History,Adventure,Drama
France,Italy,Spain
The Colossus of Rhodes is a 1961 historical epic film directed by Sergio Leone. It tells the story of Darios, played by Rory Calhoun, who is a Greek general and war hero. Darios arrives in Rhodes to seek refuge after his ship is wrecked in a storm. He soon becomes embroiled in a plot to overthrow the tyrannical king, Serse, who is ruling with an iron fist.
Darios meets a group of Rhodian patriots who are planning to launch a rebellion against the king. They have come up with a plan to steal an enormous amount of wealth from the king's treasury to fund their revolution. Darios agrees to help them, and together they pull off a daring heist.
However, Darios soon discovers that there is a second plot in the works. A group of sinister Phoenician agents has also arrived in Rhodes, and they are working to overthrow the king and take over the island for their own purposes. Darios must navigate treacherous alliances and enemy territory as he tries to stop the Phoenicians from succeeding in their plot.
The film's climax features a spectacular battle scene, in which the Rhodian patriots and the Phoenician agents fight a fierce battle in front of the Colossus of Rhodes, a massive statue that serves as a symbol of the island's power and prestige.
The Colossus of Rhodes was not a commercial success upon its release but has since gained a reputation as a visually stunning and exciting adventure film. It is also notable for being Sergio Leone's first solo directorial effort, and for featuring a score by famed composer Angelo Francesco Lavagnino.
