Musings!

Louis Jordan, Yvonne Furneaux and cast in THE STORY OF THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (1961)

I watched this movie yesterday and I have so many questions. The production is excellent. A+. Unfortunately, barely anything register. It's shot in super widescreen, as this screenshot shows, and a big chunk of the film is like this, distant. I think Yvonne Furneaux is miscast. I'm a fan of Yvonne but her role/performance doesn't work. The movie is very costumey. And Louis Jordan barely registers. In some long scenes he barely has any dialogue. The Count of Monte Cristo is one of Alexandre Dumas' most popular and filmed works. I believe there's over 40 adaptations. And yet there's no definitive version. Some say the 1934 version is the best but I saw it years ago so I have to re-watch it. Anyway, I had high hopes for this one but I was disappointed.

Behind-the-Scenes

Kirk Douglas, out of costume, and Silvana Mangano, in costume, on the set of ULYSSES (1954)

Clip of the week: DEATHSTALKER (1983)

Rick Hill vs Richard Brooker!

New PEPLUM Imagery

THE COLOSSUS OF ROME

MEN OF PULP

SPFX DEPT.

Scenes from THE GIANTS OF THESSALY (1960)

These two scenes have many elements in them. The top one occurs at the very beginning. It shows, in the background, the active volcano. While below, at the end, it shows the dormant volcano. The volcano and rock formation below it is very theatrical. Not very believable. I like it (it shows things all at once) but I have to admit it's not realistic looking. Another  element is the column in the middle. I'm certain that the column is a matte painting. It looks identical in both shots and it's probably a matte from a scene where Jason gets the Golden Fleece. It could also be a model close to the camera. But it's not a full practice set. 

Moors & Christians Parades in Spain

I caught live-streaming parades on TikTok that took place in Spain. The festivities take place during several days. It's called 'Moros y Cristianos' or MOORS AND CHRISTIANS. It was really fun to watch. The costumes were spectacular. Maybe one days I'll see these parades in person. Here are some screenshots.

Musings!

Katherine Hepburn in THE TROJAN WOMEN (1971) 

As the new THE ODYSSEY movie will be released this Friday, I'd like to remind people of this movie. Directed by Michael Cacoyannis, who directed several movies based on Greek mythology, filmed mostly with barebones production values. The emphasis of his films were the actors, dialogue and emotions. Not the spectacle side of the PEPLUM genre. Though not for everyone, I appreciate these movies. While watching THE TROJAN WOMEN, I never got bored. It is minimalistic, with barely any sets. Just the cast standing in some dusty location. It must have been an interesting shoot. Personally, I like Katherine in this movie. She gives the movie and her role a lot of gravitas. Irene papas is also great. But Hepburn gives a heartfelt performance. 

Katherine didn't make many PEPLUM style movies but she did star way back in the early days of her career, in a play called THE WARRIOR'S HUSBAND, which was one of her breakthrough roles in 1924. When it was eventually made into a movie, Elissa Landi, of SIGN OF THE CROSS (1932), played the role Katherine played on stage. The movie is almost impossible to find. I got a copy from someone who recorded it while it played at a museum in New York. One of the reasons I'm bringing this up with the soon-to-be-released THE ODYSSEY, the new film is being perceived to be a feminist take on Homer's work. I suspect THE TROJAN WOMEN is a better movie, seen from a female perspective, than the $250 million production.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Original Italian poster of GREAT LEADERS OF THE BIBLE (1965) 

A film made with two stories. One about Gideon and the other, Samson and Delilah. The poster could have been more spectacular. The list of actors on the top right is impressive.

Peplum Public Discussion

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Image of the week!

Maciste (Reg Lewis) in full battle mode in COLOSSUS OF THE STONE AGE (1962)

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.