Directed by Gregory Ratoff, based on the novel Joseph Balsamo by Alexandre Dumas, Cagliostro or Black Magic (1949) was several years in the making with many false starts. The story is a highly fictionalized and overly-sensational account of events in the life of Occultist & Freemason Giuseppe Balsamo, Count Alessandro di Cagliostro, and his involvement with a devious plan to dethrone Marie Antoinette while seeking revenge on the Viscount de Montagne for the executions of his parents on charges of sorcery. The final scene is pure 1940's Hollywood fabrication, with no real historical reference. Joseph Balsamo is presented as a carnival conman and hypnotist… far from the reality of the Count of Cagliostro's exotic travels, studies of Ancient Mysticism and founding of the Egyptian Rite of Freemasonry (although the title character does wear a fancy outfit adorned with various Masonic symbols, including the square and compasses). Nevertheless, if taken at face value, the film is quite enjoyable. Orson Welles is great as Joseph Balsamo, Count of Cagliostro. The supporting cast is good as well, including Nancy Guild, Raymond Burr and Akim Tamiroff.
 |
| Paris, France: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| : Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| : Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| : Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro |
 |
| Marie Antoinette: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Inquisition: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Black Magic: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Black Magic: Cagliostro. Freemasonry |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro. Freemasonry. Egyptian Rite |
 |
| Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro. Freemason |
 |
| Orson Welles as Joseph Balsamo, Count Cagliostro |
