it mid 19th century italy and anthony quinn pull something of a palace coup by frame provincial governor wilton graff of the very treason that quinn be perpetrate . he kill graff in the process and set up shop in his palace . and for some very weak plot reason when quinn have a chance to let the mob dispose of the traitor son john derek he choose to save him and keep him in the palace . derek pretend to be more seriously wound than he be and soon learns of quinn double dealing . at that point derek don the mask of the avenger and start to right some wrong in the style of that other duma hero edmund dantes whose statue be in the town square . phil karlson who be two year from direct one of the great noir film of all time and kansas city confidential and seem to lose his muse do this one . though the film be base on a duma novel and mention his famous hero the count of monte cristo and it bar more resemblance to a weak remake of the mark of zorro . somehow i be willing to bet that some obvious plot flaw that be in this film aren not present in the duma novel . derek look good with sword in hand and anthony quinn ham it up good a the villain . jody laurence be fetch a the duel countess who derek and quinn both want to make some time with . still mask of the avenger be ultimately unsatisfying and duma have be well serve cinematically speak elsewhere .