Retro Friday : Fantasy Casting...that almost was

(originally posted on March 15, 2011)

The debacle that was CLEOPATRA started out with a completely different director and cast. The brilliant Rouben Mamoulian was set to direct and Peter Finch was set to play Caesar and Stephen Boyd was initially cast as Mark Anthony. Because of production delays that lasted nearly a year, all three opted out of the project and then the casting problems occurred. The biggest casting issue, Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra, never changed so she still would have been a liability in either productions. But the film's biggest problem was the script itself and if it was the same, had it been this cast or the cast they ended up with, well, they couldn't have saved that terrible script. But one can only imagine how this version would have been. I suspect it would have been much better and very atmospheric, like most Mamoulian films.

Peter Finch as Caesar.  A much better choice than Rex "school principal" Harrison. 

Above and below: Stephen Boyd as Mark Anthony. 

Keith Baxter, Stephen Boyd and director Rouben Mamoulian in a test shot. British actor Keith Baxter was set to play Octavian but was replaced by miscast Roddy McDowall. 

A test shot. 

By the Gods!

Mickey Hargitay, as Hercules, is made to go through a test (with Jayne standing as prop) in THE LOVES OF HERCULES

One of the better scenes in this somewhat goofy but entertaining PEPLUM. Hargitay wasn't much of an actor and he often comes across as, well, goofy which is not what I think the filmmakers wanted to achieve. Don't get me wrong, I like this film and I've watched it repeatedly but it is, well, goofy. That's Massimo Serato on the far left. A great actor, probably wondering what he's doing there. The two tall men behind him in tiny tunics are unidentified. They both could have been PEPLUM stars. Another PEPLUM mystery.

PEPLUM GIF animation : THE LOVES OF HERCULES

Scene from THE LOVES OF HERCULES starring Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay. Who needs 3D?

By the Gods!

Queen Taramis (Sarah Douglas) spins a web of deceit around Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) in CONAN THE DESTROYER

The best thing about this (then) neo-PEPLUM was Sarah. Unfortunately, her role was limited but acted around everyone in this very campy high budget B-movie. As for Arnold, when they made the first film, director John Milius said he didn't want to make another Steve Reeves film and they were very conscious about showing Arnold's sculptured physique. But for the second film, they abandoned all pretense, and Arnold hardly wore any clothes throughout the film.

Behind-the-Scenes

John Huston directs Ava Gardner in THE BIBLE : THE BEGINNING...

By the Gods!

Gloria Milland and Brad harris are in love / lust in GOLIATH AGAINST THE GIANTS

I like these two together and I like Gloria Milland even if her character is confusing and sorta shrill. Their relationship is a love / hate one and it makes very little sense and yet by the end you're happy they're together. Look at that bedroom.

Damon And Pythias (1962) music by Angelo Lavagnino

One of the best composers of PEPLUM music, Angelo Francesco Lavagnino, made several memorable scores for the genre. Here's the one he made of DAMON & PYTHIAS

By the Gods!

Paul Stevens, Gordon Scott and Mart Hulswit in HERCULES & THE PRINCESS OF TROY

The only time Scott actually played Hercules (not someone named Hercules or pretending to be Hercules asin HERCULES AGAINST MOLOCH). This was a TV pilot that didn't get picked. it would have been amazing if it had been but by the time this was made people started getting bored with the PEPLUM genre. Production values are excellent but the story is not that compelling so it's not surprising it wasn't picked up. For me, a weekly series like this would be amazing.

Movie Poster Mondays

Belgian poster for REVOLT OF THE SLAVES

Everything but the kitchen sink. Colorful poster that promises a lot...more than the actual film, which is still entertaining and action packed.

By the Gods!

 Emiliano (Steve Reeves) is put to the test of his life in GOLIATH & THE BARBARIANS

When people and fans met Steve they always mentioned Hercules, which frustrated him to no end. He said that he made other films with other heroes, including this one, which few mentioned. I understand his frustration but it's easy to get hercules confuse with this film, even though it has nothing to do with Greek mythology.

Retro Friday : The many hairstyles of Marilù Tolo

Old posts updated (originally posted on March 16, 2011)

Marilù made just a handful of PEPLUM films and yet she she went through a lifetime of styles in them.  Here is a small sample. Marilù changes her style so many times, even during the same film, that I get her confused with other actresses. But then most are probably not looking at her hairstyles when she was on screen.

MACISTE - GLADIATOR OF SPARTA

THE MAGNIFICENT GLADIATOR

THE LAST GLADIATOR

TRIUMPH OF HERCULES

By the Gods!

Anthar (Kirk Morris) rescues Princess Soraya (Michèle Girardon) in ANTHAR THE INVINCIBLE

The mute boy is played by Roberto Dell'Acqua. Fun film even though it's mostly studio bound.  Michèle Girardon's film career was short-lived since she committed suicide a few years later. Kirk was in great demand when he made this film after the success of HERCULES, SAMSON & ULYSSES. None of the films he made after the later film was as successful.

PEPLUM GIF Animation : THE MIGHTY URSUS

A scene from THE MIGHTY URSUS starring Ed Fury. Classic breaking chains bit seen in many PEPLUM films.

By the Gods!

Hector (Eric Bana) is preparing for a battle in TROY

Bana's career took a nose dive after leading roles in a couple of high profile films such as MUNICH, HULK and this film. He's now a supporting actor or appearing in B-movies. A pretty steep dive for someone who was given the keys to Hollywood. Is TROY to blame? I didn't care much for it but it wasn't that bad, just extremely tedious and uninspired. He should have made more Sword & Sandal films.

Behind-the-Scenes

Sophia Loren is photographed relaxing in a chariot while filming THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. I don't think Sophia even smiles during the entire (very long) film.

By the Gods!

Cameron Mitchell and Beba Loncar are lovers in IN THE SHADOW OF THE EAGLES

It's rare that I find a PEPLUM film not worth revisiting again and again and well, this film is one of them. Production values are excellent (sets, cinematography, etc) but the film is dull, dull, dull. I love dramas set in Antiquity and we see how people lived in the past but this one is not an inspired recreation. Things aren't helped much with Beba Loncar sporting the worst wig in any PEPLUM film (and that's saying a lot). Directed by Ferdinando Baldi, who also directed the Alan Ladd film DUEL OF CHAMPIONS, which sorta resembles it. It's a shame though because it has everything going for it except for a good story.  This was a companion production, made at the same time as MASSACRE IN THE BLACK FOREST (almost the same cast and crew) and even though there's one big flaw in that film (part of the ending), it's much more memorable than this one.

When nature calls...

Most PEPLUM films have animals, mainly horses, and things can get out of hand when these animals decide to go and do their business while they're filming.

At the beginning of THE TROJAN HORSE the horse on the left lifts its tail up and starts pooping. Fortunately this is not an omen of things to come since the film is excellent!

 A donkey takes a piss in one scene from THE 3 SWORDS OF ROME

By the Gods!

Folco Lulli (Igor) and Chelo Alonso in QUEEN OF THE TARTARS

Igor sacked a village and took a baby girl, Tanya (Chelo) and raised her as his own daughter. One of the few lead starring roles for Chelo. She's good in it but the storyline is unusual, even within the PEPLUM universe. There's some sort of mysticism about her character, which I enjoyed but it's woefully under-dervelopped. Even though I have 3 different versions of this film, I'm still looking for clean, clear copy of this in widescreen.

Movie Poster Mondays

German poster of HERCULES AGAINST THE BARBARIANS

Nice photo montage instead of the usual artwork.

By the Gods!

Baddies Moira Orfei, Alberto Lupo and Gérard Herter have Ed Fury (Ursus) in chains in URSUS IN THE VALLEY OF LIONS

This recalls what? Jesus on the cross? The film never makes any Chris-like allusions but then never underestimate Italian filmmakers. A fun film but it's the least of the three Ursus films Ed made back during the Golden era of the PEPLUM genre.

Retro Friday : PEPLUM Prop : The Gong

Old posts updated (originally posted on December 16, 2010)

It's well known that Italian PEPLUM flicks recycled props (among other things) and here's one funny example: that gong! The gong has appeared in so many Sword & Sandal films that I've lost track. It even appeared in films of the 1980s. It's fun to spot it whenever I watch a movie.

HERCULES & THE CAPTIVE WOMEN

TERROR OF THE STEPPES

GLADIATORS 7

URSUS IN THE LAND OF FIRE

URSUS IN THE VALLEY OF LIONS

THE LION OF THEBES

THRONE OF FIRE

By the Gods!

God writes a message of doom in SLAVES OF BABYLON

The hand of god! The message says the days of the evil Kingdom will come to an end. I like this scene. It's all too brief but it's well executed. A Columbia picture directed by William Castle.

PEPLUM GIF Animation : COLOSSUS OF THE STONE AGE

Reg Lewis and Margaret Lee fight a dinosaur. 6 months in the making!

By the Gods!

Gordon Scott in HERO OF BABYLON

The 'surrounded by spears' is a very popular cliché in musclemen pictures : there are few ways to stop a very strong man and this is one quick and easy way that works. One of Scott's better films.

Behind-the-Scenes

A behind the scenes look at the filming of THE ISLAND PRINCESS starring Silvana Pampanini. The action scenes at the climax were directed by Pietro Francisci and it was filmed on location in the stunning Canary Islands.