By the Gods!

Serge Nubret in THE TITANS (1962 ; also known as My Son, The Hero)

Serge was 24 years old when he made this film. Just a few years back, in 1958, Serge decided to become a bodybuilder after he saw Steve Reeves in HERCULES (1958). He won The World's Most Muscular Man competition, which took place in Montreal in 1960. 2 years later, he starred in this movie. Serge only appeared in two PEPLUM productions. I'm currently working on a video profile on him and will be doing more profiles on actors and directors on a regular basis.

By the Gods!

Mitsuko Takara gets branded in SODOM & GOMORRAH (1962)

Mitsuko, credited as Mitzuko, only made a handful of films before disappearing from the face of the earth. She's probably the most interesting casting choice in that crowded film. Whatever happened to her?

Behind-the-Scenes

Behind the scenes photo of Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner shaking hands during the filming of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956)

By the Gods!

Mark Forest as Maciste in SON OF SAMSON (1960)

That's Vira Silenti in the yellow dress. This scene is cut from the US edition. Why? I dunno. The original Italian title translates into English as MACISTE IN THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS. This was Mark's second film. When Mark started he was big but by the time he made HERCULES AGAINST THE BARBARIANS, his musculature had diminished considerably and he looked fit but not humongous. This entertaining PEPLUM is blocked on Youtube. I'm trying to think of alternative ways to upload this. I'm thinking of Dailymotion but no one goes to that site. Dailymotion also limits the length of uploads to one hour. So I would have to split the film in two. It might be better than nothing.

Star Ciné photo novels

French photo novel publisher had several different editions: STAR CINE ROMAN was basically focus on love stories, PEPLUM or not, while STAR CINE BRAVOURE published adventure photo novels.

WAR OF THE TROJANS (1962)

Update: It's KNIGHTS OF TERROR but they used a photo of Steve Reeves!!!

L'ÉPÉE DU VENGEUR Il terrore dei Mantelli Rossi/Les cavaliers de la terreur, Mario Costa, 1963 Tony Russel, Scilla Gabel

DUEL OF THE TITANS (1961)

MORGAN THE PIRATE (1960)

THE GIANT OF MARATHON (1959)

SWORD OF EL-CID (1962)

THE PHARAOHS' WOMAN (1960)

By the Gods!

Debra Paget and Ettore Manni in CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER (1960)

This is an interesting movie, behind the scenes and the film itself. The original Italian version has nothing to do with Cleopatra. US distributors bought the rights to this and changed the storyline in order to capitalize on the soon to be made super hyped Hollywood film, CLEOPATRA (1963). This 90 minutes movie is more entertaining than the 3+ hours of the Elizabeth Taylor film (depending on which version). I really like it, whichever version I watch. This screenshot is taken from a French copy which I've uploaded to PEPLUM TV WORLD. I'd like to do a Fan Dub with it but the image, as nice as it is, is quite soft / blurry. I'll have to think about it. Paget retired from the wicked film industry and became a born-again christian.

Movie Poster Mondays

Spectacular Italian poster of THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII (1959)

Great poster. Really captures the essence of the movie!

By the Gods!

Alfio Caltabiano and Mario Novelli in THE REVENGE OF THE GLADIATORS (1964)

One of the 3 'Slave' films by Michele Lupo. The same cast and crew, and they somehow all look the same but they're not sequels or have anything to do with each other. And like all Michele Lupo movies, it's a somewhat odd mixture of super serious drama and uber slapstick action. Alfio Caltabiano is also credited as 'Maestro d'armi' or 'Master of arms' for this movie. Practically all productions he worked on, he also worked as the stunt or swords specialist. His stance in this screenshot is his signature stance. If I see actors in such a stance, I know Alfio worked on that movie, even if he's not acting in it.

This Lupo movie is sometimes known as REVENGE OF SPARTACUS. In addition, this movie is not to be confused with another movie released the same year called REVENGE OF THE GLADIATORS, starring Mickey Hargitay.

Fotonovela: THE SINNER (part 4)

part 4 of serialization of THE SINNER fotonovela. Click on image to see a larger size.

Added to the permanent blog page of THE SINNER

By the Gods!

Sybil Danning and Ingrid Anderson in HERCULES (1983)

Not that anyone is paying any attention to them but the costumes for this movie were so cheap looking. It's one of those things that makes you appreciate the films of the Golden Era, in that practically all (not all but most) of the costumes were beautifully designed and made. They always gave an aspect of quality to the productions, even in films when the costumes were reused. The 1983 version of HERCULES, not so. But like I said, in this particular instance, I don't think anyone noticed.

By the Gods!

Alan Steel (aka Sergio Ciani) as Hercules showing off his 'might' in SAMSON & THE MIGHTY CHALLENGE (1964)

Hercules is pulling a sunken ship out of the ocean. Since this is a spoof, very little drama or tension exists. As a spoof, it's a hit or miss but the makers of this movie knew all the standard PEPLUM clichés which, IMO, makes it fun to watch. This entire scene, o Hercules getting the sunken ship, is a bit overlong and it could have been done in a more rapid and humorous way. The movie itself is not perfect but it's fun, and it's often the target the derision for those who dislike the PEPLUM genre. In fact, this movie was re-dubbed with ridiculous dialogue and re-released in Australia. Personally, the original version is funnier.

This screenshot sorta encapsulates the difference between Hollywood and Italian cinema, in regards to the display of masculinity.

Behind-the-Scenes

The cast of VULCAN - SON OF JUPITER (1962): Bella Cortez, Iloosh Khoshabe, Annie Gorassini and Roger Browne

By the Gods!

Mylène Demongeot, as Andromeda, in THE GIANT OF MARATHON (1959)

This screenshot is from an HD broadcast of the film. I have to do a Fan Dub of this. Every other copy pales in comparison to this one. It's not 100% perfect (dark scenes are a bit too murky) but it's such a vast improvement over anything out there. I have so many Fan Dubs to make maybe I should hire someone to help me...naw.

By the Gods!

Dan Vadis and Jon Simons in HERCULES THE INVINCIBLE (Hercules in the Land of Darkness ; 1964)

This is one of those Hercules films made just for fun, with nothing to do with Greek mythology or anything to do with the actual Hercules. It's just a (goofy) action movie to please audiences (small kids) with general beefy mayhem, with Simons (his real name: Mario De Simone) playing the Annoying Sidekick. Dan Vadis wasn't a good actor by any means but he knew how to carry himself on screen and was very athletic, doing crazy stuff most other stars didn't dare to do. His barely-there costumes often switches in continuation errors throughout the movie. I have to figure out how to upload this on Youtube.

Movie Poster Mondays

Russian poster of GIUDITTA E OLOFERNE (1929)

Rare stuff. It's hard to find anything on this film.

By the Gods!

The Moloch statue, with open fire pit, from CABIRIA (1914)

The grand daddy of all sacrificial movie props. None have topped it, not even the excellent one from TRIUMPH OF MACISTE I posted yesterday. Babies, including one girl called Cabiria, are placed in the ceremonial platform which is levered upwards, making the offering of living flesh and blood fall into the  fire. This takes place in Carthage. Recently, archeologists have discovered actual evidence of these sacrifices.

By the Gods!

The 'God of Fire' statue from TRIUMPH OF MACISTE (1961)

Remarkable enough, this is one of the best statues in any PEPLUM film of the Golden Era. The victim to be sacrificed is on the platform which rises and makes them tumble into a pit of fire within the statue itself. It resembles the most of what historian believed what Moloch looked like, though in this story the deity is not named Moloch but simply the 'God of Fire.'

Behind-the-Scenes

Behind the scene photo of the filing of HERCULES UNCHAINED (1959). The crew is preparing a scene with Sylvia Lopez. The man with the moustache is director Pietro Francisci. The place where I got the photo described the actress as Sylva Koscina. Cool photo.

By the Gods!

Lana Turner, as the High Priestess Samarra, in a publicity photo with the statue of Moloch in THE PRODIGAL (1955)

This is one of the more creative renditions of a gaudy statue representing a deity. I used a publicity photo because we really never get a good view of the statue in the movie itself. Personally, I think it looks more Asian than Middle Eastern. This statue was reused more effectively in ATLANTIS - THE LOST CONTINENT (1961). See more here.

Upcoming PEPLUM films + new crop of low budget movies

In regards to mainstream Hollywood films, the PEPLUM genre is pretty much dead. Aside from 2 films about Jesus, there's very little to look forward to. In contrast, there's a plethora of uber small budget movies produced by companies like THE ASYLUM which are churning out movie after movie. Are they worth watching?

PAUL, APOSTLE OF CHRIST (2018)

Trailer here

I've already mentioned in several post throughout the many years of making this blog about about the lack of films chronicling what happened after Jesus was resurrected. Here's one film that's coming out, which I'll probably won't see. It's a sequel to THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST (2004), directed by Mel Gibson. I have to be honest here, I refuse to watch PASSION OF THE CHRIST. It seems so bloody, demented and negative. So, I think I'll skip this one if it's in the same mode.


MARY MAGDALENE (2018)

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara in MARY MAGDALENE

The trailer is out (click here). It doesn't look bad. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Peter. Yes, it's PC.

As for the new batch of super low budget movies, do these continue in the long tradition of PEPLUM movies of the Golden Era?

TROY THE ODYSSEY (2017)

Trailer here

It looks like a typical PEPLUM but is it fun? I can watch old PEPLUM films over and over again, I never tire of them. Somehow, I think I'll struggle watching this one. But I have to say that some of the fighting seems good.

IN THE NAME OF BEN HUR (2016)

Trailer here

I have to say that seeing the name of this movie and the trailer made me laugh out loud.

There are any more titles, too numerous to mention, at the Asylum Youtube channel.

By the Gods!

The erecting of the statue of Chemosh in THE STORY OF RUTH (1960)

I don't know if the design was historically accurate, I never cared much for the look of it. Not menacing or impressive enough. There were much better 'evil' statues in other films. From the same team that made THE ROBE (1953). Some historians say that Chemosh is the same deity as Moloch. This is my only major complaint about this otherwise 'serviceable' movie. 

Movie Poster Mondays

Rare Hong Kong poster of COLOSSUS OF THE ARENA (1962)

I think it should be DEATH IN THE ARENA. This is not the first time I've seen some sort of dubious misspelling with a copy (film or poster) from Hong Kong. The two actresses in this film, José Greci and Scilla Gabel, don't look like the woman in this poster. She's made to look Chinese. Aside from those two points, good poster. 

By the Gods!

Caroline Munro, as Margiana, and John Philip Law, as Sinbad, in THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD (1973)

The days of the hero's beautiful love interest in movies are over. Every female character has to be able to defend themselves and kick-ass, or else it's sexism. One has to watch old movies, like this one, to see such characters. Not every man or woman can be THE hero, and so it was okay for the love interest to simply be beautiful. A lot of these PEPLUM movies would be seen as utterly outdated and super sexist, even if the hero shows as much skin (sometimes more) than her.

Fotonovela: THE SINNER (part 3)

part 3 of serialization of THE SINNER fotonovela. Click on image to see a larger size.

Added to the permanent blog page of THE SINNER

By the Gods!

Terence Hill and Rita Gam in HANNIBAL (1959)

For this movie, Terence goes by his old name, Mario Girotti. Terence is still with us but Rita Gam died 2 years ago.

Every copy of this film has a weird image issue. In many scenes, the image is slanted. Lines that should be straight tilt to one side. The distortion drives me crazy. I don't know if this is a problem with at the transfer or the way the film was originally filmed but since every copy I have suffers from this oddity, I'm thinking that the original print is like this. They had wonky lenses for this production, which was beset with numerous other problems. Every time I watch this (albeit entertaining) movie, I'm always reminded on how important a good director is.