Wardrobe Malfunctions!

Wardrobe Malfunctions and Other Revealing Moments!

Actors in PEPLUM films often wear skimpy costumes so wardrobe malfunctions were a common thing.

I'll update this page on a regular basis with new examples.

Tina Louise in SIEGE OF SYRACUSE (1960) falls on the floor on a ship after being pushed (which causes amnesia) and her brief stunt work inadvertently exposed her right nipple. I wonder how this got past censors.

Mark Forest in HERCULES AGAINST THE SONS OF THE SUN (1964), his super short toga meant a lot of exposure including this scene during the exciting climax. Oops...

This might not be considered a 'wardrobe malfunction' since she's not wearing any clothes but it's the same thing. Honor Blackman in THE LAST ROMAN (1968). She's taking a bath and the water undulates, which briefly reveals her nipples. I uploaded this film last week on Youtube. Someone flagged it and it has been set on restricted adult mode just because of this short scene. I had to remove the movie from my channel.

Brad Harris in 79 AD: THE DESTRUCTION OF HERCULANEUM (1962) revealed more than was intended. In the full screen version (above), an animated red dot was added by censors to cover the wardrobe malfunction. In the widescreen version (below), this scene is cropped out at the bottom. Carlo Tamberlani seems to notice the malfunction.

The love scene in SALAMMBO (1960) with Jacques Sernas and Jeanne Valerie. A brief but visible wardrobe malfunction. This shot was cut from the US version.

Spartaco Nale drops in and flashes his rump to the audience in DUEL OF THE TITANS (1961). There are plenty of wardrobe malfunctions in this film.

In SAPPHO THE VENUS OF LESBOS (aka The Warrior Empress), we see Susy Andersen in a sheer dress and her right nipple is visible through the sheer fabric.

Also from SAPPHO, Riccardo Garrone's right butt cheek is flashed briefly after readjusting himself on his horse. The scene is difficult to capture. Prior to this, Riccardo had the black cape over the area, to cover himself.

Brad Harris exposes his ass in GOLIATH AGAINST THE GIANTS. You can see more of him as he runs away. He's wearing some sort of thong.

From HERCULES AGAINST THE BARBARIANS (1964). In one of the best examples of a deliberate 'trompe l'oeil' effect (or deceiving effect), what we think we're seeing, in super fast action, Mark Forest (or a stuntman) wearing nothing underneath his short tunic is in fact an illusion. Mark (and stuntman) wore a flesh-colored briefs, which, coupled with the split second editing, gave the illusion that he was nude underneath. That there was some sort of wardrobe malfunction going on. This was most likely deliberately done by the director. The snake scene below is one of the most popular uploads at my PEPLUM TV channel.

This scene from SALAMMBO (1960) is a bit too revealing: not only is the man obviously a stuntman for Jacques Sernas but he also has a wardrobe malfunction which reveals a bit too much as his wrap runs up too high from the action of fighting with a lion. 

In the Spanish version of PERSEUS THE INVINCIBLE (1963), this scene is not only brighter than the Italian one but the extended fight shows a lot of Richard. This longer scene and other scenes are not in the original Italian version. This film, Italian or Spanish, is replete with wardrobe malfunctions of Harrison displaying his 'mettle.'

In this scene from SIGN OF THE PAGAN (1954), Sim Iness (Hercalanas) falls on his back with legs flailing, accidentally showing his flesh coloured underwear. For a split second the flesh coloured fabric makes one believe they're seeing some real nudity. In the subsequent shot, everything is neatly covered up. All in CinemaScope. These are rare in Hollywood made movies.

In THE IRON CROWN (1941), a man pull off the dress of a woman, with one of her breasts pops out by accident. 

In DUEL OF THE TITANS (1961), Ornella Vanoni accidentally flashes her left nipple in a torn top. The anachronistic costume she's wearing is another wardrobe malfunction. 

This scene from REVOLT OF THE SLAVES (1960) has actually spurred erroneous rumours of frontal nudity from one of the male extras. Since the tunic eventually plops down on it as he moves around, it gives the impression that the man was showing more than intended but upon closer look, he's wearing some undergarment which has a difficult time containing him. 

A scene from the climax of SEVEN REBEL GLADIATORS (1965). When we start seeing the tan line, you know they're showing too much.

Steve Reeves (or stunt double) showing tan line when coming out of water. From THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII (1959)

A scene from YOLANDA - DAUGHTER OF BLACK PIRATE (1953) starring May Britt. It's a brief scene but quite surprising for a film made in the early 1950s.

Another very brief 'wardrobe malfunction from FRINE - COURTESAN OF THE ORIENT (1953)

A crew member's tunic is blown up by the wind and reveals modern day briefs in THE ODYSSEY (1968) mini-series. This is a very common 'wardrobe malfunction' in PEPLUM films.

An extra's tunic is lifted by a wind gust, revealing modern day Adidas shorts in CLASH OF THE TITANS (1981)

Fredric March in ALEXANDER THE GREAT (1956). Flesh coloured under garment always creates confusion. Was he nude?

A scene from THE GOOD THIEF (1980). There's plenty of intentional female nudity in this movie but in this random scene, a gust of wind blows up the tunic of a male extra. The director decided to keep it in the movie.


7 FROM THEBES (1964)

The following screenshots are from this serious PEPLUM. Unfortunately every copy out there is of poor quality. It has plenty of wardrobe malfunctions.

The wardrobe malfunctions mainly involve Alfio Caltabiano, who was actor/stuntman/master of arms. During a violent fight Alfio falls, exposing his ass. It brief but quite hard to miss. It's funny how the camera angles always favour these wardrobe malfunctions.

Same movie but difference source; in this scene Alfio jumps over Andre Lawrence and in turn exposes his butt again.

Andre Lawrence exposes his modern day swimsuit tan line during the fight with Alfio.

In ESTHER & THE KING (1960), Daniela Rocca dances provocatively and at one point she removes her top (without pasties or anything covering her breasts). Not really a wardrobe malfunction since it was written in the storyline but this shot shows a little bit too much (even if I suspect there's a nipple shield / pastie of sorts covering her right breast...). That's Richard Egan and the woman is a stand-in for Daniela. She's most likely Ombretta Ostenda, the woman who does the actual dancing in the scene, with close-ups of Daniela.

Above & below: one of the most infamous wardrobe malfunctions of the PEPLUM genre is this one from BRENNUS - ENEMY OF ROME (1963) with Gordon Mitchell riding a horse and well, flashing the audience.

Above & below:  Jack Palance shows a little bit too much in REVAK THE REBEL (1960) during an agitated fight.

Many of these wardrobe malfunctions are just problematic camera angles, such as this one. The camera is low and Alan Steel is high above and well, this leaves nothing to the imagination. A different camera angle and it would have been a regular scene but now the focus is clearly centered between his legs. From SAMSON & THE MIGHTY CHALLENGE (1964) which is filled with such scenes.

During a scene with Mario Girotti (Terence Hill) and Rita Gam in HANNIBAl (1959), an extra directly behind them accidentally shows his buttocks as he bends over. Oops...

In SEVEN REBEL GLADIATORS (1965), Pietro Torrisi shows off part his buttocks. Since the action is fast and furious, this movie is filled from beginning to end with such malfunctions. 

Above and below: Taryn Power and Jane Seymour show a bit too much in SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER (1977). A side boob with Taryn, and we can see Jane's nipple. Ray Harryhausen liked incorporating such scenes in his movies. They're seen briefly and as mistakes but quite intentional. Remember, this is a kids movie. 

Above and below: From THE AVENGER (1962; also known as War of the Trojans). The scene: Aeneas (Steve Reeves) walks across a battlefield with dead soldiers. In one instance, we see this scene. Technically, we don't see any nudity but the costume is tenting, leaving nothing to the imagination. This scene was reused multiple times, including in HERCULES AGAINST MOLOCH (1963).

Wardrobe Malfunction...in HD

With more and more PEPLUM titles released in HD, these wardrobe malfunctions are becoming even more clear. One doesn't have to look for them. These wardrobe malfunctions happen just like that.

79 AD: THE DESTRUCTION OF HERCULANEUM (1962); we can clearly see that Brad Harris is wearing modern day y-front style underwear under his costume. 

CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER (1960) HD broadcast: during a fight scene, we see a bit too much of Ettore Manni.

HERCULES AGAINST THE BARBARIANS (1964) HD broadcast: Mark Forest's flesh coloured briefs are problematic.

From the MESSALINA (1960) Blu-ray: an oops moment with Alfio Caltabiano flashing his butt...all in HD

ULYSSES AGAINST HERCULES (1962) HD broadcast: From this shot, one can clearly see that Georges Marchal is wearing modern day briefs.

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Hercules (Brad Harris) shows his strength. The soldier tumbling flashes his butt.

Ornella Vanoni exposing a bit too much in DUEL OF THE TITANS (1961)

This photo from the UK lobby cards set shows a little bit too much. It's not the inner thigh.

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From ULYSSES (1954). A group of young women are playing on the beach when they they come across Ulysses. Totally sheer dresses. Yes, that's a hairy armpit. I don't think it's a wardrobe malfunction. It was intentional. How the movie got away with it is interesting.

A fallen gladiator tries to get up and shows audiences a bit much in THE AFFAIRS OF MESSALINA (1951)

More to come!