Photo of the Day

Franco Silva and Anita Ekberg in THE MONGOLS(1961). 

Pretty good film with some memorable scenes, when Jack Palance doesn't chew the scenery. Arf. 

Seriously, Franco Silva is such an underrated/forgotten actor. It's sad. He was great

 in THE QUEEN OF SHEBA. He's very good in in this film as well. And Anita

is well, Anita. What more can you say? 

Gone missing: GLADIATRIX

Whatever happened to the film GLADIATRIX that was supposed to star Scarlett Johansson? It was announced two years ago and well, nothing. There's no info on the internet about the project being canceled.

PEPLUM Imagery in mainstream media

Photo of the Day

It's ALAN STEEL day today.

Born Sergio Ciani, Alan was one of the few Italian actors who made it

big with various mythological heroes during the PEPLUM explosion.

In this photo Wandisa Guida and Alan from HERCULES AGAINST ROME. 

Alan is sporting a cool toga/tunic/peplum there.

Cinematic Confusion

This poster for COLOSSUS OF THE STONE AGE claims Alan Steel is

in it even though he's not. Reg Lewis is the only beefy hero in it.

After they were PEPLUM stars

Alan Steel in a spaghetti western called FAST HAND IS STILL MY NAME(1972)

Photo of the Day

Jacques Bergerac, as Hector, and Gordon Mitchell, as Achilles, fight to the death

 in FURY OF ACHILLES. Great publicity photo.

Movie Poster Mondays

A movie that's almost impossible find. I personally never seen it and would love too.

Photo of the Day

Gordon Scott has to learn how to fight with his left hand in HERO OF ROME

PEPLUM Babe of the Week: José Greci

José Greci is this week's PEPLUM babe. José made several filmss, looked amazing 

in all of them and was a pretty good actress too. She's often overlooked but 

whenever I watch a movie with her in it, I'm happy! The still above is 

from GOLIATH & THE SINS OF BABYLON

José looked at her most fetching in THE TEN GLADIATORS.

The photos above and below are from COLOSSUS OF THE ARENA

José was a peasant beauty in DUEL OF THE TITANS

From HERCULES AGAINST THE MONGOLS

Black Death - Trailer

Never heard of this until yesterday. Sean Bean looks the part but I dunno...PEPLUM flicks these

days seem to look all alike, ie CENTURION and SEASON OF THE WITCH. 

Photo of the Day

Oliver Reed inspects a line-up of men in GLADIATOR.

PEPLUM Behind the Scenes

Claudette Colbert lights up Henry Wilcoxon's cigarette while

shooting CLEOPATRA(1934)

Big Screen for Big PEPLUM Epics

The Savoy in Hamburg.  It showed big PEPLUM flicks in 

Todd-AO, including SOLOMON & SHEBA.

link

Can you imagine sitting in the middle and having to go to the washroom in a crowded theatre. 

Photo of the Day

Anthony Quinn is crucified in BARABBAS, one of the most Baroque Biblical/PEPLUMS 

ever made. The direction by Richard Fleischer is one of the oddest of his career.

Future PEPLUM Star: Sean Harley

Sean Harley is a famous face in the world of bodybuilding but does he stand 

a chance in the world of Sword & Sandal flicks?

Frescos of Herculaneum

Beautiful!

Photo of the Day

Claudia Cardinale and Jean-Paul Belmondo in CARTOUCHE. 

The sumptuous film was a smash in France.

youtube

Mighty Samson

Short lived comic book from the 1960s about a superhero

in a post-apocalypse New York. Cool covers!

The defunct comic was revived in December 2010.

This cover is amazing! I have to check it out.

Cinematic Confusion

This is probably the most egregious example of a PEPLUM title that doesn't make any sense, vis a vis the movie or mythology itself, and how badly marketed it was here in North America.

The original title for this film is MARS - THE GOD OF WAR starring Roger Browne as Mars. Venus barely figures in the original storyline and yet for the US market, they got rid of Mars and pronounced him as the Son of Hercules (Mars the son of Hercules?) and have him pitted against...Venus?

If that's not confusing enough, the two figures on the cover of this VHS tape don't even look like the main actors and it certainly doesn't even look like anything in the film (the man is obviously a copy of Steve Reeves). I know it's marketing and no one renting the film knew or cared about the actors from the 1960s but if they had to change the look to sell it to younger audiences why not just leave it as MARS - THE GOD OF WAR which is more cool than SON OF HERCULES VS VENUS.

Photo of the Day

In some sort of Herculean effort known only to gods, fabric attempts to contain Sybil Danning in HERCULES (1983)

Before they were PEPLUM stars

Joe Robinson, who would appear in a handful of Sword & Sandal films, first

starred in British films such as A KID FOR TWO FARTHINGS directed by

Carol Reed. Joe's career didn't pan out as he probably hoped for. 

Photo of the Day

Twin bodybuilder brothers David and Peter Paul share a kiss in the Italian-made 

THE BARBARIANS (also known as THE BARBARIAN BROTHERS). It's meant 

to be a comedy bit but it's so mishandled it's anything but funny. Those naughty Italians.

Seriously, this is one delirious over-the-top cheesy Sword & Sandal film. I mean, the only

way to differentiate the twin brothers from one another is that one (?) exposes his butt

cheeks more than the other. That's the level of depthness to this film. Ah the 80s. 

CLASH OF THE TITANS remake gets two Razzies

CLASH OF THE TITANS remake gets two Razzies:


WORST EYE-GOUGING MIS-USE Of 3-D
CATS & DOGS #2: REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE
CLASH OF THE TITANS
THE LAST AIRBENDER
NUTCRACKER 3-D
SAW 3-D (aka SAW VII)






WORST PREQUEL, REMAKE, RIP-OFF or SEQUEL
CLASH OF THE TITANS
THE LAST AIRBENDER
SEX & THE CITY #2
TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE
VAMPIRES SUCK!

'The Eagle' Trailer

Looks good!