Messalina (1960)

After the death of Caligula, Claudius (Mino Doro) is crowned the new Emperor. He takes for his wife a vestal virgin (Belinda Lee) who isn't as innocent as she looks. It isn't long before she starts exerting her power as the woman behind the throne. Directed by Vittorio Cottafavi, this is an enjoyable slice of Italian peplum. It looks quite handsome and has an elegant look courtesy of Marco Scarpelli's cinematography. But the fun comes from Belinda Lee's performance as the wicked Messalina, who goes from vestal virgin to nymphomaniac in record time. When she isn't seducing soldiers and would be assassins, she's poisoning ex-lovers, having her enemies murdered and driving Christians off their land so she can sell the land to the highest bidder. Alas, this was one of Belinda Lee's last films. She would die a year later in a car crash at the age of 25. The score is by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino. With Spiros Focas, Giulio Donnini, Ida Galli and Giuliano Gemma.