Monday, June 19, 2017

By the Gods!

Messalina (Lisa Gastoni) eyes Glaucus (Richard Harrison) in THE LAST GLADIATOR (aka Messalina vs Son of Hercules ; 1964)

Enjoying PEPLUM directed by Umberto Lenzi, who went on to makes TONS of films in the 1970s and 1980s. Many directors of those two decades actually started with the PEPLUM genre. Lisa is fabulous as Messalina. She gives one of the best performance of the nefarious Empress. Richard is his dependable self. One of his better efforts. The 'official' English title doesn't make a lick of sense so I prefer calling it by the literal translation of the Italian title.

2 comments:

Brrrodie the Westie said...

The scene in which Lisa flogs body servant Marilu Tolo for holding the mirror unsteady is one of the best of its type in the cycle!

Scott Ochiltree said...

Looks like you have a good widescreen copy.

Please put it on PeplumTV if copyright is not an issue. Thanks.