Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World (1961) - full transcript
Sam must rescue a beautiful Chinese princess from a marauding horde of warriors.
MACISTE AT THE GREAT KHAN'S COURT
It's useless.
No one will get the Bell
of Freedom to toll again.
Only Mongolian troops under
the command of the Great Khan
can free China from the rule
of the Tartars.
In the 13th century,
China had been
under the cruel government
of the Tartars for many years.
Emperor Wung
gathered his strongest people,
to give voice to a huge bell,
their symbol of freedom,
but when no strength
was able to make it sound,
he was forced to call some
foreigners for help.
The Great Khan of the Mongols
accepted the invitation
and threw the Tartars out
of the Celestial Empire.
The Chinese people received him
as a liberator,
without realizing that he was going
to become their new master.
Honor and glory to the
Great Khan of the Mongols
who has agreed to put
his powerful army
to get back the freedom
of our country.
The sovereign of our Celestial Empire
is waiting for you at the palace,
to celebrate magnificently your coming
and your victory, great commander.
Our people will accept hospitably
your soldiers like brothers,
recognizing their courage.
What does this dance symbolize?
The eternal struggle
between good and evil.
Of course,
does good always win?
Sure.
With your leave, Son of Heaven,
to thank you for your show,
I'd like to offer you another
prepared by us.
- What is he going to do?
- This is very strange.
What is it?
You will see.
Patience is the best of virtues.
Stop, Bayan!
The killer shouldn't die.
He will tell us the name of the
traitor before being punished.
Torture will make him talk.
Take him away!
Who ordered you to kill the Emperor?
Talk!
Give it another turn of the screw.
Are you going to talk?
Who ordered you to kill the Emperor?
Don't abuse my patience.
Well, are you going
to talk outright?
Who is responsible
for your crime?
Turn the crank once more.
Go on.
It's enough!
Give it another turn!
He's dead.
It's a shame.
One cannot speak
if his tongue was cut out.
I will keep this symbol of power
until the day the crown prince
accedes to the throne.
Announce to the people
that Princess Lei-ling
will be entrusted to care
of the holy monastery of Tang.
She'll be there studying the
principles of the nation's religion.
The prince will remain in court,
where he will get the proper education
to take the throne.
Until then, I assume the role of
regent of the Chinese Empire.
Ten years have passed.
The Chinese people are subjected to a
tyranny worse than that of the Tartars.
The great Khan of the Mongols
has enslaved
those to whom he promised freedom
and has plunged the country
into misery and starvation.
Foci of revolt emerged throughout
China, but all attempts were in vain.
The new rulers have no limit
in the ferocity of the punishments
and the cruelty of the reprisals.
The sad mass of servants
is joined by the long and tragic
mass of the doomed.
Get ready.
Mongolian soldiers were
killed in the vicinity of this village.
The Great Khan,
in the name of law and justice,
has ordered that for
every dead soldier,
ten hostages must be beheaded.
They keep on attacking and escaping,
vanishing into thin air.
Reprisals and punishments
are not possible
because of the silent network
of complicity that protects them.
Your father's enemies can't live
under your roof.
May the enemy always find you
wielding the sword.
It's their law.
For them you're the enemy.
If you were crowned Emperor of China,
things would change.
There he is.
The future Emperor of China.
Soon he will come of age and it will
be hard for me to keep him in check.
Prince Tai-Sung loves hunting.
And hunting is dangerous.
Accidents are quite common.
We have little Lei-ling,
locked in that distant convent.
Some false rebels could ask
the nuns for shelter.
There would be reprisals.
The princess would be executed
by mistake
and the blame would fall
on the rebels.
The princess will have changed a lot.
It's been 10 years.
She has the Imperial Dragon
tattooed on her arm.
It will be easy to recognize her.
An unfortunate fate is written
for these children.
Always stay with me, Liu Tai.
It's good for the peace of my soul.
I've always been by your side
and I will remain when you become
Lord and Ruler of this country.
Come with me.
Young prince,
we decided to celebrate
your birthday with a big hunt.
It's the best gift I could receive.
I'll go this way;
you will go around the swamps
and you, Tai Sung, will stay
next to the tiger trap.
Let's see who the best hunter is.
Just wait for the tiger to show up
and I'll bring you its skin
to decorate your throne.
Bayan,
I entrust you with the safety
of the prince.
Let your soldiers hurry. The convent
of the Buddhist nuns isn't near.
Whoever commands them
shouldn't forget the dragon tattoo.
Make haste!
Put him in the tiger trap.
No!
Hurry up!
Hurry up!
The tiger isn't far away.
No!
Now cover it.
Quick!
Climb up the tree.
Help!
Help!
Attention!
The princess has a dragon tattoo
on her left arm!
Look everywhere!
Search for her!
She shouldn't escape!
What do you want?
Who are you?
Who are you?
Don't be afraid, stranger.
You're welcome here.
The one who is with you
is Prince Tai-Sung.
He is hurt.
What happened?
Tell us, who are you?
My name is Maciste.
I was born from the rock.
Tell me, where do you
come from, Maciste?
From a great distance.
Come in.
If you hate the invaders of China,
this is your home.
Take the prince from him
and carry him to my cell.
Be careful.
I am the mind that leads the people
who fight the Mongol oppressors.
Chu, unlike me, is the sword
that always strikes wherever he is.
He must be a man of great courage.
I would like to know him.
If you want to join our fight, you'll
find him long before you imagine.
The prince is resting in bed.
His wounds are not serious.
He will get over them soon.
Glad to hear that.
However, if the Great Khan
ordered to kill Tai-Sung,
we'd better make him believe
that his plan was successful.
Wai-Tung!
Go to the forest
and make the tiger's body disappear.
But don't erase its tracks.
What about the bodies
of the three guards?
When the Mongols find their
companions with claw wounds,
they will think that the tiger
attacked and killed them.
Tao is our high priest.
He lives in the Imperial Palace.
We'll send him the prince's clothes to
make the Khan believe that he's dead.
You've let the princess get away.
Traitors!
Forgive me, sir.
Maybe she was killed.
Maybe, maybe, why "maybe"?
My orders should not be answered
with a "maybe".
Prince Tai-Sung may have also died,
but his body vanished
into thin air.
Forgive me, sire.
I did everything I could.
Well, you haven't done enough.
I cannot allow mistakes or slip-ups
in such serious matters.
Take him away!
You'll pay for it with your life.
No, my lord!
No, no, no!
I no longer have tears to shed.
Death and misfortune have spread
their black wings over our land.
Does this belong to Prince Tai-Sung?
Some of our monks on pilgrimage
who were returning to the monastery
saw a tiger
dragging the remains of a boy.
But before they could help him,
the beast escaped, hauling the
body of the child into the forest.
The monks have only been able to
collect the clothes of the poor victim
as a proof of his misfortune.
I've had the bitter fate
of recognizing
in the midst of these dirty
and bloody clothes
my beloved lord's mantle.
My heart bleeds
at such horrible news.
I will make it public so that
all the people mourn with us
the death of the prince.
Wang's tavern?
Yes, it's straight ahead.
Turn right and you'll find it.
Wang's tavern?
That one over there.
7, 4, 8, 4, 5, 6...
3, 9, 7, 4, 4...
Hello, my friend.
Welcome to my humble tavern.
Give me your hand.
I want to make sure that
this ring fits your finger.
I'm sorry.
It's too big for mi finger.
But I know someone
whom the ring fits perfectly.
Follow me.
This stranger wants
to try a ring on your finger.
Go away.
I was waiting for you.
I'm Cho.
How did you know I was coming?
I know a lot about you.
Knowing that you are a friend feeds
my hopes for good things to come.
I heard that you are a man
up for anything.
A man without courage is
like a sword that has no edge.
Together we can do
a lot of things.
How is the prince you saved?
Better with every passing day.
No!
Help!
- I'm going to teach you!
- Leave me alone!
Stop messing around!
No!
Innkeeper!
What do you want?
A room for me
and my little flower.
Get your hands off the girl!
Who are you to tell me what to do?
Mind your own business!
Leave me alone!
I'm going to give you
what you deserve!
Move over!
I told you to let go off that girl!
Need a better explanation?
Who's responsible for this?
A raving lunatic!
He's in the tavern!
Follow me.
There is nothing to fear,
but you'd better get out of here.
Listen...
Thank you.
Is there any other way out?
Yes, on the other side
of the basement.
Go with him.
See you at the monastery.
I will take care of the guards.
Go!
The guards!
The guards!
Stay where you are!
Be still!
Go back!
Answer me. Are you the one
that gave that poor man a beating?
A beating?
I was just teaching him
some acrobatic exercises
and he went through the window.
Are you trying to make fun of me?
Even if I wanted to,
I couldn't make fun of you.
Your face tells me
that you are very smart.
A stretching of muscles on the
torture rack would do you good.
Gee!
That's a cure I don't know about.
Have you already tried it?
It is more suitable for you.
Be careful, I don't like your insolence.
Look, I'm not being insolent.
It better be that way or I'll have
to wipe that smile off your face
Really?
Now it's you who is being insolent.
I find it fun,
but I'm in a hurry
and can't waste my time.
So I should respond to that
as soon as possible.
Seize him!
Seize him!
I apologize for what happened,
but it wasn't my fault.
Sometimes misfortune
turns into a blessing.
Goodbye, my friend.
Is there some rice for me?
I've been trying all day
to forget your face
and your eyes.
But I can't.
Say, who are you?
Is that old man a relative of yours?
Then, ?is he a friend of the one
who accompanied you?
Are you in love with your companion?
No, it's not possible.
I can't imagine you in love
with a man like that.
You are so innocent.
Would you mind my staying here?
You know, every night
I have to change my nest.
Hide each time
in a different place.
Are you hiding?
Why?
Because it's not difficult
to dodge a spear in the daytime,
but it is to avoid
an arrow in the dark.
Whose arrow?
From some soldier
of the Great Khan.
I am a rebel.
The Mongols will continue
torturing China
until our flesh-and-blood compatriots
can drive them out of our country.
Keep talking, please.
What do you want to know?
Why do I hate Mongolians?
Because they are oppressors,
invaders of our land.
They plunge their bloodstained hands
into our most sacred treasures.
I don't know
why I am telling you this.
Because I can understand
them perfectly.
Understand them?
Such a young girl?
Do you know this symbol?
It's the Imperial Tattoo.
Forgive me.
I didn't know who you were.
You can't stay here.
We need to find a safer place.
Where?
They're looking for me everywhere.
Nobody will find you in our
hiding place in the mountains.
Tell me, who are you?
I do not know your name.
My name is Cho.
Cho?
The leader of the rebels?
I've heard a lot about you.
Forgive me, but I have to leave.
Are you going to leave me
here alone?
Do not worry.
I will be back soon.
I have to find a way
to get you out of here.
Move over!
Get out of the way!
No!
My son! It's my son!
What has he done?
They consider him a rebel.
Someone has betrayed him.
Do not despair.
It shall end soon.
Run!
It's a trap!
Seize him!
Let me go!
No!
Take her away!
Hurry up!
Come on!
Move yourself!
Quickly!
Come on!
Hurry up! Go!
Your information proved to be
precise and very useful.
You.
No, no.
You must take advantage
of the strength and impetus
of your adversary and make them
your allies, all right?
Wait.
Stand up.
Fight among yourselves.
Watch the positions.
Again.
Go ahead.
From the beginning.
Well done.
You.
Attack him.
How can I do that?
He's the prince!
If he were a Mongolian,
you wouldn't care
whether he was a prince
or a beggar.
Go on.
Come with me!
We found him by the river.
He was hit by an arrow.
Ma... Maciste...
Tell me.
Princess Lei-ling was
captured by some soldiers.
She's in danger.
They're going to kill her!
They will kill her!
They are rebels.
They have been in agony
for two moons.
You'd better start talking.
Who was the man
who entered the hut?
Where is the rebels' hiding place?
You don't want to talk, huh?
I'll loosen your tongue,
take it for granted.
You're Princess Lei-ling.
Leave her alone!
What a lucky meeting!
Why haven't you talked, princess?
If your tattoo hadn't
given you away,
the executioner would have had
no mercy on you.
Save your irony.
I know that I am your prisoner
and I know the future
you have in store for me.
My prisoner? Oh, no.
You mean my guest.
Or rather,
the queen of this palace
and all the surrounding land.
You have nothing to fear.
I will not renege
on the promise I made
before your poor father's
lifeless body.
Those who raided your convent
have paid with their lives.
Follow me, princess.
Come with me.
Today is a day of great joy
for China.
What are you waiting to kill her?
Do you want the Chinese
to set her free?
Nobody will come to free Lei-ling,
because she's not a prisoner.
She is the queen of this palace
and this city.
She's the Empress of China.
And I will be the Emperor
who'll reign by her side.
What are you talking about?
By marrying Lei-ling in accordance
with the law, I will ascend the throne.
No Chinese will dare
to raise his hand
against the divine sovereign
of the Celestial Empire.
Your guards disturbed my
morning prayers.
Forgive me if I've bothered you,
but I was eager to give you
the good news personally.
You yourself will be officiating
my wedding to Princess Lei-ling.
What you ask is impossible.
Nothing is impossible if I want it.
This wedding is!
Or, at least, it's not possible to hold
the ceremony as quickly as you wish.
You should know that our laws provide
for a long and complicated ritual.
All right.
Only on the condition that the waiting
time is kept to a minimum.
A priest must not serve a sovereign
to carry out an injustice.
It's necessary that I renounce
the priestly ministry
rather than corrupt it with infamous
and despicable actions.
I like neither the tone
of your voice,
nor the things you say.
Don't forget that it's me
and only me
who rules this country.
I don't know how long
I can delay the wedding.
Therefore we must hurry
if we want to save the princess,
and with her the whole of China.
If the Grand Khan marries the princess,
that will be the end of us.
The throne will legally belong to him
and we won't be able to rebel.
We must go to the palace.
And kidnap the princess.
You are still very weak.
We have to take action.
Even at the cost of losing our lives
in the attempt.
I'll go to Beijing.
I will slip into the palace
and with the help of the high priest,
I will free Lei-ling.
But then...
your life will be in danger.
I'm not Chinese, but
my love for justice
has no limits whatsoever.
It's not related to the race
and language of the people.
We must notify the high priest
of Maciste's arrival.
Our little friend
is a wonderful messenger.
A strong and generous man
is on his way to the palace,
to free the princess.
You'll find him in the weapons room
when the moon is very high in the sky.
The others will be ready
next to the monastery.
Let's save Lei-ling
and with her the whole of China.
By order of the Great Khan,
head of the Mongols and now
regent of the Celestial Empire,
eight rebels, guilty of crimes
against the security of the state,
have been sentenced to death.
But the Great Khan, in his infinite
goodness and wisdom
and to honor his marriage
to Princess Lei-ling,
has decided that only five of them
will be executed in public
with a new system of his invention
that will be shown to you right now.
Instead of the heads
of the condemned,
we have placed
some painted pumpkins,
which will be cut off
by the blades under the cart.
Proceed with the demonstration!
Here are the names
of the lucky three men.
Get him!
Over there!
I saw that you were in danger
and I've saved you.
You are Tao, the high priest.
I've heard that a strong man
had joined us
and my old heart rejoiced
like the roots of an old oak tree
burned by the hot summer sun
when the first autumn rain comes.
But tell me,
why did you come here?
To free Princess Lei-ling.
They sent you a message
telling you that I was coming.
It didn't reach me.
This makes me think
that our enemies
are looming more
and more over us.
Anyhow, I'll try to help you.
As soon as it gets dark
I'll be waiting for you
in the throne room,
to take you to the princess.
I was waiting for you.
If you were able to enter the palace
without being caught, you owe it to me.
The high priest, as you see, can do
nothing more to help you now.
When a ruler wants a dead minister,
the minister dies.
Don't fear for your life.
Nobody knows you are here
except me.
I know the motive
that brought you here.
That's why I helped you.
I also want to prevent that wedding.
I'll take you to Lei-ling
to help you escape from here.
All right.
Guide me.
No. Don't worry.
They will sleep for a long time.
I've been cautious.
Lei-ling.
Don't be scared.
Cho sent me here
to help you.
Cho?
Tell me, what happened to him?
Is he safe?
He's wounded.
It's his wound serious?
Yes, very serious.
But only the wound of his soul,
not the physical one.
Only you can heal it.
Hurry up!
This way.
Quickly!
The princess has escaped!
Make haste!
Raise the alarm!
Now think about saving yourself.
I'll never forget
what you did for us.
I did it for me.
Not for you.
Look, hoof prints of two horses.
They will be far away by now.
Brother!
Lei Ling!
We're very grateful to you.
If you hadn't made it,
it would've been our end.
I'm glad to see you again.
Princess...
Princess?
You didn't call me that
when I was at that hut by the river.
Many things have changed
since that night.
You are Lei-ling, the daughter
of the Emperor of China,
and I'm just Cho, a fisherman
who is the son of a fisherman.
I can't call you
any other way now.
It's useless for you to deny it.
The veil that you lost
last night betrayed you.
Tell me,
where did they plan to go?
Vinegar and salt.
It makes people open up!
Keep whipping her.
No! No!
I'll tell you everything!
Stop!
Stop!
Talk.
Where is their hiding place?
No, no! You're wrong!
You are completely wrong!
I don't know how to convince you
that you're wrong, Cho.
Your attitude is nothing but
stupid stubbornness.
You can't understand it.
I just know you love Lei-ling,
and Lei-ling loves you.
That should be enough.
But you don't have the
courage to admit it.
Don't you know what
our destiny is?
Lei-ling's destiny is the Imperial
Palace, sharing your throne.
Mine is the river and to go on
being a fisherman.
Men should be judged for what
they are worth and for what they do.
My father wrote that down
and I learned it from him.
Remember this.
Come on, let's go with Lei-ling.
And don't forget that
now you are the chief, our leader.
Mongols!
The Mongols are coming!
They are well armed.
There are several hundreds.
It's a true army.
Liu Tai might have betrayed us.
Can we defend ourselves?
We'll do our best. The place
is good for resisting the attack.
Can we defeat them?
I don't know.
There are a lot of them.
Let's go.
Hurry up!
Over there!
Wait.
What are you doing?
You are the son of an emperor.
You cannot fight.
Please run away!
It's my duty, sister.
I'll do it for my people.
But you're still a baby, Tai-Sung.
I would be a coward
if I ascended my father's throne
without having fought
to win it back.
Even if you get involved in the battle,
that won't decide its fate.
Others will follow my example.
No!
Tai-Sung!
It's up there!
Here begins a secret corridor that
goes through the whole mountain.
It could lead us safely
to the other side.
But for centuries the rocks have been
blocking it, rendering it useless.
It's our only hope right now.
Tell the people to go to the monastery.
Quick!
Go back to the monastery!
Hurry up!
Everybody back!
Run!
Faster!
Come on!
Go away!
Run before it's too late!
Quick!
Try to hold up the Mongols
for as long as possible.
Come on, break down the door!
Bring the ladders.
Go up! Up!
Come on!
Hurry up with the log!
What are you waiting for?
You must leave the monastery!
You can't stay here!
You can't stay here!
They will kill you all!
You have to believe me!
Quick!
The Mongols will have no mercy on us.
This is our house.
We cannot leave it.
Our destiny is written
in the book of the Eternal.
You go first.
No, I'm going with you!
Faster!
Faster!
Come on!
Forward!
Forward!
No, prince! No!
Tai-Sung!
- Take him with you!
- No!
A holy hermit has lived up there
for a long time.
He remains silent.
Nobody knows how he can live.
But perhaps he'll answer you and
advise us about what we should do.
Listen to me, old sage.
I am Maciste.
And they are...
people who suffer.
People of your country.
They fought and died to free
their homeland.
And this is little Tai-Sung.
The only son of the emperor,
his heir.
Killed while he was
defending his people.
Even being so young, he didn't
hesitate to give his life.
Just like all of us!
Now these people need your help,
to know which way to go.
You can give us advice.
if despair and pain
mean something to you,
I implore you!
Help them!
I know there is faith and goodness
in your actions
and also in your words.
It's not hatred that drives you
to fight this battle,
neither is it ambition
nor revenge.
I can see that you are a generous
man who fights for good
and for justice.
Thus, listen to my voice.
Listen carefully, Maciste.
The sound of the bell
is the song for the dead.
The sound of the big bell
with an icy blow of death
will be the hymn
for the resurgence of the living.
We are grateful to you, old sage.
Maciste will do everything
within his reach.
Being silent,
he kept death away.
But he has agreed to die
in order to help us.
We must make that bell sound
by all means.
The strongest people
tried in vain.
Only a miracle could help us.
Chinese people are just
waiting for a sign
to create an army and
get ride of the oppressors.
I'll get it.
I'm going with you.
But this is impossible.
They'll discover you.
Don't worry, princess.
We'll be careful.
The moment has come.
The situation is appropriate.
We can't lose more time.
You'll see, the luck will favor us.
But... But how do you
want to find the bell?
It's in the palace garden.
And the garden
is some kind of a maze.
How do you want to get
into the garden unnoticed?
I must try.
No, Maciste. You've already done
a lot for China.
And you too.
Instead I...
What do you mean?
I've learned many things
these days.
And my brother's death
won't have been in vain.
I will return to Beijing.
The Great Khan will be
glad to marry me.
I am sure that this marriage
will bring back the peace to China.
No way!
I'll stop you from doing that madness!
No, Cho.
I know that
when I arrive at the palace,
the guards will open the doors
as soon as they see me.
I will follow you at some
distance to protect you.
Meanwhile you'll go to Beijing.
When you hear the first toll, you will
attack the city with your supporters.
I'll take care of the guards.
Your decision, Princess Lei-ling,
proves your wisdom
and my heart rejoices at the news.
I've been always waiting
for someone like you
Soon we'll celebrate our marriage with a
magnificence never seen before in China.
I hope to be a good wife,
Great Khan.
But I think I don't qualify
to be a good empress.
Don't worry about that.
I'll take care of the governing.
You just need to make
your master happy.
I am your master and your servant
at the same time.
Hurry up.
The bell is over there.
- The bell!
- The bell!
The bell!
The time for freedom is upon us.
That's why you returned to the palace!
To stab me in my back!
But you won't taste
the fruit of your betrayal.
You will die like the others
who were opposed to my will.
Close the door!
Princess Lei-ling!
What happens?
Go on.
Quickly.
Go!
Go!
Put him on the floor.
Right here.
On the floor!
Luckily,
the legend of the strong
and invincible man is over.
- What can you tell me?
- He's dead.
His soul, as well as his blood,
has left his heart.
This is the end of us.
We're finished.
Now I'd like to see if the rebels
still have the courage to attack us.
Call everybody so that whoever
dares to rebel
will learn that it's useless
to fight against me.
Bury him in the deepest
subterranean room
to keep his body and even
his soul imprisoned forever.
Come on, take him!
Quick, quick!
Make haste!
Go!
Maciste did a great thing.
Now it's up to us
to take the initiative.
Forward!
The rebels have fallen into the trap!
Surround them!
Let's wipe them out!
We wont' forgive anyone this time.
I'm talking to you, Maciste.
Listen to my voice.
Leave the land of the dead
and come back to life
to make justice triumph.
You are going to die. Each and
every one. You'll be satisfied.
Our death won't be in vain.
Thousands will follow us
and they'll expel you of our land.
If you mean those dirty wretches
out there,
don't count on them.
Believe me.
They will see the show, too,
and afterwards, they'll return home
with their tails between their legs.
You're the first!
Tell me the truth.
Are you frightened?
Call out to Maciste and ask him
to release you.
Sometimes life can come from death,
This has happened
for me and for you.
With your marriage,
a new dynasty has been born.
I am sure that henceforth
there will be peace and justice for all.
Why are you leaving?
In the same way fate brought me here,
it will take me to another place
where I can can help good
in its eternal battle to defeat evil.
Be happy.
Translation from Italian
and subtitles made by gamboler
It's useless.
No one will get the Bell
of Freedom to toll again.
Only Mongolian troops under
the command of the Great Khan
can free China from the rule
of the Tartars.
In the 13th century,
China had been
under the cruel government
of the Tartars for many years.
Emperor Wung
gathered his strongest people,
to give voice to a huge bell,
their symbol of freedom,
but when no strength
was able to make it sound,
he was forced to call some
foreigners for help.
The Great Khan of the Mongols
accepted the invitation
and threw the Tartars out
of the Celestial Empire.
The Chinese people received him
as a liberator,
without realizing that he was going
to become their new master.
Honor and glory to the
Great Khan of the Mongols
who has agreed to put
his powerful army
to get back the freedom
of our country.
The sovereign of our Celestial Empire
is waiting for you at the palace,
to celebrate magnificently your coming
and your victory, great commander.
Our people will accept hospitably
your soldiers like brothers,
recognizing their courage.
What does this dance symbolize?
The eternal struggle
between good and evil.
Of course,
does good always win?
Sure.
With your leave, Son of Heaven,
to thank you for your show,
I'd like to offer you another
prepared by us.
- What is he going to do?
- This is very strange.
What is it?
You will see.
Patience is the best of virtues.
Stop, Bayan!
The killer shouldn't die.
He will tell us the name of the
traitor before being punished.
Torture will make him talk.
Take him away!
Who ordered you to kill the Emperor?
Talk!
Give it another turn of the screw.
Are you going to talk?
Who ordered you to kill the Emperor?
Don't abuse my patience.
Well, are you going
to talk outright?
Who is responsible
for your crime?
Turn the crank once more.
Go on.
It's enough!
Give it another turn!
He's dead.
It's a shame.
One cannot speak
if his tongue was cut out.
I will keep this symbol of power
until the day the crown prince
accedes to the throne.
Announce to the people
that Princess Lei-ling
will be entrusted to care
of the holy monastery of Tang.
She'll be there studying the
principles of the nation's religion.
The prince will remain in court,
where he will get the proper education
to take the throne.
Until then, I assume the role of
regent of the Chinese Empire.
Ten years have passed.
The Chinese people are subjected to a
tyranny worse than that of the Tartars.
The great Khan of the Mongols
has enslaved
those to whom he promised freedom
and has plunged the country
into misery and starvation.
Foci of revolt emerged throughout
China, but all attempts were in vain.
The new rulers have no limit
in the ferocity of the punishments
and the cruelty of the reprisals.
The sad mass of servants
is joined by the long and tragic
mass of the doomed.
Get ready.
Mongolian soldiers were
killed in the vicinity of this village.
The Great Khan,
in the name of law and justice,
has ordered that for
every dead soldier,
ten hostages must be beheaded.
They keep on attacking and escaping,
vanishing into thin air.
Reprisals and punishments
are not possible
because of the silent network
of complicity that protects them.
Your father's enemies can't live
under your roof.
May the enemy always find you
wielding the sword.
It's their law.
For them you're the enemy.
If you were crowned Emperor of China,
things would change.
There he is.
The future Emperor of China.
Soon he will come of age and it will
be hard for me to keep him in check.
Prince Tai-Sung loves hunting.
And hunting is dangerous.
Accidents are quite common.
We have little Lei-ling,
locked in that distant convent.
Some false rebels could ask
the nuns for shelter.
There would be reprisals.
The princess would be executed
by mistake
and the blame would fall
on the rebels.
The princess will have changed a lot.
It's been 10 years.
She has the Imperial Dragon
tattooed on her arm.
It will be easy to recognize her.
An unfortunate fate is written
for these children.
Always stay with me, Liu Tai.
It's good for the peace of my soul.
I've always been by your side
and I will remain when you become
Lord and Ruler of this country.
Come with me.
Young prince,
we decided to celebrate
your birthday with a big hunt.
It's the best gift I could receive.
I'll go this way;
you will go around the swamps
and you, Tai Sung, will stay
next to the tiger trap.
Let's see who the best hunter is.
Just wait for the tiger to show up
and I'll bring you its skin
to decorate your throne.
Bayan,
I entrust you with the safety
of the prince.
Let your soldiers hurry. The convent
of the Buddhist nuns isn't near.
Whoever commands them
shouldn't forget the dragon tattoo.
Make haste!
Put him in the tiger trap.
No!
Hurry up!
Hurry up!
The tiger isn't far away.
No!
Now cover it.
Quick!
Climb up the tree.
Help!
Help!
Attention!
The princess has a dragon tattoo
on her left arm!
Look everywhere!
Search for her!
She shouldn't escape!
What do you want?
Who are you?
Who are you?
Don't be afraid, stranger.
You're welcome here.
The one who is with you
is Prince Tai-Sung.
He is hurt.
What happened?
Tell us, who are you?
My name is Maciste.
I was born from the rock.
Tell me, where do you
come from, Maciste?
From a great distance.
Come in.
If you hate the invaders of China,
this is your home.
Take the prince from him
and carry him to my cell.
Be careful.
I am the mind that leads the people
who fight the Mongol oppressors.
Chu, unlike me, is the sword
that always strikes wherever he is.
He must be a man of great courage.
I would like to know him.
If you want to join our fight, you'll
find him long before you imagine.
The prince is resting in bed.
His wounds are not serious.
He will get over them soon.
Glad to hear that.
However, if the Great Khan
ordered to kill Tai-Sung,
we'd better make him believe
that his plan was successful.
Wai-Tung!
Go to the forest
and make the tiger's body disappear.
But don't erase its tracks.
What about the bodies
of the three guards?
When the Mongols find their
companions with claw wounds,
they will think that the tiger
attacked and killed them.
Tao is our high priest.
He lives in the Imperial Palace.
We'll send him the prince's clothes to
make the Khan believe that he's dead.
You've let the princess get away.
Traitors!
Forgive me, sir.
Maybe she was killed.
Maybe, maybe, why "maybe"?
My orders should not be answered
with a "maybe".
Prince Tai-Sung may have also died,
but his body vanished
into thin air.
Forgive me, sire.
I did everything I could.
Well, you haven't done enough.
I cannot allow mistakes or slip-ups
in such serious matters.
Take him away!
You'll pay for it with your life.
No, my lord!
No, no, no!
I no longer have tears to shed.
Death and misfortune have spread
their black wings over our land.
Does this belong to Prince Tai-Sung?
Some of our monks on pilgrimage
who were returning to the monastery
saw a tiger
dragging the remains of a boy.
But before they could help him,
the beast escaped, hauling the
body of the child into the forest.
The monks have only been able to
collect the clothes of the poor victim
as a proof of his misfortune.
I've had the bitter fate
of recognizing
in the midst of these dirty
and bloody clothes
my beloved lord's mantle.
My heart bleeds
at such horrible news.
I will make it public so that
all the people mourn with us
the death of the prince.
Wang's tavern?
Yes, it's straight ahead.
Turn right and you'll find it.
Wang's tavern?
That one over there.
7, 4, 8, 4, 5, 6...
3, 9, 7, 4, 4...
Hello, my friend.
Welcome to my humble tavern.
Give me your hand.
I want to make sure that
this ring fits your finger.
I'm sorry.
It's too big for mi finger.
But I know someone
whom the ring fits perfectly.
Follow me.
This stranger wants
to try a ring on your finger.
Go away.
I was waiting for you.
I'm Cho.
How did you know I was coming?
I know a lot about you.
Knowing that you are a friend feeds
my hopes for good things to come.
I heard that you are a man
up for anything.
A man without courage is
like a sword that has no edge.
Together we can do
a lot of things.
How is the prince you saved?
Better with every passing day.
No!
Help!
- I'm going to teach you!
- Leave me alone!
Stop messing around!
No!
Innkeeper!
What do you want?
A room for me
and my little flower.
Get your hands off the girl!
Who are you to tell me what to do?
Mind your own business!
Leave me alone!
I'm going to give you
what you deserve!
Move over!
I told you to let go off that girl!
Need a better explanation?
Who's responsible for this?
A raving lunatic!
He's in the tavern!
Follow me.
There is nothing to fear,
but you'd better get out of here.
Listen...
Thank you.
Is there any other way out?
Yes, on the other side
of the basement.
Go with him.
See you at the monastery.
I will take care of the guards.
Go!
The guards!
The guards!
Stay where you are!
Be still!
Go back!
Answer me. Are you the one
that gave that poor man a beating?
A beating?
I was just teaching him
some acrobatic exercises
and he went through the window.
Are you trying to make fun of me?
Even if I wanted to,
I couldn't make fun of you.
Your face tells me
that you are very smart.
A stretching of muscles on the
torture rack would do you good.
Gee!
That's a cure I don't know about.
Have you already tried it?
It is more suitable for you.
Be careful, I don't like your insolence.
Look, I'm not being insolent.
It better be that way or I'll have
to wipe that smile off your face
Really?
Now it's you who is being insolent.
I find it fun,
but I'm in a hurry
and can't waste my time.
So I should respond to that
as soon as possible.
Seize him!
Seize him!
I apologize for what happened,
but it wasn't my fault.
Sometimes misfortune
turns into a blessing.
Goodbye, my friend.
Is there some rice for me?
I've been trying all day
to forget your face
and your eyes.
But I can't.
Say, who are you?
Is that old man a relative of yours?
Then, ?is he a friend of the one
who accompanied you?
Are you in love with your companion?
No, it's not possible.
I can't imagine you in love
with a man like that.
You are so innocent.
Would you mind my staying here?
You know, every night
I have to change my nest.
Hide each time
in a different place.
Are you hiding?
Why?
Because it's not difficult
to dodge a spear in the daytime,
but it is to avoid
an arrow in the dark.
Whose arrow?
From some soldier
of the Great Khan.
I am a rebel.
The Mongols will continue
torturing China
until our flesh-and-blood compatriots
can drive them out of our country.
Keep talking, please.
What do you want to know?
Why do I hate Mongolians?
Because they are oppressors,
invaders of our land.
They plunge their bloodstained hands
into our most sacred treasures.
I don't know
why I am telling you this.
Because I can understand
them perfectly.
Understand them?
Such a young girl?
Do you know this symbol?
It's the Imperial Tattoo.
Forgive me.
I didn't know who you were.
You can't stay here.
We need to find a safer place.
Where?
They're looking for me everywhere.
Nobody will find you in our
hiding place in the mountains.
Tell me, who are you?
I do not know your name.
My name is Cho.
Cho?
The leader of the rebels?
I've heard a lot about you.
Forgive me, but I have to leave.
Are you going to leave me
here alone?
Do not worry.
I will be back soon.
I have to find a way
to get you out of here.
Move over!
Get out of the way!
No!
My son! It's my son!
What has he done?
They consider him a rebel.
Someone has betrayed him.
Do not despair.
It shall end soon.
Run!
It's a trap!
Seize him!
Let me go!
No!
Take her away!
Hurry up!
Come on!
Move yourself!
Quickly!
Come on!
Hurry up! Go!
Your information proved to be
precise and very useful.
You.
No, no.
You must take advantage
of the strength and impetus
of your adversary and make them
your allies, all right?
Wait.
Stand up.
Fight among yourselves.
Watch the positions.
Again.
Go ahead.
From the beginning.
Well done.
You.
Attack him.
How can I do that?
He's the prince!
If he were a Mongolian,
you wouldn't care
whether he was a prince
or a beggar.
Go on.
Come with me!
We found him by the river.
He was hit by an arrow.
Ma... Maciste...
Tell me.
Princess Lei-ling was
captured by some soldiers.
She's in danger.
They're going to kill her!
They will kill her!
They are rebels.
They have been in agony
for two moons.
You'd better start talking.
Who was the man
who entered the hut?
Where is the rebels' hiding place?
You don't want to talk, huh?
I'll loosen your tongue,
take it for granted.
You're Princess Lei-ling.
Leave her alone!
What a lucky meeting!
Why haven't you talked, princess?
If your tattoo hadn't
given you away,
the executioner would have had
no mercy on you.
Save your irony.
I know that I am your prisoner
and I know the future
you have in store for me.
My prisoner? Oh, no.
You mean my guest.
Or rather,
the queen of this palace
and all the surrounding land.
You have nothing to fear.
I will not renege
on the promise I made
before your poor father's
lifeless body.
Those who raided your convent
have paid with their lives.
Follow me, princess.
Come with me.
Today is a day of great joy
for China.
What are you waiting to kill her?
Do you want the Chinese
to set her free?
Nobody will come to free Lei-ling,
because she's not a prisoner.
She is the queen of this palace
and this city.
She's the Empress of China.
And I will be the Emperor
who'll reign by her side.
What are you talking about?
By marrying Lei-ling in accordance
with the law, I will ascend the throne.
No Chinese will dare
to raise his hand
against the divine sovereign
of the Celestial Empire.
Your guards disturbed my
morning prayers.
Forgive me if I've bothered you,
but I was eager to give you
the good news personally.
You yourself will be officiating
my wedding to Princess Lei-ling.
What you ask is impossible.
Nothing is impossible if I want it.
This wedding is!
Or, at least, it's not possible to hold
the ceremony as quickly as you wish.
You should know that our laws provide
for a long and complicated ritual.
All right.
Only on the condition that the waiting
time is kept to a minimum.
A priest must not serve a sovereign
to carry out an injustice.
It's necessary that I renounce
the priestly ministry
rather than corrupt it with infamous
and despicable actions.
I like neither the tone
of your voice,
nor the things you say.
Don't forget that it's me
and only me
who rules this country.
I don't know how long
I can delay the wedding.
Therefore we must hurry
if we want to save the princess,
and with her the whole of China.
If the Grand Khan marries the princess,
that will be the end of us.
The throne will legally belong to him
and we won't be able to rebel.
We must go to the palace.
And kidnap the princess.
You are still very weak.
We have to take action.
Even at the cost of losing our lives
in the attempt.
I'll go to Beijing.
I will slip into the palace
and with the help of the high priest,
I will free Lei-ling.
But then...
your life will be in danger.
I'm not Chinese, but
my love for justice
has no limits whatsoever.
It's not related to the race
and language of the people.
We must notify the high priest
of Maciste's arrival.
Our little friend
is a wonderful messenger.
A strong and generous man
is on his way to the palace,
to free the princess.
You'll find him in the weapons room
when the moon is very high in the sky.
The others will be ready
next to the monastery.
Let's save Lei-ling
and with her the whole of China.
By order of the Great Khan,
head of the Mongols and now
regent of the Celestial Empire,
eight rebels, guilty of crimes
against the security of the state,
have been sentenced to death.
But the Great Khan, in his infinite
goodness and wisdom
and to honor his marriage
to Princess Lei-ling,
has decided that only five of them
will be executed in public
with a new system of his invention
that will be shown to you right now.
Instead of the heads
of the condemned,
we have placed
some painted pumpkins,
which will be cut off
by the blades under the cart.
Proceed with the demonstration!
Here are the names
of the lucky three men.
Get him!
Over there!
I saw that you were in danger
and I've saved you.
You are Tao, the high priest.
I've heard that a strong man
had joined us
and my old heart rejoiced
like the roots of an old oak tree
burned by the hot summer sun
when the first autumn rain comes.
But tell me,
why did you come here?
To free Princess Lei-ling.
They sent you a message
telling you that I was coming.
It didn't reach me.
This makes me think
that our enemies
are looming more
and more over us.
Anyhow, I'll try to help you.
As soon as it gets dark
I'll be waiting for you
in the throne room,
to take you to the princess.
I was waiting for you.
If you were able to enter the palace
without being caught, you owe it to me.
The high priest, as you see, can do
nothing more to help you now.
When a ruler wants a dead minister,
the minister dies.
Don't fear for your life.
Nobody knows you are here
except me.
I know the motive
that brought you here.
That's why I helped you.
I also want to prevent that wedding.
I'll take you to Lei-ling
to help you escape from here.
All right.
Guide me.
No. Don't worry.
They will sleep for a long time.
I've been cautious.
Lei-ling.
Don't be scared.
Cho sent me here
to help you.
Cho?
Tell me, what happened to him?
Is he safe?
He's wounded.
It's his wound serious?
Yes, very serious.
But only the wound of his soul,
not the physical one.
Only you can heal it.
Hurry up!
This way.
Quickly!
The princess has escaped!
Make haste!
Raise the alarm!
Now think about saving yourself.
I'll never forget
what you did for us.
I did it for me.
Not for you.
Look, hoof prints of two horses.
They will be far away by now.
Brother!
Lei Ling!
We're very grateful to you.
If you hadn't made it,
it would've been our end.
I'm glad to see you again.
Princess...
Princess?
You didn't call me that
when I was at that hut by the river.
Many things have changed
since that night.
You are Lei-ling, the daughter
of the Emperor of China,
and I'm just Cho, a fisherman
who is the son of a fisherman.
I can't call you
any other way now.
It's useless for you to deny it.
The veil that you lost
last night betrayed you.
Tell me,
where did they plan to go?
Vinegar and salt.
It makes people open up!
Keep whipping her.
No! No!
I'll tell you everything!
Stop!
Stop!
Talk.
Where is their hiding place?
No, no! You're wrong!
You are completely wrong!
I don't know how to convince you
that you're wrong, Cho.
Your attitude is nothing but
stupid stubbornness.
You can't understand it.
I just know you love Lei-ling,
and Lei-ling loves you.
That should be enough.
But you don't have the
courage to admit it.
Don't you know what
our destiny is?
Lei-ling's destiny is the Imperial
Palace, sharing your throne.
Mine is the river and to go on
being a fisherman.
Men should be judged for what
they are worth and for what they do.
My father wrote that down
and I learned it from him.
Remember this.
Come on, let's go with Lei-ling.
And don't forget that
now you are the chief, our leader.
Mongols!
The Mongols are coming!
They are well armed.
There are several hundreds.
It's a true army.
Liu Tai might have betrayed us.
Can we defend ourselves?
We'll do our best. The place
is good for resisting the attack.
Can we defeat them?
I don't know.
There are a lot of them.
Let's go.
Hurry up!
Over there!
Wait.
What are you doing?
You are the son of an emperor.
You cannot fight.
Please run away!
It's my duty, sister.
I'll do it for my people.
But you're still a baby, Tai-Sung.
I would be a coward
if I ascended my father's throne
without having fought
to win it back.
Even if you get involved in the battle,
that won't decide its fate.
Others will follow my example.
No!
Tai-Sung!
It's up there!
Here begins a secret corridor that
goes through the whole mountain.
It could lead us safely
to the other side.
But for centuries the rocks have been
blocking it, rendering it useless.
It's our only hope right now.
Tell the people to go to the monastery.
Quick!
Go back to the monastery!
Hurry up!
Everybody back!
Run!
Faster!
Come on!
Go away!
Run before it's too late!
Quick!
Try to hold up the Mongols
for as long as possible.
Come on, break down the door!
Bring the ladders.
Go up! Up!
Come on!
Hurry up with the log!
What are you waiting for?
You must leave the monastery!
You can't stay here!
You can't stay here!
They will kill you all!
You have to believe me!
Quick!
The Mongols will have no mercy on us.
This is our house.
We cannot leave it.
Our destiny is written
in the book of the Eternal.
You go first.
No, I'm going with you!
Faster!
Faster!
Come on!
Forward!
Forward!
No, prince! No!
Tai-Sung!
- Take him with you!
- No!
A holy hermit has lived up there
for a long time.
He remains silent.
Nobody knows how he can live.
But perhaps he'll answer you and
advise us about what we should do.
Listen to me, old sage.
I am Maciste.
And they are...
people who suffer.
People of your country.
They fought and died to free
their homeland.
And this is little Tai-Sung.
The only son of the emperor,
his heir.
Killed while he was
defending his people.
Even being so young, he didn't
hesitate to give his life.
Just like all of us!
Now these people need your help,
to know which way to go.
You can give us advice.
if despair and pain
mean something to you,
I implore you!
Help them!
I know there is faith and goodness
in your actions
and also in your words.
It's not hatred that drives you
to fight this battle,
neither is it ambition
nor revenge.
I can see that you are a generous
man who fights for good
and for justice.
Thus, listen to my voice.
Listen carefully, Maciste.
The sound of the bell
is the song for the dead.
The sound of the big bell
with an icy blow of death
will be the hymn
for the resurgence of the living.
We are grateful to you, old sage.
Maciste will do everything
within his reach.
Being silent,
he kept death away.
But he has agreed to die
in order to help us.
We must make that bell sound
by all means.
The strongest people
tried in vain.
Only a miracle could help us.
Chinese people are just
waiting for a sign
to create an army and
get ride of the oppressors.
I'll get it.
I'm going with you.
But this is impossible.
They'll discover you.
Don't worry, princess.
We'll be careful.
The moment has come.
The situation is appropriate.
We can't lose more time.
You'll see, the luck will favor us.
But... But how do you
want to find the bell?
It's in the palace garden.
And the garden
is some kind of a maze.
How do you want to get
into the garden unnoticed?
I must try.
No, Maciste. You've already done
a lot for China.
And you too.
Instead I...
What do you mean?
I've learned many things
these days.
And my brother's death
won't have been in vain.
I will return to Beijing.
The Great Khan will be
glad to marry me.
I am sure that this marriage
will bring back the peace to China.
No way!
I'll stop you from doing that madness!
No, Cho.
I know that
when I arrive at the palace,
the guards will open the doors
as soon as they see me.
I will follow you at some
distance to protect you.
Meanwhile you'll go to Beijing.
When you hear the first toll, you will
attack the city with your supporters.
I'll take care of the guards.
Your decision, Princess Lei-ling,
proves your wisdom
and my heart rejoices at the news.
I've been always waiting
for someone like you
Soon we'll celebrate our marriage with a
magnificence never seen before in China.
I hope to be a good wife,
Great Khan.
But I think I don't qualify
to be a good empress.
Don't worry about that.
I'll take care of the governing.
You just need to make
your master happy.
I am your master and your servant
at the same time.
Hurry up.
The bell is over there.
- The bell!
- The bell!
The bell!
The time for freedom is upon us.
That's why you returned to the palace!
To stab me in my back!
But you won't taste
the fruit of your betrayal.
You will die like the others
who were opposed to my will.
Close the door!
Princess Lei-ling!
What happens?
Go on.
Quickly.
Go!
Go!
Put him on the floor.
Right here.
On the floor!
Luckily,
the legend of the strong
and invincible man is over.
- What can you tell me?
- He's dead.
His soul, as well as his blood,
has left his heart.
This is the end of us.
We're finished.
Now I'd like to see if the rebels
still have the courage to attack us.
Call everybody so that whoever
dares to rebel
will learn that it's useless
to fight against me.
Bury him in the deepest
subterranean room
to keep his body and even
his soul imprisoned forever.
Come on, take him!
Quick, quick!
Make haste!
Go!
Maciste did a great thing.
Now it's up to us
to take the initiative.
Forward!
The rebels have fallen into the trap!
Surround them!
Let's wipe them out!
We wont' forgive anyone this time.
I'm talking to you, Maciste.
Listen to my voice.
Leave the land of the dead
and come back to life
to make justice triumph.
You are going to die. Each and
every one. You'll be satisfied.
Our death won't be in vain.
Thousands will follow us
and they'll expel you of our land.
If you mean those dirty wretches
out there,
don't count on them.
Believe me.
They will see the show, too,
and afterwards, they'll return home
with their tails between their legs.
You're the first!
Tell me the truth.
Are you frightened?
Call out to Maciste and ask him
to release you.
Sometimes life can come from death,
This has happened
for me and for you.
With your marriage,
a new dynasty has been born.
I am sure that henceforth
there will be peace and justice for all.
Why are you leaving?
In the same way fate brought me here,
it will take me to another place
where I can can help good
in its eternal battle to defeat evil.
Be happy.
Translation from Italian
and subtitles made by gamboler