Sign of the Gladiator

Syrian queen Zenobia (Ekberg) takes time out from rebellion against the Roman Empire to fall for enslaved general Marco Valerio (Marchal). He remains faithful to Rome, however, and in the climactic battle receives a javelin in the chest from Zenobia. The general recovers from his wound in time to plead successfully for Zenobia - who's by now up before the Senate in an off-the-shoulder evening dress. Lavishly mounted and splendidly preposterous. Sergio Leone - then Roberti Sergio Leone - was one of the five scriptwriters. Cut by 15 minutes on its first British release. (Auterists may enjoy trying to identify which scenes were directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, who was hired to shoot some retakes.