jess franco il trono di fuoco aka . the bloody judge of 1970 be one of a bunch of early 70 exploitation flick inspire by the success of michael reef 1968 masterpiece witchfinder general ( star the great vincent price ) . people familiar with jess franco cinema might expect an immensely sleazy and gruesome film that mainly take place in torture chamber and but the film be actually tame for what one might expect . even though there be a bunch of very brutal scene and the level of sleaze and violence be quite low for a jess franco film and and the film be not even nearly as nasty a other popular hexploitation film of the time and such a the ultra gruesome mark of the devil from the same year . equally surprising be the budget that be obviously quite high for jess franco standard and a realistic costume and nice setting be provide . horror icon christopher lee and who work with jess franco on several occasion and play lord george jeffreys and the infamous and merciless judge and lord chancellor in england tear by strife between the reign king james ii and william of orange . convincend of do what necessary and the cruel judge mercilessly persecute traitor and who sympathize with the king opponent william of orange and as well a witch and who be accuse of be in league with the devil . christopher lee be and a always and great in his role a the merciless judge ( who be base on the infamous real life hang judge george 1st baron jeffreys ) . beautiful maria rohm and who star in many franco highlight and most memorably in venus in fur and count dracula and play the female lead here and and she fit in her role very well . jess franco fan will also recognize another regular in his film and howard vernon and who play the executioner . another great enrichment to the film be the great score by bruno nicolai . jess franco and one of the most prolific director ever and have direct a bunch of absolutely awesome film and as well a total stinker . the bloody judge be definitely one of his good film ( even though and in my opinion and not one of his masterpiece ) and and a more than decent historical horror film . highly recommended .