Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Photo of the Day

Melina Kanakaredes, Sean Bean and Kevin McKidd (with trident tattoo!) in 
PERCY JACKSON & the OLYMPIANS.

I haven't seen it yet, a bit weary about the makers of HARRY POTTER's film version 
of a series of popular children's books and their spin on Greek Mythology .

Pompeii site in the news again


2nd Pompeii structure collapses because of neglect


Monday, November 29, 2010

Photo of the Day

Gianna Maria Canale getting whipped by Geneviève Grad in The Conqueror of Corinth.
This scene is brief but it rocks!

Movie Poster Mondays


Movie poster for the film that re-ignited interest in the genre and would become the template for practically every Sword & Sandal films made afterwards, certainly in regards with the primary focus on the male physique with Henri Vidal walking about wearing next to nothing.

Soundtrack Master : Miklos Rozsa


One of my favorite scores! If you don't get chills listening to this than you're not alive. Arf. This version of the QUO VADIS? soundtrack is a new modern re-orchestration and it's stunning.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Photo of the Day

José Greci and Mark Forest (Lou Degni) in Hercules Against the Mongols. Totally fun PEPLUM!

Future PEPLUM production : Cleopatra in 3D


There are rumors swirling about over James Cameron making a 3D epic on the life of Cleopatra and it would star Angelina Jolie in the title role. Epic blockbuster or epic disaster in the making?

Then & Now : Mylène Demongeot


Mylène Demongeot in The Giant of Marathon; Mylène today

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Photo of the Day

Joe Robinson and Bella Cortez in the deliriously over-the-top TAUR THE MIGHTY

PEPLUM Behind-the-scenes

Kirk Douglas and Stanley Kubrick on the set of SPARTACUS

Stock Footage : The Castle

This shot of an army leaving a castle/fortress has been used and re-used in at least a dozen PEPLUM flicks. I still do not know the original source but it looks more medieval than Roman.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Photo of the Day

Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra in the incredibly lush film CAESAR & CLEOPATRA. The film bombed at the b.o.. The film had tons of behind the scenes in-fighting. Few people seem to like it but I do. This is one of my favorites. Such a great picture. 

Future PEPLUM Star? Zeb Atlas


Adult film star Zeb Atlas.

I doubt he'll have a future in Sword & Sandal films but he sure looks like the late Dan Vadis here.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Photo of the Day


Gordon Mitchell as Maciste from Maciste in the Land of the Cyclops. Maciste : "I was born from the rock"

Gerome's Les Gladiateurs


Amazing sculpture

PEPLUM Anachronism : Bullfighting

Bullfighting (or some form of Man VS Bulls) has existed since the beginning of time 
but the representation of bullfighting in films that take place in Ancient Greece is totally 
erroneous. It's too modern, more of the current Spanish tradition than anything else. This 
scene is from "My Son, The Hero" and I dislike this scene with a passion. It not only
 takes me out of the movie but it serves no purpose to the story.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Photo of the Day


Kirk Morris (Hercules) battles with Iloosh Khoshabe (Samson) in "Hercules vs Samson"; this scene is one of the best PEPLUM scenes ever. Thrilling and original.

youtube

PEPLUM Imagery in Vintage Media


The word "Gladiator" is an all-encompassing word

Phalanx Formation





 Cool stuff!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Photo of the Day




















Rosalba Neri watches her deformed son, who's made to think he's the god Moloch, getting ready for a ceremony in Hercules against Moloch (the Conquest of Mycene). If it weren't for the constant use of footage from other films for the big battles and such, this would be one of the best PEPLUMS ever.

HERMES - Greek God of the Month - week 4

The Tomb of Hermes

Archeologist finds the Tomb of Hermes in...Egypt? Maybe it's the tomb of Hermes Trismegistus.

Link

It is thought that Hermes is the Greek version of the Egyptian god Thoth. The combo of the two gods is known as Hermes Trismegistus which some have completely dismissed.




Alexander the Great is said to be the one who discovered the Emerald Tablet of Hermes, in the tomb of Hermes-Trismegistus in the Valley of Hebron


The god Trismegistus has made an appearance in one film, THE KEEP, which oddly enough is about a tomb too. Though not a PEPLUM, the evil god is shown as a big muscular omnipotent being.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Photo of the Day


Ed Fury in The Seven Revenges. By far his best performance in a PEPLUM film.

youtube

Movie Poster Mondays


Italian poster for Sappho the Venus of Lesbos, released in the US with the boneheaded title The Warrior Princess, which has no female warrior princess. One of my all-time favorite PEPLUM films.


Historical Location : Doric Temple

Doric Temple in Sicily. What a magical place. A temple in the
middle of nowhere.



Sunday, November 21, 2010

Photo of the Day

Stunning shot from ERIK THE CONQUEROR

PEPLUM Babe of the Week : Lana Turner


Lana Turner in THE PRODIGAL. The film doesn't have enough of Lana


Another publicity shot for THE PRODIGAL


Roger Moore and Lana in DIANE, a great Historical/Romantic Swashbuckler

Upcoming Releases: SINBAD The Fifth Voyage



Hmm...what is this? In Dynamation? Is it a real film, animated film, what?

link



Saturday, November 20, 2010

Photo of the Day

Ken Marshall & Alun Armstrong in the Sword & Fantasy/Sci-Fi flick KRULL

PEPLUM Behind the Scenes

Jayne Mansfield & Mikey Hargitay at some costume party.

The famous sexy couple starred in one PEPLUM film 
together, HERCULES VS THE HYDRA (aka The Loves of Hercules)

Mini Fotonovela : Maciste against the Moon Men





Alan Steel and Jany Clair

Friday, November 19, 2010

Photo of the Day

José Greci in Goliath & the Sins of Babylon. Love her!!!

Future PEPLUM Star? Matt Davis

Matt is 6'5" and impressive but probably supporting roles, not starring roles. 

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Photo of the Day


Mark Forest tries to save Yvonne Furneaux from a crushing death in The Lion of Thebes.

This scene is ace! Check it out on my youtube channel

PEPLUM Anachronism



Nancy Kovack as Medea is helped by fellow dancers in Jason & the Argonauts.

Is that a zipper? Hard to say but it's posted at IMDb as an official anachronism.

Miscast Hall of Shame

Good old boy Rory Calhoun in The Colossus of Rhodes. 

Colossus of Rhodes is an amazing film but Rory was ridiculously miscast. With his greasy hair from the 1950s, his aw-shucks acting and his terrible costume with shiny go-go boots, Rory stood out like a sore thumb. Because he's practically in EVERY scene, his presence drags down the film considerably. Had it been someone else, like Lang Jeffries, well, it would be a perfect PEPLUM but as it is, Rory prevents
it from being 100% credible. Oh well...


Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Photo of the Day



A sneaky Paul Wynter in Maciste in the Land of the Cyclops


Design of Olympians for a role playing game. Cute.

PEPLUM Fantasy Casting



Fantasy cinematic casting that never happened but should have: Steve Reeves and Raquel Welch. The pulchritudeness of this pairing would have been off the scale...