Orson Welles loved to do magic tricks and was a great showman so is perfect casting to play the enigmatic Cagliostro. He didn't often play leading man roles in films he didn't direct, so it's a lot of fun to see him in this - even if the film isn't that great.
It's got good things going for it - the production values are high (it was shot in Italy), the cinematography is crisp. Some of the acting isn't bad.
It's very hammy and erratic though. I had trouble following the story. I think it's about the hypnotist Caglistro who gets involved in a plot to have a young woman impersonate Marie Antoinette - only he falls in love with the woman. That should be simple but everything feels complicated - Cagliostro is always hypnotising people, people are escaping, his plan is forever being revealed but he gets away with it etc.
Nancy Guild is a debit in the dual role as the girl and the queen - the girl part isn't that great as she's hypnotised most of the time, but she should be able to make Marie Antoinette interesting. Frank Latimore is dull as the hero. I wish Akim Tamiroff had been given something to do
Charles Goldner's character, a doctor, is at the beginning and pops up crucially at the end to bust Cagliostro - I got confused by who he was. I got him confused too with Stephen Bekassy, the main villain - he was killed off too early.
Welles darkens his skin, curls his hair and uses a broad accent. He's quite slim and dashing and hammy.
There's a weird, hammily acted opening sequence where Alexander Dumas Snr talks with Alexander Dumas Jnr (Raymond Burr) about the story.
I didn't mind this but have to admit I was surprised how dull it was. Needlessly so. I was really hoping it would be a little gem but it isn't.
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