Starring Arnold Strong...

Before Arnold Schwarzenegger became known as Arnold Schwarzenegger at the movies the Austrian bodybuilder was known as Arnold Strong. Above is a screenshot of the opening credits for HERCULES IN NEW YORK. I wonder why he didn't keep it. Strong is easier to spell than Schwarzenegger. 

Erotic PEPLUM books

The floodgates of discreet and cheap erotic books a la 50 SHADES OF GREY were opened wide with the advent of eBooks. Amazon or iTunes now feature tons of these and amongst those ebooks are some with stories set in Antiquity, in Ancient Rome and other places. I doubt I'll ever read one of them but it's fun to see the genre in the mainstream.

Photo of the Day

Ayesha - She Who Must Be Obeyed (Ophélie Winter) in SHE (2001)

A seldom seen remake from 2001 and it's a Canadian/British/Bulgarian and Italian co-production shot in Bulgaria. This story was made several times before. Ophélie Winter is a pop star in France and her casting is sorta inspired as there's some sort of other-wordly look to her even if her breasts are obvious implants. The production is a take off of sorts of the action packed THE MUMMY films starring Brendan Fraser made during the same period.

A PEPLUM first?

Eva Robins as Dedalos in HERCULES (1983). Eva was born Roberto Coatti. Is she the first PEPLUM transexual star? She appeared in both Lou Ferrigno's HERCULES films.

ATLANTIS - New BBC series

Looks ok and sorta familiar....I guess the Jason in the series is supposed to be the one from Jason and the Argonauts.

From the official website:

"The city of Atlantis is a mysterious, ancient place; a world of bull leaping, of snake haired goddesses and of palaces so vast it was said they were built by giants. It’s into this strange, compelling realm that the young Jason arrives and an amazing adventure begins, bringing to life the vast store of Greek myths and legends re-imagined for a new generation in an action packed 13-part series."

Photo of the Day

Henry the VIII (Charles Laughton) and Jane Seymour The Third Wife (Wendy Barrie) in THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII

Director Alexander Korda made a string of Private Life films including THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENLEN OF TROY. This photo is beautiful and sorta freaky.

Movie Poster Mondays

Rare Spanish poster for SON OF SAMSON

Simple and colorful. Thumbs up!

JUPITER'S DARLING (Preview Clip)

Preview clip from Warner Archive of JUPITER'S DARLING. I didn't upload this. Warner Archive are having a special these days. DVDs usually cost $16 or more but now you can purchase 5 for $50. Many PEPLUM flicks included in the list. Check it out. Thanks Charles for the heads-up.

Warner Archive

Photo of the Day

Publicity photo of Lesley-Anne Down, Sandra Hess and Marc Singer for THE BEASTMASTER 3 : THE EYES OF BRAXUS

Can you just feel the enthusiasm! Can someone smile? Why look so glum?

Back on Monday!

Cinematic Confusion

German artwork for HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD (literal translation of German title: Vampires against Hercules). There's no horned lizard monster in that film but there is one in HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN. Germans are a confused lot (link).

Dante DiPaolo : R.I.P.

Dante in MACISTE IN THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS. He was excellent in this

Dante DiPaolo passed away last Tuesday at the age of 87. He was a dancer and actor, married to Rosemary Clooney until her death in 2002. He was, by marriage, George Clooney's uncle. He made a handful of genre films during the PEPLUM explosion. I liked Dante. Every time he was on screen he almost stole the show certainly in MACISTE IN THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS.

Dante in MARS - GOD OF WAR, along with Roger Browne and Jackie Lane. He's a good guy in this

PONTIUS PILATE 

SAMSON AND THE 7 MIRACLES OF THE WORLD 

Dante was a dancer, He was in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS and here he's doing the cha-cha in CHA-CHA-CHA BOOM!

A recent photo of Dante

Photo of the Day

Princess Freda (Rosanna Schiaffino) in THE MINOTAUR

Rosanna is PEPLUM Babe of the Month for September.

She only made a handful of PEPLUM films but she was great in all of them. She was perfect for the genre. In THE MINOTAUR, Rosanna plays a duel role and there's something hypnotic about her role in this excellent PEPLUM adventure. More stuff on Rosanna during the month.

Before they were PEPLUM star : Ken Clark

Ken Clark in 12 TO THE MOON, his last US role before going to Italy and make dozens of PEPLUM and Euro-spy films. Ken would live permanently in Rome and died a few years ago in the eternal city. 12 TO THE MOON is an ok low budget sic-fi flick. Nothing earth-shattering but good as a time killer. This is his obligatory beefcake moment. RE MANFREDI is the swashbuckler he did right after this film.

Timeless PEPLUM fashion

I was visiting a website which had the above banner. At first I thought it was an ad for a new PEPLUM film but quickly realized it was an ad for another website selling custom-made dresses. Believe it or not but the site (link) is selling it as a prom dress. Very classic Greek looking. Customers all love it and gave it 5 stars. PEPLUM fashion never goes out of style.

Photo of the Day

Leslie Nielsen in S.P.Q.R: 2000 AND A HALF YEARS AGO

An Italian PEPLUM comedy starring Nielsen in a style of AIRPLANE/NAKED GUN film. I have it in Italian. I have to find the English version or at least the English subs for this. It was made in 1994, right after the last NAKED GUN film. 

Behind-the-Scenes

Steve Reeves writes his signature on a girl's arm while filming HERCULES (1958). Did the girls really know who he was?

PEPLUM special effects : THE PRODIGAL

Matte special effects from THE PRODIGAL. An intricate effect shot which includes several elements. It starts with a wide exterior shot of a combo of actors, sets and matte painting and it pans to the left, into an interior shot with Lana Turner and others. The pan to the left is smooth if a bit too straight but it's excellent nonetheless.

Photo of the Day

Roon (Sabrina Siani) inspects Ator (Miles O'Keeffe) who is her prize for the night in ATOR THE FIGHTING EAGLE (or Ator the Invincible)

Roon is a warrior from an Amazon like tribe and is suppose to kill Ator after mating with him. Will they be able to find themselves when making love in an ocean of hair?

Same poster artwork, different films

Then & Now : Raquel Welch

Raquel as Constance de Bonacieux in THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1973); Raquel today at 73 (or tomorrow...)

(It's Raquel's birthday on September 5 so happy birthday to the bombshell!)

Photo of the Day

Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus in GLADIATOR (2000)

Commodus was a trend setter. Eat you heart out Miley Cyrus.

Commodus at the movies

Alan Steel probably played the best Commodus on screen in THE REBEL GLADIATORS. He looked the most like the infamous Emperor who was reputed to be in excellent physical condition, like Steel.

Christopher Plummer probably played the most literate version of Commodus in THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

Mimmo Palmara as Commodus in THE TWO GLADIATORS

Enzo Tarascio was Commodus in SWORD OF THE EMPIRE; like FALL OF ROMAN EMPIRE, this film "influenced" GLADIATOR (2000).

Joaquin Phoenix in GLADIATOR (2000). Joaquin was nominated for best supporting actor for his interpretation of Commodus. As good as it was Joaquin is probably the farthest removed from the real thing. 

Commodus built his own mini-Colosseum

Archeologists have unearthed a private mini-Colosseum built by the notorious Roman emperor who featured in the Oscar-winning film Gladiator.

Commodus used the 2nd century ampitheatre on his estate in Genzano, southeast of Rome, to kill animals while dressed as a gladiator.

The oval arena, measuring 200ft by 130ft, was discovered accidentally by a team from an American university, as they excavated thermal baths at the estate known as the Villa of Antonines.

Using radar that showed foundations underground, the images revealed an imperial box and curving walls with yellow, red and purple floors made of marble.

The mimi-colosseum is located at the Villa of Antonines

In the movie he fought to the death in the Colosseum in Rome with fictional army general Russell Crowe. Historically, he was just 20 when he became emperor, reigning from AD180 to 192. He ordered the masses to worship him as a second Hercules on the ground that he had killed wild beasts in the Colosseum.

Daily Mail

Photo of the Day

Pietro Marascalchi is Moloch in HERCULES AGAINST MOLOCH

One of the few villains in Italian PEPLUM films who was a match to the strong hero.

Movie Poster Mondays

Italian poster for THE INVINCIBLE BROTHERS MACISTE

One of many different artwork for the fun film.

Both brothers are named Maciste but they're not twins. One goes by Maciste the Elder and the other is Maciste the Younger. Hmm...I'd like to know what's the background story of why the parents (if they had any) named their sons the same name.