Musings!

Deborah Kerr as Lygia in QUO VADIS (1951) 

In the original novel, Lygia is bound on top of a bull, naked, as Ursus fights with it and tries to save her. For the 1951 film, they clearly couldn't do this so they opted for Lygia being tied to a pole. It's a good compromise but it's clearly not as dramatic. The 2004 mini-series replicated the scene as it was in the book. The poster for the 1913 silent movie shows Lygia on the bull but fully clothed. Side note: speaking of nude, Deborah seems to be showing.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Turkish poster of ATTACK OF THE MOORS (1959) 

The title translates as Selma, Daughter of the Tribe Leader. Nice colourful poster.

Peplum Public Discussion

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Image of the week!

Ulysses (Kirk Douglas) meets the Cyclops, Polyphemus (Umberto Silvestri), in ULYSSES (1954)

At the movies...

THE BUCCANEER (1958) premiere at the Saenger Theater in New Orleans.

Musings!

Tony Russel is about to have his head cut-off in SWORD OF DAMASCUS (1964)

This movie is a lightweight comedy. It's about Tony being a friendly thief. It's one goofy and slapstick moment right after another. Until after this scene at the end. It becomes violent with a quasi-massacre of sorts. The tonal shift of Italian PEPLUM movies is something to behold. It's not the first film in which slapstick and super serious stuff mix but this one takes the cake. The ending clashes with the rest of the movie, which I like and watched it many times but they could have toned down the violence during the  resolution. Tony became, briefly, a popular figure in Italian movies. For a decade or so. Like a bunch of other actors, I'm sorta perplexed by the many movies he made. He played bit parts, mostly uncredited roles in US movies and TV before becoming leading star in Italian films. I don't dislike him. He's ok and his Italian sci-fi movies are fun to watch but his sudden 'fame' is a mystery.

Behind-the-Scenes

Raquel Welch at the London premiere of ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. (1965)

Clip of the week: ATTACK OF THE MOORS (1959)

Liana Orfei dances.

Portraits

Hedy Lamarr, as Delilah, in SAMSON AND DELILAH (1949)

HD Alert!

Virna Lisi and Steve Reeves in DUEL OF THE TITANS (aka Romulus and Remus; 1961)

I recently acquired a boatload of PEPLUM movies in HD with English audio added to them from a nice fellow. There are so many of them that it'll take some time to process all of them. One of the titles I got, and there are some amazing titles here, is DUEL OF THE TITANS. Now, people will say, 'Isn't there a German Blu-ray released a couple of years ago?' Yes, there was. And it's nice enough. In my review I stated that the Blu-ray was good but not a wow! There were issues here and there but at the time I took it since the previous copies, mainly from the DVD, wasn't that great. Well, now there's an even better version streaming from Europe. The colours are so much richer. The flesh tones are on point, compared to the BD. The German Blu-Ray (above) has this blueish tint, when compared to the Spanish streaming version (below), makes it look drab and washed out. 

In the GIF animation below, one can clearly see that the German Blu-ray was extensively cropped, or zoomed in. Steve Reeves' head is in full view in the new print.The top and sides have more information. Is it perfect? There's some issues with dark scenes but it's not as bad as the German BD. This is a clearly superior print. 

List of PEPLUM movies in HD

 

As I've stated, it will take a lot of time to review and process all the new HD prints that I got, and add them to the list. Much more to come in the future.

Then & Now: Sabrina Siani

Sabrina Siani in THE THRONE OF FIRE (1983); the most recent photo of the actress.

Musings!

Ursula Davis and Claudie Lange in THE INVINCIBLE BROTHERS MACISTE (1964)

When I watch these two ladies, my first thing I think: who dressed them up? You see, they live in an underground kingdom and how do they get all the stuff and cosmetics and fabrics to embellish these ladies. Where did they get the silver looking fabric? BTW, Claudie looks like a prettier Lady Gaga. Everything is clean and spotless. Not bad for an underground civilization. What's also interesting about PEPLUM movies is how the women's hairstyles bucked the trend of having short hairstyles. From the early 1950s to the late 1960s, the style for most actresses, in Hollywood and around the world, were short, short, short. Think of Doris Day. But somehow PEPLUM movies went against the trend and like Ursula here, many actresses of the PEPLUM genre sported long hair. Thankfully. It's so much prettier. It's a fun observation which I'll explain further one day. This movie is also one of those 'Unique' PEPLUM movies, which are totally different from the standard production of the time. I have to make a list of these 'Unique' PEPLUM movies. 

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Italian poster of THE SIN OF ADAM AND EVE (1969)

This is a Mexican film so it's always interesting to see how artists from other countries interpret differently from the original source.

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 (Bekim Fehmiu) is put to a challenge against his wishes in THE ODYSSEY (1968; TV)

Lobby Cards Set: WAR OF THE ZOMBIES (1964)

US lobby cards set of WAR OF THE ZOMBIES (1964; 1965 US; also known as Rome Against Rome) starring Ettore Manni, Susy Andersen, Ida Galli and John Drew Barrymore. Excellent set. It features all the main actors I listed here. This is a great film and I'd definitely get it. Imagine looking at this set though, in the lobby of a movie theatre. Would you think this was a movie about zombies? 

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

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!

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.

-------

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.