzi, the famed action director. THE INVINCIBLE MASKED RIDER sounds more exciting than it actually is, as by genre standards this is very ordinary fare that does nothing you haven't seen done a million times before. Made in 1963, this is a fairly late addition to the swashbuckling genre, and a far cry from the fine jungle adventure flicks that Lenzi was making with Richard Harrison in the following year.

The story is the usual one about a corrupt nobleman forcing an unlucky bride into marriage. Daniele Vargas chews and rips up the scenery with his larger than life performance. Meanwhile, Helene Chanel is required to do little other than stand around looking lovely and distressed in equal measure. The arrival of a plague and a revolt by some hard-pressed peasants serves to complicate matters. Finally, the titular character shows up, and action ensues. The film has something of a Zorro/Robin Hood vibe going on and despite the frequent action scenes and brisk pacing, is strictly par for the course.