Based on the adventures of a real villain and ne'er-do-well of the 18th century, Cagliostro, profiled as Joseph Balsamo by Alexandre Dumas, this somber film offers Welles at his most extravagant. As a youth Cagliostro watches his parents executed for witchcraft and vows vengeance on the
world. As a boy he knows he is gifted with hypnotic powers but does not know how to use them. Then, as a grown man (now played by Welles) he meets Antoine Mesmer (Goldner), who is largely credited with the development of hypnotism in the healing of the mentally ill. Goldner teaches Welles his art
and then Welles is off to make his name, curing supposedly incurable people, persuading...
Released:
1949
Rated:
NR
Length:
105 mins