Hero of Rome 1964

The city-state of Rome has just expelled its Etruscan overlords and become a republic. In response, the Etruscans declare war in an effort to reclaim their territory. The exiled king Tarquin, Massimo Serato, remains bent on continuing the conflict to regain his throne, and he orders his men to kill Mucius, Gordon Scott, later. The stage is set for a clash between a newly independent Rome and a resurgent old guard, a struggle that will test loyalty, courage, and the price of freedom.

Amid the early clashes, the warrior Scaevola is captured while attempting to assassinate king Porsenna, Roldano Lupi. He is threatened with torture unless he reveals Rome’s plans. But Scaevola refuses to yield: he thrusts his right hand into a brazier and lets the flames burn, proving that his love for Rome outweighs personal pain, and warning the king that many Romans would do the same for their homeland. Porsenna, awed by this sacrifice, releases him and seeks peace after learning the truth about how Rome banished their last king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus.

Surviving an ambush, Mucius, Gordon Scott, returns to Rome to rally his countrymen, though the damage to his hand prevents him from wielding a sword with his right hand again. The Roman Senate manages the war poorly, and it becomes clear that only Scaevola can lead his countrymen to victory. He trains himself to fight with his left hand, and is soon able to return to battle to confront the Etruscan kings.