''The Island Princess'' ( it, La principessa delle Canarie) is a 1954 Italian-Spanish
adventure film
An adventure film is a form of adventure fiction, and is a genre of film. Subgenres of adventure films include swashbuckler films, pirate films, and survival films. Adventure films may also be combined with other film genres such as action, an ...
directed by
Paolo Moffa
Paolo Moffa (16 December 1915 – 2004) was an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter. He directed seven films between 1943 and 1982.
Born in Rome, Moffa started his career in the 1930s as a script supervisor. Mainly active as ...
.
Plot
The story takes place in 15th-century Spain. Canarian forces rise against Castille. Backup troops arrive on the island of Gran Canaria for aid due to the rising power of the Grancanarians. However, opinions about the war differ in the royal class. Guanarteme, the king and his daughter want peace. On the other hand, the warrior leader and the high priest want war.
One day, Castillian officer Don Hernán falls in love with the king's daughter, despite the difference in their status. The high priest poisons the king fatally, and then tries to marry the princess. Soon after, the embassy of Castille, including Don Hernán, arrives for peace. His confession of love causes war in his camp.
The princess and the high priest marry, despite the Castillian troops advance. The princess runs away with the high priest to the mountains of Tirma. Don Hernán follows them and does not let the princess fall off the cliffs with the high priest. However, she is disgusted by him and utters the torn Guanche oath.
Cast
*
Silvana Pampanini
Silvana Pampanini (25 September 1925 – 6 January 2016) was an Italian film actress, director and singer. She was also the niece of the well-known soprano of the golden era of opera, Dame Rosetta Pampanini. Silvana Pampanini caused a sensation ...
as Almadena
*
Marcello Mastroianni
Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni (28 September 1924 – 19 December 1996) was an Italian film actor, regarded as one of his country's most iconic male performers of the 20th century. He played leading roles for many of Italy's top di ...
as Don Diego
*
Gustavo Rojo
Gustavo Rojo Pinto (5 September 1923 – 22 April 2017) was a Uruguayan-Mexican actor.
Life and career
Gustavo Rojo was born on 5 September 1923 on a German ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. His mother was the prominent Spanish auth ...
as Bentejui
* José María Lado as High priest
*
Elvira Quintillá
Elvira Quintillá (19 September 1928 – 27 December 2013) was a Spanish actress, whose career spanned over six decades.
Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Quintillá began her acting career in 1941, appearing on stage. She married actor José Mar ...
as Tasirga
*
José María Rodero
José María Rodero Luján (26 December 1922 – 14 May 1991) was a Spanish actor, whose career spanned over 40 years.
In 1947, he married with actress Elvira Quintillá, the couple remained together until his death in 1991 while he was prepar ...
as Don Alvaro
*
Félix de Pomés
Félix de Pomés (5 February 1892 – 17 July 1969) was a Spanish footballer, fencer and film actor.