"Sign of the Pagan" tends to live in the shadow of the great 1950's Hollywood epics such as "Quo Vadis", "The Robe", and "Helen of Troy" among others.Based on Attila the Hun's invasion of the Roman Empire, "Sign of the Pagan" stars Jack Palance as Attila. Although the script plays fast and loose with history, most of the characters are based on real historical figures including Jeff Chandler's Marcian, who became the ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire.There are some powerful scenes in the film although many of them are shot on foggy, dimly lit sound stages that would suit "Phantom of the Opera". Some nicely rendered glass shots give scope to a few scenes, but the palace interiors are less than sumptuous and look as though they were filmed in a couple of spare rooms at Universal.The film plays up Attila's superstition regarding Christianity, which seems based on fact; one of the best scenes is when Pope Leo I psyches him out and stops the sacking of Rome.One disappointment is the way Attila's death is handled. There are a number of versions about how he actually died, but the most popular is that he burst a blood vessel consummating his marriage to Ildico, a hot Ostrogoth princess (Allison Hayes). A tricky one for a 1950's movie, but director Douglas Sirk and the team didn't even try - she still kills him, but far less spectacularly.It probably doesn't pay to be too pedantic about costuming in a film such as this, but the Roman Army seems equipped with armour and weapons from a far earlier time; this was the early 5th Century AD and things had changed over five-hundred years - the costuming here is a little like making a movie about D-Day with U.S. troops hitting Omaha Beach wearing the uniforms of George Washington's Continental Army.Although it is hard to see a modern audience getting too much out of "Sign of the Pagan" - a mini-series such as "Rome" has higher production values - I still enjoy this film. Maybe its partly nostalgia, but I find it fascinating watching actors as unique as Jeff Chandler and Jack Palance. With chiselled features and prematurely grey hair, Chandler had a great presence even if he was a little wooden, but Jack Palance was a scene-stealer in every film he did, and he made a perfect Attila - all he needed was a bigger horde behind him.

This is a 1954 Universal International film titled Sign of the Pagan , full of historic inaccuracy and being well starred Jack Palance as Attila . It results to be an epic adventure yarn set in 5th-Century about the chieftain Attila the Hun who was a leader of the Hunnic Empire , a tribal confederation consisting of Huns , Ostrogoths , and Alans among others, on the territory of Central and Eastern Europe . There a Roman centurion called Marcian (Jeff Chandler) is captured by en route to Constantinople , but he flees . On arrival, he meets the eastern Roman emperor Theodosius (George Dolenz) scheming with Attila to look the other way while the latter marches against Rome . But Marcian (who really was emperor and succeeded Teodosio) gains the favor of Pulcheria (Ludmilla Tchérina of Red slippers) , lovely sister of Theodosius , who favors a united Empire and plotting against Attila . As Attila marches across Empire to Rome and things look bleak for the weakened imperial forces . Emperor Valentinian III sent three envoys, the high civilian officers Gennadius Avienus and Trigetius , as well as the Bishop of Rome Leo I (Moroni Olsen) , who met Attila at Mincio in the vicinity of Mantua and as the conqueror had an awe of the power of the Christians' God , he obtained from him the promise that he would withdraw from Italy and negotiate peace with the Emperor . Against the ravaging hordes of Attila stood a warrior's might and a people's faith! . Against his ruthless pagan lusts , the power of a woman's love!This spectacular movie contains action , breathtaking battles , thrills , romance , hokey historical events and the crowed scenes of the Huns are impressively made . Big production design , lavishly produced , brilliant photography and rousing soundtrack as you'd expect from Universal International at the time . There takes place a fictitious battle of wits and wills between Attila/Jack Palance and Marcian/Jeff Chandler . Jack Palance dominates with his overacting this historical adventure , while Marciano being grumpily performed by Jeff Chandler . Marcian's character bears remarkable resemblance to General Aecio who vanquished Attile in Chalons . And Pulcheria , who really married emperor Marciano , being decently played by Ludmilla Tchérina . Great support cast provide some solid secondary interpretations such as Allison Hayes as Ildico who was actually wife wife to Attila , Rita Gam , Alexander Scourby , Michael Ansara , Leo Gordon , Eduard Franz as Astrologer , Jeff Morrow and final film of Moroni Olsen . Colorful cinematography in Cinemascope by Russell Metty . Evocative as well as thrilling musical score by two Hollywood classic composers , Hans J. Salter and Frank Skinner . The motion picture was professionally directed by melodramas expert , Douglas Sirk , though it has several flaws , gaps and historical mistakes . The picture is partially based on historical events about Attila , Marciano , Valentiniano , Pulcheria and emperor Teodosio . During his reign , Attila was one of the most feared enemies of the Western and Eastern Roman Empires . He crossed the Danube twice and plundered the Balkans, but was unable to take Constantinople . His unsuccessful campaign in Persia was followed in 441 by an invasion of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire , the success of which emboldened Attila to invade the West. He also attempted to conquer Roman Gaul (modern France) , crossing the Rhine in 451 and marching as far as Orleans before being defeated at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains . He subsequently invaded Italy , devastating the northern provinces, but was unable to take Rome. He planned for further campaigns against the Romans but died in 453 . After Attila's death his close adviser Ardaric of the Gepids led a Germanic revolt against Hunnic rule, after which the Hunnic Empire quickly collapsed . Other films dealing with this historical character are the followings : ¨Attila¨(1953) Pietro Francisci with Anthony Quinn , Sofia Loren and Henry Vidal as general Aecio . ¨The Nibelungos , vengeance of Siegfried¨ (1967) by Harald Reinl with Herbert Lom as Attila . And "Attila" (2001) miniseries by Dick Lowry with Gerard Butler as Attila the Hun , Powers Boothe as Aetius , Simmone Mackinnon as Ildico and Red Rogers as Valentinian .

Even for an epic, at 92 minutes this movie is quite short, but hey it is a very enjoyable movie regardless. Yes even with the occasionally muddled plot and dull performance of Jeff Chandler.Sign of the Pagan is an example of a movie that is strikingly photographed in early CinemaScope, lustily staged by the director Douglas Sirk and terrifically scored. And there is some nice dialogue as well, not Oscar-worthy material perhaps but nice enough and the pacing wasn't too bad either. It is the performance of Jack Palance though that takes centre stage, he portrays Atila the King of the Huns as a ruthless and ferocious barbarian, and Palance seems to be having a whale of a time, it was quite simply a hugely enjoyable performance.Overall, not absolutely brilliant but very enjoyable even with its faults. 7/10 Bethany Cox

There have been several films which try to tell the story of this magnificently evil character, Atilla . If ever there were just one person who embodied the essence of evil, the top three contenders would have to to be 1/Atilla, 2/Herod, King of the Jews (of the massacre of the Innocents) and 3/ Adolf Hitler; all splendid Hallmarks of Evil.Palance is in his element here. Having already made his mark in "Shane" as the heartless, evil gunman which the town feared, he takes evil to a whole new level in "Sign of the Pagan".The music is glorious and the color is so wonderful. All of the actors really gave their best in this effort. Palance makes you believe his character is evil. If you ever get the chance to see this film and the one made after 1996, together, bear in mind that they deal with the story from different perspectives. Both are close to being historically correct...as much as they can be. "Sign of the Pagan" is a study in Power and Might where the newer Atilla story is a Love Story with some interesting action thrown in. If this movie is on your "HOT LIST", check out "The Tatars" with victor Mature (c.1961), "The Black Rose" (1950; with Tyrone Power and Jack Hawkins) and "Swordsman of Sienna" (1956? starring Stewart Granger).