VHS Covers: TRIUMPH OF HERCULES (1964)

Here's a series of VHS covers for the release of TRIUMPH OF HERCULES (1964) starring Dan Vadis, Marilù Tolo, Pierre Cressoy and Renato Rossini (aka Howard Ross, see preceding post). A nice collection of covers, more so than more famous PEPLUM movies out there.

English (US) release

Pretty standard VHS cover. At least the image and actors are from the movie. 

French releases

This high quality VHS package is nice but all wrong. The image on the cover is taken from ULYSSES (1954) but with a new face and body. The back cover features a photo of Yann Larvor in SAMSON & THE MIGHTY CHALLENGE (1964). Both images feature Hercules with a beard but Dan Vadis in this is without a beard.

 Standard cover package with the original poster artwork

German release

 Action-packed cover but all wrong. Again, Hercules doesn't have a beard in this movie.

Italian release

 Pretty low budget release with image from HERCULES THE INVINCIBLE (1964)

Spanish releases

 Nice cover. A collage of different poster artwork from its original release and some added artwork.

 Cover with poster artwork from its original release. 

Totally bizarre release with different artwork and title. But it's the same film, with Dan Vadis and directed by Alberto De Martino.

Vintage article : Renato Rossini

Vintage article on Renato Rossini. Also known as Howard Ross or Red Ross, the Italian bodybuilder was a regular in PEPLUM films. He rarely had a lead role but his supporting roles were always stand-outs including in HERCULES AGAINST THE MONGOLS (1963) pictured in the article above along with Ken Clark and Nadir Moretti.

The article had a photo of Renato in a bodybuilding competition. Same exact pose as the one below.

Renato in a Mondo movie called SEXY PROIBITISSIMO (1963) in a segment called 'Hercules Oblivious'; his bodybuilding experience came in good use for this brilliant short film. IMDb and other websites covering the PEPLUM genre have incorrectly credited Kirk Morris as the bodybuilder (below).

By the Gods!

The Queen (Anouk Aimée) and her 'favourite' (Pier Angeli) in SODOM & GOMORRAH (1962)

Director Robert Aldrich had a fascination with lesbianism. Many of his other films touch upon this 'taboo' subject. But in this PEPLUM movie, Aldrich only hints at it since it wasn't acceptable to overtly show these kinds of things. In the movie, the Queen is made to be interested in women and her brother (gasp!). Anyway, I wrote about gay representation in PEPLUM movies a few years ago. I think I'll update the article but there are some out there who weren't happy about this subject, well, mainly on the male aspect. Most don't mind female same sex attraction. We'll see.

Who wore it best? Jany Clair vs Claudia Mori

Perfect PEPLUM TV programming

If I had a PEPLUM TV network, how would I schedule movies?

Here's a programming that would be cool.

The first three. THE TITANS followed by another whimsical PEPLUM, SAMSON & THE MIGHTY CHALLENGE and continued with the fun and goofy COLOSSUS AND THE AMAZON QUEEN. Pretty even films and smooth sailing up to now. These three films have contests or competitions in them.


1 - THE TITANS (1962; aka My Son, the Hero; aka Sons of Thunder)

Starring Giuliano Gemma and Serge Nubret

2 - SAMSON & THE MIGHTY CHALLENGE (1964)

Starring Sergio Ciani (aka Akan Steel) as Hercules

3 - COLOSSUS & THE AMAZON QUEEN (1960)

Ed Fury and Dorian Gray

COLOSSUS would then be followed with THE GIANT OF MARATHON, starring Steve Reeves and Daniela Rocca, who is in both films. So, transitioning from comedies to serious action film.


4 - THE GIANT OF MARATHON (1959)

Steve Reeves as Phillipides

After GIANT, I would follow it with a presentation of FURY OF ACHILLES. So far so good. Both films have Olympic-style competitions in them.


5 - FURY OF ACHILLES (1962)

Now this is where things get pretty interesting:  I would follow FURY OF ACHILLES with THE TROJAN HORSE. What would be amazing about this is that where FURY leaves off TROJAN HORSE continues almost at the same spot of the story. There's some overlapping between the stories and of course the actors are not the same but this would be amazing. It's a nearly perfect double feature. And it fills in the story smoothly in 3 hours, and it's so much better than TROY (2004).


6 - THE TROJAN HORSE (1961)

Steve Reeves and Mimmo Palmara

THE TROJAN HORSE would be followed with its sequel, WAR OF THE TROJANS. Again, almost seamless transition...but that's not all...

7 - WAR OF THE TROJANS (1962; aka The Avenger; aka The Last Glory of Troy)

Steve Reeves in sequel to THE TROJAN HORSE

WAR OF THE TROJANS ends with Aeneas (Reeves) and the founding of Rome therefore it should be followed with DUEL OF THE TITANS which of course is the story of Romulus and Remus and the founding of Rome, also starring Reeves as Romulus.

8 - DUEL OF THE TITANS (1961; aka Romulus and Remus)

José Greci, Virna Lisi and Jacques Sernas

 If you have all these titles, watch them in this order. It's seriously great.

By the Gods!

Claudia Mori in URSUS IN THE LAND OF FIRE (1963)

"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful!"

Claudia was born in 1944, which means she was 19 years old when she made this movie! Her co-star, Adriano Micantoni, the main villain in the story, was 42! PEPLUM productions had a knack of hiring really young actresses.

RIP: Conrado San Martin

Sad news to report. Spanish actor Conrado San Martin died on April 26 at the age of 98! He appeared in over 100 films, including a handful of PEPLUM titles. He also starred in Lucio Fulci's CONQUEST (1983) but finding him in that murky movie is next to impossible. I liked him. R.I.P., Conrado.

Above and below: Conrado San Martín starred in LEGIONS OF THE NILE (1959), along with Mary Carrillo, Ettore Manni and María Mahor. A fun film with Conrado giving good support.

Above and below: Conrado was the main villain in COLOSSUS OF RHODES (1961) starring Rory Calhoun and Yann Larvor (below). One of his most prominent roles of the PEPLUM genre.

Conrado San Martín and Virginia Mayo in REVOLT OF THE MERCENARIES (1961). He was the main lead male character.

Above and below: 1961 was a great year for Conrado. He also starred in KING OF KINGS (1961). He played General Pompey in the spectacular beginning. His role didn't have any dialogue but he's the main driving force of this entire chapter.

Conrado with Cameron Mitchell and Dina De Santis in THE BLACK DUKE (1963). Fun movie!

Above and below: Conrado was in SAMSON & THE MIGHTY CHALLENGE (1964), starring Alan Steel and Nino Dal Fabbro. Below,  Conrado with Howard Ross, Yann Larvor and Nadir Moretti.

Conrado co-starred with Gianna Maria Canale in THE AVNGER OF VENICE (1964)

Behind-the-Scenes

Screen test shot of Gregory Peck for the role of Marcus for QUO VADIS (1951)

Notice the name J Huston on the board. John Huston was set to direct but the project was postponed for a year and Mervyn LeRoy became the director instead.

By the Gods!

Cleopatra (Pascale Petit) steps out of a bath in A QUEEN FOR CAESAR (1962)

Though there are bathing scenes with men cleaning themselves, including a famous one in QUO VADIS (1951), a PEPLUM film without a 'bathing beauty' scene is 'de rigueur' in a PEPLUM movie. This one is simple enough but Pascale's beauty makes it memorable.

 This bathtub or tiny pool was used in many other PEPLUM movies, including HERCULES THE INVINCIBLE (1964) and URSUS IN THE LAND OF FIRE (1963). Recycling was also 'de rigueur' in PEPLUM productions.

PEPLUM Movie Posters

Italian poster for THE INVINCIBLE BROTHERS MACISTE (1964)

Faithful artwork to the movie. Both brothers are named Maciste but they're not twins. A fun movie that's a minor remake of MACISTE AGAINST THE MOLE MEN (1961). In 'Schermo Panoramico 85'.

Identify the movie!

Can you identify the film from this screenshot?

Jules correctly identified the movie at the Facebook post. It's from ESTHER & THE KING (1960), starring Richard Egan's foot.

RIP: Alessandra Panaro

Italian actress Aleesandra Panaro, who made a handful of PEPLUM movies in the early 1960s, died on May 1 at the age of 79. She only appeared in a few titles but they were good productions, including SON OF CAPTAIN BLOOD (1962), which was released theatrically in the US. Like many actresses who appeared in PEPLUM productions, once the genre died her career basically disappeared as well. For an actress who only appeared in a few films, three of those are my all time favourites. R.I.P. Alessandra.

Alessandra's first big PEPLUM production was THE BACCHANTES (1961) which also starred Taina Elg. Great film and excellent performance. A favourite of mine.

Alessandra was the love interest to Hercules (Mike Lane, not shown) in ULYSSES AGAINST HERCULES (1962). Another favourite PEPLUM movie.

Alessandra co-starred with Sean Flynn in SON OF CAPTAIN BLOOD (1962). A fun movie with excellent production. Both actors would star together in another movie.

Alessandra with George Nader in THE SECRET MARK OF D'ARTAGNAN (1962). Another entertaining movie with the beautiful star.

Alessandra co-starred with Lex Barker and Franco Fantasia in THE EXECUTIONER OF VENICE (1963). Another solid production. 

Above and below: Alessandra starred in HERCULES AGAINST MOLOCH (1963), co-starring Rosalba Neri (above) and Gordon Scott (below). A cool action film with scenes taken from THE BACCHANTES, which Alessandra starred. Both films were directed by Giorgio Ferroni. Yet another  favourite of mine.

Sean Flynn and Alessandra starred together again in TEMPLE OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT (1964), a great adventure in the SANDOKAN kind.

The beautiful Alessandra in TEMPLE OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT; a recent photo of Alessandra