John Seal A stilted historical epic with pretensions of Hollywood grandeur, The Tartars remains a viable option for admirers of sixties Euro-cinema. Victor Mature, looking ridiculous in period garb and elevator sandals, plays Oleg, a Viking prince who's somehow found his way to the Russian steppes, where he's been invited to join forces with the Mongol hordes in war against the opposing Slavic hordes. Oleg refuses and immediately becomes a target for Tartar big man Burundai (Orson Welles, who's clearly enjoying himself). Oddly, IMDb doesn't list a director for the film, but MGM vet Richard Thorpe was at the helm, and his experience directing costume dramas (such as 1954's Knights of the Round Table) is evident. Featuring terrific art design, plenty of action, and a fine score by Renzo Rossellini, The Tartars is clearly head and shoulders above the usual sword and sandal pictures of the period—even though Mature seems out of his (admittedly shallow) depth.

pittplay-1 Sometimes there are films that are so bad they are good, even great, see "Welcome to Woop Woop." (1998) "The Maze." (1953.) The Conqueror" (1956). "I Tarari" (1961) is in this vaulted class of movies. Staring the great Orson Wells and Victor Mature it just collapse under it's own sincerity, what a hoot!. The lines are stock and over blown. Don't bother with the plot what ever it is, just listen to the lines and watch the really bad acting, have a bottle of cheap red wine to get the full effect. I love this movie and give it a 10. It is worthy of an MST3K treatment. Orson Wells must have needed money to make a movie he wanted to make, as others have pointed out in this section. It's a lot of fun to watch with friends.

collegeofuselessknowlege Welles always seemed to need money to make his own movies. He'd take on a role (even if it was just lending his voice) no matter how good or bad the movie was just for the paycheck, saving up until he had enough money to make his next visionary film that was far removed from the normal type that audiences were used to.You can tell by his acting that he really didn't care about the role--but it was the money that mattered to him--and where the money was--no matter what country he had to go to to get it, he'd take the role--even if it was a piece of crock--and this film sure is! But 1961's THE TARTARS helped finance Welles' next movie (Despite, as usual, his having to film it in another country plus having problems getting a US distributor) the following year--1962's Kafka's THE TRIAL.As usual, Welles' small indie film made little money and he barely broke even--but he was already planning Shakespeare's CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT and going through the process once more in acting in any role given to him to get those paychecks in his savings account.

Sleepy-17 This film has a few bizarrely humorous scenes. When the vikings practice shooting paper-mache boulders with their catapults, their leader Victor Mature goes out to be the target, all with that great grin on his face! Welles as the Tartar prince makes goo-goo eyes at his Viking hostage with the plunging neckline, during a banquet which has for entertainment ballet dancers pretending to copulate in front of the dazed guests! Endless shots of armies on horseback riding by, with each shot lasting about twice as long as you'd expect! And then there's the scene where the vikings throw knives at the Romeo-and-Juliet couple in order to register their vote on the couple's fate! And the shots of Orson, huge as a house and shaped like a melon, walking up and down the corridors in his resplendent robes! And the battle scenes are great too, no one ever seems to get hurt! And the viking commandos slip into the river to cross; even though no one's around to see them, they go underwater for a remarkably long time! And then there's the ship which returns to harbor even though no one's got a pulse enough to steer! And then there's the giant sugar cubes being loaded into the catapult! ********SPOILER**** When a wounded Welles (actually a double) falls into the river, it's an absurd echo of "Touch of Evil". Pretty strange stuff.