Behind-the-Scenes

Carmen Sevilla on the set of DESERT WARRIOR (1957). Thanks to Juan for the B&W photo. 

Clip of the week: VULCAN - SON OF JUPITER (1962)

Aetna (Bella Cortez) finds Vulcan (Iloosh Khoshabe). And the Lizard Men find Vulcan as well. 

Vintage Article

Article on Steve Reeves' film career from a French magazine

Musings!

Ann Blyth and David Farrar in THE GOLDEN HORDE (1951) 

Ann Blyth died on June 24. She was 98. Her biggest role in a PEPLUM movie was in THE GOLDEN HORDE as Princess Shalimar. She was very good in this entertaining movie. She was also in the musical version of KISMET (1955). RIP, Ann.

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I'll be posting on and off all week. I'll be back full time next week.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

French poster of THE SON OF CLEOPATRA (1964) 

Ok poster. A bit generic. That's Scilla Gabel on the right. 

PEPLUM Break

I take a break roughly every two months. My last break was at the beginning of May so it's 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!"

Peplum Public Discussion

Comments are open in this post. You have something to mention about this week's posts? Or something else. This is the only place you can voice your opinion. Comments are curated therefore any bad comment won't be published! Be respectful!

Image of the week!

Sara (Sandra Milo) is worried her husband, Aronne (Alberto Lupo), will be killed by King Herod in his latest trip in HEROD THE GREAT (1959)

MUSCLES Inc.

Steve Reeves on the cover of PHYSIQUE PICTORIAL, August 1959. It coincided with the North American release of HERCULES (1958). The image itself is from HERCULES UNCHAINED though.

Musings!

Hercules (Gordon Scott) battles with the gladiator leader (Nello Pazzafini) and to prevent Deianira (Jany Clair) from being executed by arrows in HERCULES AGAINST MOLOCH (1963)

The PEPLUM genre in one shot. This movie is filled with such memorable moments even if the story is a bit sketchy and the re-used scenes are a tad annoying. But overall, I love this movie because it delivers. Buff hero, slimy villains, damsels in distress, feats of strength, a terrifying monster, etc. Director Giorgio Ferroni knew what he was doing. When the PEPLUM genre died, Ferroni went on to other genres but it just wasn't the same. Also known as CONQUEST OF MYCENE.

Behind-the-Scenes

Richard Burton on the set of THE ROBE (1953). Fantastic photo. 

Impossible to colourize properly because AI can't figure out this is a studio set. Google also refuses to add links to this post. Amazing!

Clip of the week: THE TEN GLADIATORS (1963)

The Ten Gladiators in action! With big Dan Vadis, José Greci, Roger Browne, Mimmo Palmara and many more. With re-used scenes from GOLIATH AGAINST THE GIANTS (1961).

FUNNIES!

SAMSON AND THE SEA BEAST (1963) starring Kirk Morris, Margaret Lee, Aldo Bufi Landi

HD Alert!

Steve Reeves and Daniela Rocca in THE GIANT OF MARATHON (1959)

Some great news on the Blu-ray front. THE GIANT OF MARATHON will be released on Blu-ray in Germany. The bad news: no English dub included. Only English subtitles. This is the first official HD release on Blu-ray anywhere. It has been available via streaming services but not available for purchase. I assume the screenshots posted here are taken from the actual print. 

Correction: At Amazon.de, it doesn't show an English dub track but at the Blu-ray distributor's website, it does show the English dub is included. Yeah!

The German title is THE BATTLE OF MARATHON. I like the cover. Steve looks chiseled.

 

New posters for THE ODYSSEY

New posters for the upcoming THE ODYSSEY movie. The film is having its premiere today, as I'm writing this. These posters make it look like a Marvel movie. As I wrote at BY THE GODS, it's clear Oscar© bait in regards to the politically correct casting, but now they're going for the comic crowd with these posters. It also reminds me of the IMMORTALS (2011) poster campaign, which turned out to be the complete opposite of the mostly forgotten movie. There's apparently an embargo on reviews for the time being (don't ask me when it will be removed) but if the premiere is today, expect a flood of 'awesome' reviews on all social media platforms.

Musings!

Bella Cortez in VULCAN - SON OF JUPITER (1962) 

As I wrote at BY THE GODS blog, these new HD prints of old PEPLUM movies is revealing stuff that was hard to make out with old public domain prints. As I was watching the HD print of this movie, suddenly something that was sorta hidden because of the dark prints became  visible. I've watched this movie many times, I could never make out what was going on here with Bella and Mercury (Isarco Ravaioli) but with this new clear print, it's obvious and sorta amazing. I mean, PEPLUM movies got away with a lot of stuff back in the day. This is not the only movie with revealing stuff after watching it in HD. That's Iloosh Khoshabe on the far left.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Original Italian poster of ATLAS IN THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS (1961) 

Great artwork and poster for a great PEPLUM! Gordon Mitchell is misspelled on the poster as well as in the movie credits.

Last Week's Views!

179k views for the week. That's an average of 25k views a day. 

Peplum Public Discussion

Comments are open in this post. You have something to mention about this week's posts? Or something else. This is the only place you can voice your opinion. Comments are curated therefore any bad comment won't be published! Be respectful!

Image of the week!

Maxus (Reg Lewis; Maciste in the original) ) lifts a big tree to prevent the bad guys from reaching the other side of the chasm in COLOSSUS OF THE STONE AGE (1962)

At the movies...

THE ROBE (1953) premiere at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Musings!

Reg Park, as Hercules (Ursus in the original version) throwing a man in HERCULES - PRISONER OF EVIL (1964)

One of the criticism of the PEPLUM genre by those who hate it is there's a lot of fake stuff, like fake strength scenes lifting fake boulders, etc. In a way it's true but the point of these scenes is not how the scene was made but how fun is the illusion of super strength. No actor is actually as strong as making an entire temple crumble. It's acting. One has to be ready to watch such scenes. And then there are scenes like this one with Reg actually lifting a man up in the air and throwing him. You can see from his muscles that he's not faking it. In this movie, Reg becomes 'possessed' of a werewolf-type of curse in which he becomes evil after a sorceress made him drink a potion. This is not the first time Reg played a role in which he becomes controlled by evil. I like it. It's like a FRIDAY THE 13TH-style woodsy evil stuff. A lot of scenes in a forest or caves during the night.

Behind-the-Scenes

Gina Lollobrigida is getting fitted for her costume on the set of CROSSED SWORDS (1954)

Clip of the week: THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF GUERRIN MESCINO (1952)

Guerrin Mescino (Gino Leurini) confronts the sorceress Alcina (Tamara Lees). Directed by Pietro Francisci.

Portraits

Harry Hamlin, as Perseus, in CLASH OF THE TITANS (1981)

SPFX DEPT.

Scenes from JOURNEY BEYOND THREE SEAS (1957)

Two matte paintings in this expansive movie which takes place 'beyond three seas.' The movie starts with these scenes and I love it. Since the Soviet era film's information is limited, there's no way for me to credit the artist(s). I did find the Soviet version listed at IMDb, under the same title as the Hindu version but no info on who is responsible for the paintings.

Who Wore It Best?

Who wore it best? 

Above: Jeanne Valérie in SALAMMBO (1960). Costume originally made for that movie. 

Or, below, Bella Cortez in a publicity photo.

Musings!

Roger Browne and José Greci in SEVEN REBEL GLADIATORS (1965)

José's acting career started as the Virgin Mary in BEN-HUR (1959) and her last PEPLUM movie was this one, 6 years later. I really enjoy watching her in PEPLUM movies. She's a genuine actress but, like so many others, I don't think her career went the way she expected to go. I find her role in this movie a bit sad. I like the cartoonish movie...for the cartoonish action but actresses in Michele Lupo films didn't have much to do since they were so focused on brawny action. Anyway, her role in this is a bit odd. As for Roger Browne, nothing against him but I still don't know how he ended up in PEPLUM movies. It's one of those things many have I asked me during the 16 years making this blog and I have to be honest, I just don't know. Wikipedia does have some info (he was a physical therapist of a client who worked in Rome and he tagged along...) but still, I don't know who discovered him for BARABBAS (1961) as an uncredited gladiator but moved on to lead roles with VULCAN - THE SON OF JUPITER (1962).

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Original Italian poster of SAMSON AND THE SLAVE QUEEN (1963) 

Fun poster. The one issue: Zorro's mask is not like this in the movie and Pierre Brice, who plays Zorro, renamed El Toro for the US release, doesn't have a mustache. Alan Steel's likeness is on point.

Peplum Public Discussion

Comments are open in this post. You have something to mention about this week's posts? Or something else. This is the only place you can voice your opinion. Comments are curated therefore any bad comment won't be published! Be respectful!

Image of the week!

Ulysses (Georges Marchal) is trapped in a room with a descending ceiling and is about to be crushed alive in ULYSSES AGAINST HERCULES (1962)

Lobby Cards Set: THE LION OF THEBES (1964)

Italian lobby cards set (fotobusta) of THE LION OF THEBES starring Mark Forest, Yvonne Furneaux, Pierre Cressoy and Rosalba Neri, among many others. Great, incomplete set. It has all the great scenes in 6 cards. It's very colourful as well.

Musings!

Oleg Strizhenov in JOURNEY BEYOND THREE SEAS (1957) 

Are there any PEPLUM movies left to be discovered? I say yes and no. I say No in regards to movies made in Italy. I believe all of them are known for a long time, even if some obscure title pops up here and now. My contact in Europe has shown me this. But I say Yes in that just this year I found at least 5 different movies not listed anywhere and can be considered PEPLUM. This Soviet - Hindu production is a good example. I already posted about this movie here at the blog so I've known about it for a long time but I never see this movie appear anywhere. 

Since it's a Soviet and Hindu production. there are two versions: the Soviet one and the Indian one. The Indian one named PARDESI is pretty much available everywhere. It's in Black & White though. The Soviet/Russian version is harder to come by. It's in colour and super widescreen. You can find it at a Russian version of Youtube. It's also on Youtube but the aspect ratio is messed up. Unless it's hidden somewhere I can't find the Soviet version listed at IMDb. Visually speaking, the Soviet version is beautiful. The story is based on the diaries/journals of Russian Afanasy Nikitin. His writing was and is highly praised. In the journals, he evoked a lot of religious feelings and emotions, which the Soviet's removed from the movie. This reminds me of the Russian film, SADKO (1953) that became THE MAGIC VOYAGE OF SINBAD for the English market in 1962.

Behind-the-Scenes

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton on a break on the set of CLEOPATRA (1963)

Clip of the week: GOLIATH AND THE DRAGON (1960)

Goliath (Mark Forest; Hercules in the original) is angry at the gods. With Leonora Ruffo.

 

New PEPLUM Imagery

A RAIN OF SWORDS

MEN OF PULP

HD Alert!

Scenes from LEGIONS OF THE NILE (1959)

A beautiful print in semi-HD is available for streaming in Italy. I say semi-HD since the resolution is an odd 1274x526. It's nice and, in general, this movie always had some nice prints out there (with some not so nice) in the past but even with these nice prints, this one is a definite upgrade. It stars Linda Cristal (above) and Ettore Manni (below). The print is not perfect, with nights scenes being dark and with a reddish tint. But overall, it's fine.

Same prop, different films!

So I was watching KNIGHT OF 100 FACES (1960), the new HD print from a streaming service in Italy which I profiled recently. This scene stood out, for two reasons. One, the scene is often cut in other versions. I remembered not seeing this before. The second and more important reason, is the helmet or prop on the left. I recognized but I had to remember where I saw it before and then I knew where I saw it previously. It's from HERCULES UNCHAINED (1959; below, with Gabriele Antonini). It's so random.

Musings!

Sylvia Lopez in SON OF RED CORSAIR (1959) 

This movie is her last completed film. Sylvia was supposed to star in a movie with Brigitte Bardot but left the production due to her illness (leukaemia). She had a small cameo in a other film but SON OF RED CORSAIR is her last completed production in which she was a lead. It's pretty sad to watch. The movie is good but I find the costumes to be too much. They're overflowing everywhere. In this scene Sylvia's character is whipped on an St Andrew's Cross. We briefly see her bare back. A rare sight in this costumey production. The movie was directed by Primo Zeglio, who is the undisputed champ of PEPLUM Swashbucklers. After this, Primo would co-direct the fantastic MORGAN THE PIRATE (1960) and also co-directed SEVEN SEAS TO CALAIS (1962). This Swashbuckler takes place mainly on Land and not the Seven Seas. I'll have more in the upcoming issue of BY THE GODS!, which should be available by the end of the month.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Spanish poster of URSUS AND THE TARTAR PRINCESS (1961)

Yoko Tani looks ok but the portraits of Ettore Manni and Joe Robinson are not flattering. Translates as SOLIMAN'S DAUGHTER.

Last Week's Views

567k views for 1 June to 7 June. Half a million! Average daily views: 81,000!

Peplum Public Discussion

Comments are open in this post. You have something to mention about this week's posts? Or something else. This is the only place you can voice your opinion. Comments are curated therefore any bad comment won't be published! Be respectful!

Image of the week!

Deianira (Leonora Ruffo) falls unconscious after targeting King Lico with the magical stone in HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD (1961)

PEPLUM Movie Quotes

THE BACCHANTES (1961) starring Alberto Lupo (Pentheus) and Pierre Brice (Dionysus)

Pentheus: But you'll sing another tune when you'll hear your punishment!

Dionysus: What harm can you do me?

Pentheus: In chains, I'll make you perish on the cliffs of the Cithaeron. A meal for the eagles and a prey to the hyenas.

Dionysus: If I wish it, my god will save me.

Pentheus: And where is that god? Where that I cannot see him.

Dionysus: Right beside me. But you never can see him!

Pentheus: No and why is that?

Dionysus: Because in your foolish pride, the evil within you has made you blind!

Musings!

Ed Fury as Ursus in URSUS IN THE LAND OF FIRE (1963) 

In the next instalment of WHO PLAYED THE DEFENETIVE PEPLUM ROLES..., I'll cover Ursus. It shouldn't be too complicated, like the Maciste movies. Ursus came about in the epic novel QUO VADIS by Henryk Sienkiewicz. It's a fictional character that was modelled by other mythical heroes but nothing close to Hercules. Ursus is Bear in Latin. Ursus is a Polish slave in Rome. Ursus has to have blond hair and is strength is almost god-like. Buddy Baer (!) played Ursus in the epic Hollywood adaptation of QUO VADIS released in 1951. He was a giant and gentled hearted. But PEPLUM movies, keeping his gentled hearted nature, made him muscular. Ed Fury was an actor in Hollywood, playing supporting roles. He's mainly known as a Physique model, one of the most famous one. He was extremely fit when he made THE MIGHTY URSUS (1961) but the longer he stayed in Italy, the more out of shape he became. He was still healthy looking but not as cut or fit. By the time he appeared in the third Ursus movie, he looking obviously less muscular than in MIGHTY URSUS. When he left Italy, he tried acting in Hollywood but nothing major came his way. This movie is very violent. This scene, of Ursus ending up working at the millstone, is often truncated. 

Behind-the-Scenes

Incredible photo of Edmund Purdom and Linda Christian at the premiere of EL CID (1961). This photo is incredible because both Edmund and Linda starred together in ATHENA (1954). And 7 years later, here they are together in public. The had a long secret relationship since they made ATHENA but kept it secret. Read this Musings! I wrote last September which explains everything. The fact they go their affair out in public at a movie premiere is quite amazing. One year later the two would marry which was a disaster. Their relationship would make a fantastic movie.