Image of the week!

Perseus (Richard Harrison) is put to the test, fighting a whip happy Galemore (Leo Anchóriz) in PERSEUS THE INVINCIBLE (1963)

MUSCLES Inc

Big Reg Park on the cover of MUSCLE BUILDER (Jan 1954)

Musings!

Abbe Lane shows her assets in TIBERIUS (1960) 

This is another movie with a missing English dub. It was shown on TV in the US. So an English version is out there but it's nowhere to be found. This is a comedy (of course). It's a sexy, breezy Italian comedy which are a thing unto themselves and Italian humour is often difficult to translate. I like it even if I don't understand half the movie. It would be nice to have an English audio, certainly if Abbe Lane uses her voice. Maybe I should do a list of movies with the English track missing.

Behind-the-Scenes

Director Guido Brignone sets up a scene with Marisa Allasio on the cross on the set of THE SWORD AND THE CROSS (1956)

Clip of the week: TRIUMPH OF HERCULES (1964)

Hercules (Dan Vadis) against the Golden Warriors of the Dagger of Jae. With Pietro Torrisi.

Portraits

 Sebastian (Massimo Girotti) awaits his fate in FABIOLA (1949)

HD Alert!

Apollodorus (Franco Volpi) and Cleopatra (Pascale Petit) in A QUEEN FOR CAESAR (1962)

A new HD print of the movie has surfaced. This mostly studio-bound movie looks great and looks even greater in outdoor scenes, such as this beautiful one I posted recently. This movie, which was one of the first Fan Dubs I made, always had nice prints. This one in HD was from a TV broadcast. It's not available on Blu-ray. It's shame because it would be worth buying. It's one of my favourites.

Vintage Article

An old magazine article on Steve Reeves in ATHENA (1954). Some of the best photos of Steve were taken for publicity and promotion of the movie.

Debbie Reynolds, Edmund Purdom and Steve Reeves in ATHENA

Musings!

Redilly B. Rajapa and Mimmo Palmara, as Parvati Sandok, in TEMPLE OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT (1964)

When I posted the VHS covers of this movie, there were a lot of questions. The whole thing is sorta confusing, as usual with PEPLUM movies. I already wrote about this in 2019 so here goes: TEMPLE OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT is known as SANDOK - MACISTE OF THE JUNGLE in Italy. Sandok is played by Mimmo Palmara. He plays a strong man and he's nicknamed Maciste of the Jungle but his character is named Sandok. I know, confusing (this is common in PEPLUM films...like SAPPHO - THE VENUS OF LESBOS...etc). This movie, as the poster below shows, stars Sean Flynn. Some have wondered if the movie was released in English. There is an English version of it. It was released theatrically in Britain and it was shown on TV in the US. The Flynn name guarantees it was released for English speaking markets. Unfortunately, its English version is nowhere to be found, like so many other PEPLUM titles. To make matters more confusing, there's another movie called TEMPLE OF A THOUSAND LIGHTS (1965) starring Richard Harrison. Both films were directed by Umberto Lenzi. That movie was released in the US on DVD as SANDOK (directly below) even though no character in the movie is called Sandok! Mimmo Palmara is not in TEMPLE OF A THOUSAND LIGHTS. This movie was released in the US back in the 1960s as TEMPLE OF A THOUSAND LIGHTS. I have the English version of this title. The SANDOK DVD *doesn't* have the English track, which doesn't make any sense! With the VHS covers from last Friday, the French one had the artwork of MYSTERY OF THUG ISLAND, which was released on VHS in the US as THE SNAKE HUNTER STRANGLER. I have the English version. I got it from a Greek DVD! 

Got that?

Hopefully the English version of TEMPLE OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT will resurface. And a updated DVD or new Blu-ray of TEMPLE OF A THOUSAND LIGHTS aka SANDOK with the actual English audio.

Extra note: someone emailed me to say that they saw TEMPLE OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT playing at a movie theatre in Seattle. So, yes, it was released, no matter how limited, at cinemas in the US and the UK.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Original Italian poster of TEMPLE OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT (1964)

The original title in English is SANDOK - MACISTE OF THE JUNGLE. The poster is very colourful. I like it.

Image of the week!

Cleopatra (Rhonda Fleming) flanked by Mark Antony (Raymond Burr) and Lucilius (William Lundigan) in SERPENT OF THE NILE (1954)

VHS Covers: TEMPLE OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT (1964)

VHS covers of TEMPLE OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT (1964) starring Sean Flynn and others. Limited selection and with average covers. Nothing too earth shattering. No English cover.

 

German cover with original artwork

 

French VHS cover. Back has correct photos but artwork is from MYSTERY OF THUG ISLAND (1964) starring Giacomo Rossi Stuart.

 

Spanish VHS cover. Very generic.

Musings!

Reg Park as Hercules in HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN (1961) 

I recently saw an upload with the disastrous US Blu-ray release (below) of the film along with the original Italian version on DVD (above). The US release has an awful orange tint throughout and the image is stretched. I still can't believe people put up with the ugly US copy. Many are happy with it. It's mind boggling when the DVD version is better than the Blu-ray one. 

Here are all the different versions I have (when I published the article)

Link of my review of the Blu-ray released in the US.

Behind-the-Scenes

 A photographer on the set of BEN-HUR (1959)

Clip of the week: THE CENTURION (Conqueror of Corinth; 1961)

Jacques Sernas escapes from prison!

New PEPLUM Art

New feature here at the blog. PEPLUM inspired art. 

With a few prompts, new PEPLUM art by AI. 

From MEN OF PULP @ X

THE LION OF CORINTH

SPFX DEPT.

Scenes from THE SEVEN REVENGES (1960)

It's telling how good the special effects are when one is not too sure if it's effects or real stuff. This is how I feel about these scenes from THE SEVEN REVENGES. The movie had an above average budget but it wouldn't explain elaborate sets like these. The top one is for sure effects because they didn't built such big exterior sets for scenes which lasted a few seconds. While the shot below, for me it looks more like a practice model via forced perspective than a matte painting. The look is very three dimensional. 

GLADIATOR II trailer!

The official trailer of GLADIATOR II is out. What's your opinion on it? It looks more pulpy than the 2000 film. It's directed by Ridley Scott, which is good but then he also directed the abysmal EXODUS (2014) and that critically panned NAPOLEON (2023) since the original GLADIATOR. Will it re-ignite a new PEPLUM explosion? In one way, I hope so. In another way, hopefully in not as uneven as the one from the early 2000s. The trailer has already caused a lot of controversy, mostly about being historically incorrect and rap music.

Musings!

Jacques Sernas and Jeanne Valérie in the pivotal moment in SALAMMBO (1960)

The movie becomes the movie with this scene and yet this shot is NOT in the movie, which always frustrates me. This happens a lot with PEPLUM movies: photos of the movie often have better shots than what we end up seeing in the final cut. In this scene, the two are never seen together like this, when Mathos (Sernas) discovers Salammbo (Valérie). The scene itself is excellent and one of the best in a PEPLUM movie but it needed one brief shot of the two together. Instead, we see Sernas pouncing on Valérie. I love this movie even if wildly uneven. It has so many great elements and scenes and so many cringe ones as well. 

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Original Italian poster of SEVEN SLAVES AGAINST THE ROME (1964)

Nice poster. Is that Roger Browne or Giacomo Rossi Stuart?

Image of the week!

 Hercules (Steve Reeves) revives Iole (Sylva Koscina) in HERCULES (1958)

At the movies...

BEN-HUR playing at the Egyptian theatre on Hollywood blvd in 1959.

Musings!

Chelo Alonso dancing up a storm in SIGN OF THE GLADIATOR (1959) 

Do you like dance numbers in PEPLUM films? That's one element missing in modern day PEPLUM productions. This dance number is quite long and elaborate. The screenshot was taken from a quasi HD print in desperate need of colour correction. I had to re-adjust the colours and brightness because the image was just to whack. It's from a RAI broadcast/streaming service. 

Behind-the-Scenes

Virna Lisi taking a break on the set of DUEL OF THE TITANS (1961)

Clip of the week: ULYSSES AGAINST HERCULES

Hercules (Mike Lane) and Leuconia (Raffaella Carrà) try to save Ulysses (Georges Marchal) from being crushed to death!  Amazing location!

Portraits

New feature: portraits of PEPLUM stars!

Anne Baxter as Nefretiri in THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956) 

HD Alert!

 Gianna Maria Canale in TIGER OF THE SEVEN SEAS (1962) 

This colourful movie is now available as a German Blu-ray release. I like this movie and I will purchase it if there are any left. The movie is already uploaded in HD on a Youtube channel. I won't link to it since they are not friendly. But even so, buying these will inspire other distributors in releasing more titles. No English audio.

 

Steve Reeves pre-HERCULES

Steve Reeves in Cannes, France at the age of 22. The year is1948. Fascinating to watch. The image/audio quality isn't the best. LE PLUS BEL HOMME DU MONDE at IMDb.

note: the video doesn't exist anymore. The Youtube account that had it was terminated...after I posted it here. I tell you, my account is followed by nefarious people.

Musings!

Brad Harris, as Hercules, and Luisella Boni in FURY OF HERCULES (1962) 

I recently posted a clip from this movie. It's a fun 'feat of strength' clip. The movie is filled with such scenes. I love this movie for these scenes but I have to admit that the story itself is pretty weak. It's all over the place, with very little focus of anything but action, which is fine but a movie sometimes needs more. It's a shame because its Twin Production, SAMSON (1961), is identical with this is one but with a memorable storyline. The German release changed the title to SAMSON and the SAMSON movie mentioned before became a Hercules title. Harris looks like a Greek hero for sure, which helped with the entertaining aspects of this production but the meandering story puts it below SAMSON. 

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Original Italian poster of SWORD FOR THE EMPIRE (1965)

Simple but catchy design makes it stand out. I love it. 

PEPLUM Break

I take a break roughly every two months so this is that time again.

So stay tuned!

I'll leave you now with King Leonidas (Richard Egan) from THE 300 SPARTANS (1962), saying "From this wall, we do not retreat!"

Image of the week!

 Samson (Alan Steel) shows his strength in SAMSON AND THE SLAVE QUEEN (1963)

Lobby Cards Set: THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD (1961)

Original Italian lobby cards set of THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD starring Steve Reeves. Colourful set for a colourful movie. It's missing a major card with Giorgio Moll but aside from that, it's good. Maybe a bit too many battle scenes. I want it.

Musings!

Mark Antony (Richard Burton) and Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor) in a 'fun' moment in CLEOPATRA (1963)

As I stated months ago, my views on this legendary movie has changed. I like it now. Does I still think it has tons of issues? Yes. None of my negativity of it has disappeared. I still think it's problematic but now I simply disregard them and view the movie has an epic achievement. I've watched it here and there and I realized how much I like this and that but disliked other parts as well. It's a HUGE movie. A very serious movie (one of my gripes). In the scene above, the couple are suppose to be enjoying a feast and of course, they don't. You sorta wonder why they're together since they always seem to be miserable. The movie should have shown happy moments. And this is the main problem I have with the movie: it's on cruise control. It's well directed and the script is well written but scenes happen one after another with little emotional impact. They're basically always the same tone. Once I realized this, my dislike of the movie disappeared. It's such a big movie that it couldn't afford to go off the rails, if you know what I mean. Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who also directed the equally super serious JULIUS CAESAR (see post below), knew what he was doing but, imo, he was too careful and the movie suffers from being too staid. It lacks liveliness. One scene has the same emotional impact as the next. But now with this in mind, I can finally enjoy it for what it is. It's spectacular and super serious, and sometimes mis-directed (the killing of Julius Caesar seen though the eyes of Cleopatra and her High Priestess is still a mistake in my view...it's not the only 'mistake' scene), but it's quite the movie. I personally now prefer the second half over the first. There's something about Rex Harrison I just can't like. Peter Finch was cast initially as Caesar and he would have been pretty good (but maybe a bit too much like Burton). Harrison reminds me of a school principal or Professor Higgins. There are other actors in it who irk me but I have to say that Cesare Danova, as Apollodorus, is quite good. 

My previous rating was around 4. I now give it 7.5 out of 10. 

Behind-the-Scenes

Marlon Brando takes a water break on the set of JULIUS CAESAR (1953)

Clip of the week: FURY OF HERCULES (1962)

Hercules (Brad Harris) shows his strength.

Just to note: there's a wardrobe malfunction in this scene. Posted at the WARDROBE MALFUNCTIONS page.

BY THE GODS! magazine update...

As you might have heard, my mother ended up in the hospital back at the beginning of May. She's been out of the hospital for almost 2 weeks now and is on her way to recovery. It was quite an ordeal. Because of this, the third issue of BY THE GODS! magazine has been delayed. I'm still working on it but it will be published in a few weeks. I hope you all understand. For those who have bought one of the to issues published, go ahead.

BY THE GODS! at MAGCLOUD!

SPFX DEPT.

Scenes from SHE (1965)

In this scene, Ayesha (Ursula Andress) shows the modern men, Peter Cushing and John Richardson, the lost Egyptian city inside the crater of a volcano. It's not really a matte painting just a painting. Since no other real element is part of the landscape, we're just looking at a painting. It's a special effects and not at the same time. The painting is credited to Bob Cuff. 

 

 

Then & Now: Lisa Gastoni

 Lisa in THE LAST GLADIATOR (1964); the most recent photo of the actress.

Musings!

Sylvia Syms and Louis Jourdan, and a bunch of ladies, in AMAZONS OF ROME (1961) 

There's so much to write and say about this movie. It'll try to be brief. According to IMDb, thhree directors were involved with the movie: Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, Vittorio Cottafavi, Peter O'Cord. This makes sense. It's credited to Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, and he has directed a bunch of PEPLUM movies, including QUEEN OF BABYLON (1954) and HANNIBAL (1959), just to name a few. Carlo was experienced but the movie has definite Vittorio Cottafavi touches. A mix of serious and slapstick. The production is excellent. The cast, location, etc. All tops. I've watched this movie often when it played on a Canadian network called Drive-In Classics. Sylvia died last year. The English title is a bit deceptive as the Italian one translated into English was THE VIRGINS OF ROME. Nothing to do with Amazons. Everything is fine except for Louis Jourdan as a barbarian. He's one of the most suave actors ever. He simply wasn't believable as a barbarian. 

PEPLUM Movie Poster

French poster of GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS (1959)

The great artwork is identical to the original Italian poster (bottom left). They painted over the Italian title and added the French one. There's another version of this identical poster in French with slightly different lettering (below right). I posted the one on top because it was the cleanest. The poster claims Gabriele Tinti is in the movie. He's not!

 

Image of the week!

Astra (Gianna Maria Canale) sees an opportunity of getting to Goliath by holding on to Guja (Leonora Ruffo) in GOLIATH AND THE VAMPIRES (1961)

MUSCLES Inc

 PEPLUM star Reg Lewis on the cover of Young Mr. America. 

Musings!

Marlon Brando as Mark Antony in JULIUS CAESAR (1953)

I rarely hear anyone talk about this movie. Does anyone like it? I like it. It has an amazing powerful cast, including the first film with future PEPLUM star Edmund Purdom. It's well made and captivating and yet I feel it's sorta forgotten. Is it because it was shot in black & white? Too serious? It is overlooked.

Behind-the-Scenes

Arnold Schwarzenegger prepares for the crucifixion scene on the the set of CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1982)