Brancaleone at the Crusades

Brancaleone at the Crusades

Year: 1970

Runtime: 120 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Mario Monicelli

AdventureComedy

After saving an infant of royal blood, knight Brancaleone forms a new army and sets out to return the baby to his father: a prince fighting in the Crusades.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Brancaleone at the Crusades (1970)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Brancaleone at the Crusades (1970). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Middle Ages (Crusades era)

Set during the Crusades in the Middle Ages, the story travels from Italian towns to the Holy Land. The period is marked by clashes between popes, anti-popes, knights, and armies marching for sacred cause. Though presented as a comedy, the time frame anchors the satire to real historical elements.

Location

Norcia, Holy Land, Jerusalem, Palestine

Brancaleone's journey begins in Norcia and carries him toward the Holy Land. From there, the troupe travels toward Jerusalem amid the Crusades, meeting various medieval caricatures. The settings juxtapose rustic Italian towns with sieges and religious politics of the Holy Land.

🗺️ Norcia 🕍 Holy Land 🏰 Jerusalem 🌍 Palestine

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:17

Main Characters – Brancaleone at the Crusades (1970)

Meet the key characters of Brancaleone at the Crusades (1970), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Brancaleone Da Norcia (Vittorio Gassman)

A stubborn, good-humored knight-errant whose bravado masks his insecurity. He chases redemption after his band is nearly destroyed and defends the infant entrusted to him. Throughout the journey, he navigates a string of grotesque episodes that parody medieval stereotypes while clinging to a core of knightly honor.

⚔️ Knight 🛡️ Loyal 🧭 Determined

Tiburzia da Pellocce (Stefania Sandrelli)

A young witch saved from the stake, Tiburzia combines cunning with charm and a growing affection for Brancaleone. She reveals magical abilities and a sharp wit, challenging superstition with pragmatism. Her love ultimately drives key choices and a self-sacrificial act.

🪄 Witch 💞 Love

Zenone (Shel Shapiro)

The mad monk who accompanies Brancaleone on his quest, bringing zeal and chaotic humor. His presence accelerates the troupe into a series of farcical tests of faith and loyalty. He is ultimately killed along with many of the knights in the ensuing chaos.

🧙‍♂️ Monk

Re Boemondo (Adolfo Celi)

Bohemond of Taranto, the military father of the infant Brancaleone delivers to safety. He embodies the military leadership of the Crusades, yet remains a target of suspicion when the child's lineage is in question. His decisions propel the journey toward the Holy Land.

⚔️ Warrior 👑 Leader

principessa Berta d'Avignone (Beba Lončar)

The former leper who is revealed to be a princess in disguise, traveling in relative safety. Her true identity adds a layer of disguise and surprise to the journey. She becomes part of the shifting mix of royal and noble representations encountered along the way.

👑 Princess 🧭 Safe Traveler

Thorz (Paolo Villaggio)

An assassin whose presence introduces a perilous thread to Brancaleone's mission. His antics punctuate the narrative with dark humor and threaten the infant's safety. He serves as a foil to Brancaleone's earnest but flawed heroism.

🗡️ Assassin

Inquisitore (Pietro De Vico)

A representative of religious power who embodies the period's conflict between church authority and secular legitimacy. His scenes highlight the satire of ecclesiastical politics that runs through the film. He interacts with Brancaleone during key twists in the journey.

🔎 Inquisitor

Pope Gregorio (Augusto Mastrantoni)

Papal authority figures appear in the film, including Gregory VII who contends with the anti-pope. His presence frames the comedy as a playful peek into medieval church politics. The interactions with Brancaleone punctuate the satirical lens on authority.

👑 Pope 🏛️ Church Politics

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:17

Major Themes – Brancaleone at the Crusades (1970)

Explore the central themes of Brancaleone at the Crusades (1970), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ Honor & Redemption

Brancaleone carries the weight of a near-disaster when his band is nearly destroyed, and his honor is questioned. He seeks redemption by rescuing a royal infant and delivering him to his father. The arc shows how stubborn loyalty and imperfect heroism can still lead to a noble end. The Grim Reaper's challenge reframes heroism as a matter of courage and mercy rather than obvious victory.

🎭 Satire of Knighthood

The film uses a parade of grotesque stereotypes to poke fun at medieval knighthood. Brancaleone's bungling yet endearing crusaders expose the absurd rituals and pretensions of the age. Encounters with monks, popes, and Saracens are played for laughs while keeping a thread of social commentary.

💞 Love & Sacrifice

Tiburzia's love shifts the arc from conquest to compassion. Her willingness to die for Brancaleone triggers a reversal—death's spell is broken by selfless acts. Her transformation into a raven symbolizes how love transcends death and changes destiny.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:17

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Brancaleone at the Crusades Summary

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Brancaleone at the Crusades Timeline

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