This epic Spanish biopic chronicles the life of Cervantes, Spain's great novelist, playwright and poet, during the 16th-century, when as a young man he goes to Italy to become a soldier for the Pope. Later he helps the Pope's emissary wage war against the Spanish Moors. His exploits win him great favor. He falls in love with a famous Italian courtesan and she with him. Unfortunately, the Pope splits them apart with his newest decree which demands that all prostitutes leave the city. Upset, Cervantes goes to fight in the famed sea battle of Lepanto and comes back a hero. Later he is captured by Barbary pirates and ransomed by Trinitarian friars.
Horst Buchholz
as Miguel de Cervantes
Gina Lollobrigida
as Giulia
José Ferrer
as Hassan Bey
Louis Jourdan
as Cardinal Acquaviva
Francisco Rabal
as Rodrigo Cervantes
Antonio Casas
as Favio
Soledad Miranda
as Nessa
Ángel del Pozo
as Don Juan de Austria
Ricardo Palacios
as Sancho
Maurice de Canonge
as
Tiziano Cortini
as
José Jaspe
as Turkish Official
