Photo of the Day

Richard Lynch, as Cromwell, ponders what to do with Simon MacCorkindale (in background) as Nina Van Pallandt awaits orders in THE SORCERER AND THE SWORD

Richard Lynch, who made a couple of PEPLUM films including THE BARBARIANS (1987) died last month, on June 19, 2012 (Simon MacCorkindale passed away two years ago). Richard was a perennial villain. He probably made a few films when he was a good guy but I haven't seen one yet. Anyone who watched films on vhs during the 1980s saw him on a regular basis.

Movie Poster Mondays

Polish poster for THE 300 SPARTANS

I like it. Simple and effective. Classy.

Photo of the Day

Spartacus (Kirk Douglas) is left to die on the cross in SPARTACUS

This is not a spoiler. Arf. Anyway, I always had issues with this ending. Historically this scene is inaccurate; Spartacus's body was never found and they assumed he died in battle. I don't have issues with changing history for a dramatic plot point but I never found the conclusion convincing, regardless of historically inaccuracies. Here, Spartacus looks too good for someone who's been on a cross for some time. If he had been a bit more dirty, a bit more bloody, unshaven with unkept hair then I think it would have been more believable. Close-ups of his coiffed hair sorta take me out of the film. He doesn't look like he has been suffering enough.

British PEPLUM posters

When Italian/Euro PEPLUM epics were dubbed in English, it wasn't only for the US market as these British posters attest. Most of these posters are for films which weren't released theatrically this side of the Atlantic. The titles are also different. In this case the top three have different titles. THE SLAVE WOMAN was released as QUEEN OF BABYLON in the US, the only film from this bunch to have made it at the movies. Because of this these posters are rarities and should fetch a lot of money but the PEPLUM genre is alas not highly regarded.

I found most of these posters at this link

Ernest Borgnine R.I.P. 1917-2012

Ernest Borgnine died today at the age of 95. 

Ernest made several PEPLUM films, including DEMETRIUS AND THE GLADIATORS (above), BARABBAS and THE VIKINGS. Ernest won an Oscar for Best Actor for MARTY back in 1955.

Photo of the Day

One of them is Michèle Morgan in FABIOLA

This scene is beautiful. Henry Vidal (not shown) is walking about at night in a garden and sees these statues illuminated in the moonlight and Michèle pretends she's a statue. A brief magical moment achieved with black and white photography.

A soundtrack without a film

From TWO STEPS FROM HELL, it's a compilation of music made specifically for trailers and for many film fans out there this music is better than the actual soundtrack in the final film. The music by Thomas Bergersen is especially very PEPLUM-like.

Photo of the Day

Karis (Daniela Rocca) is about to feel the wrath of Theocrites (Sergio Fantoni) in THE GIANT OF MARATHON

This slapping scene is memorable, in more ways than one.

Spartacus & Phrygia - Spartacus ballet

You can watch the entire ballet here

Lobby Card set: HERCULES UNCHAINED Italian

For a change, I used the Italian "fotobustas" instead of the US lobby card set. They are bigger than standard lobby cards and are more detailed but they're basically the same thing. This is a great set if a bit repetitive, with 4 cards with Steve in almost  the same pose. I have no complaints with it except that it does miss out on many classic scenes including the one with Steve and a lounging Sylvia watching the dancers. It should have been included. A fotobusta of the other members of the cast (Castor & Pollux, the Argo, etc) would have been cool but this is a very colorful set and it's thumbs up from me.

Photo of the Day

Kirk Morris tries to fend off a rampaging rhino in ANTHAR THE INVINCIBLE

I'm all for suspension of disbelief but this is one of the few moments when I'm thinking "eh, the rhino would toss Kirk around like a rag doll." Those animals are powerful. But it's cool that they used something else than a lion or tiger.

Doppelgänger

Bacchus by Caravaggio

John Belushi in ANIMAL HOUSE; ok John is a bit scruffier but I always get a kick about the resemblance, certainly the eyebrows.

Amazing Reenactments

Last week I made friends with or liked several Facebook profiles which show Roman reenactments, which are, imo, truly stunning. Check these out. The top photo is one of my favorites. The costumes, gear, weapons, etc are all top notch. And the photos are spectacular.

COHORS II LUCENSIUM

ROMA AETERNA

Photo of the Day

Commander Claudius (Stewart Granger) introduces Pontius Pilate (Basil Sydney) to Salome (Rita Hayworth) in SALOME

This photo is a publicity shot because when Salome meets Claudius and Pontius in the film they're standing on the ship's deck and it's shot in a studio, not outside like this photo suggests. Also, this entire moment happens in the evening or at dusk so everything was darken with filters, which doesn't show as much information as this fabulous photo. Another case of a single black & white photo being greater than the actual moment in the film. Why didn't they shoot it this way? It's so much more dramatic. Movies made in the past where made this way: whenever there's a scene with dialogue it had to be shot in a controlled environment like a studio while the bigger wide angle scenes (people mingling, etc) where shot outside.

PEPLUM XXX

A porno film called HERCULES from "High-Class Entertainment." 

Where's Herc?

Prometheus

Are these images from a science-fiction film or are they from a PEPLUM?

Of course the name Prometheus is from Greek mythology even if this is a sci-fi. I love films, sci-fi or any kind, which are sorta based in Greek mythology (duh!) but I also love original stuff and how far reaching or mind boggling can a sci-fi film like this Ridley Scott production be if it's based on stories or characters which are thousands of years old? I have been reluctant to see this after too many disappointments with Ridley Scott films from the past two decades but I do know that these guys are engineers.

Photo of the Day

Genevieve Grad realizes Gianna Maria Canale was killed accidentally during a cat-fight in CONQUEROR OF CORINTH

This scene is frustrating because first, the cat-fight is way too short. Second, even if it's short the cat-fight is one of the highlights of the film but then this brings up the third frustrating point: it signals the end of Gianna's role which means we won't see the beautiful Queen of Cinecitta for the remainder of the film.

Name the movie!

What movie is this scene from? If you know this you are good!

Stand-In

A behind-the-scenes example of a stand-in during the shooting of THIEF OF BAGHDAD: Giovanni Cianfriglia and Edy Vessel sit still while they set up the shot. The buff Giovanni is standing-in for Steve Reeves while Edy has no stand-in. Below is how the shot looks like in the final film. Giovanni was Steve's "official" body double/stuntman for many films.

Photo of the Day

Pivotal scene from THE EGYPTIAN

Great use of CinemaScope and color. A scene like this is a cliché of sorts in PEPLUM films. I'll make a banner of this scene.

Movie Poster Mondays

French poster for SON OF ALI BABA

Colorful and stylish but it sorta makes you realize how miscast Tony was.

How 300 Should Have Ended

Photo of the Day

Pietro Torrisi and Mario Novelli during a duel to the death in THE BARBARIAN MASTER

No, they are not sharing a piece of gum there.

Sometimes I feel like I know everything about PEPLUM genre and sometimes I feel like I don't. I've watched this film a million times (ok, not a million...), I've even uploaded a scene from this film on Youtube and I never realized that Mario Novelli was in it. Doh!

PEPLUM imagery in the media

From the SONNY & CHER Show

Hmm, that look sorta suited Sonny...arf.

Then & Now : Virna Lisi

Virna in DUEL OF THE TITANS; Virna today, still looking beautiful!