Fabrizio Mioni, R.I.P.

Italian actor Fabrizio Mioni died on June 8 at the age of 89. He's best known as Jason in HERCULES (1958). He only appeared in a couple of PEPLUM movies. He moved to Hollywood and mainly starred in TV shows. His role in HERCULES was integral to the storyline and he figures prominently throughout the classic film. R.I.P..

ROLAND THE MIGHTY (1956)

Fabrizio had a prominent role in this most excellent movie directed by Pietro Francisci. He and Rik Battaglia (below) really played off of each other beautifully. 

HERCULES (1958)

Fabrizio starred along with Steve Reeves in HERCULES (1958), also directed by Pietro Francisci. The entire storyline centers around Jason and his ascent to the crown of Jolco. He is very good in it.

Jason (Mioni) is prophesied to lose a single sandal and he does in this memorable scene.

Jason (Mioni) and the crew of the Argonauts finally have the Golden Fleece.

Antea, Queen of the Amazons (Gianna Maria Canale) and Jason (Mioni)

HERCULES UNCHAINED (1959)

Fabrizio had a small role in the sequel to HERCULES. With Sylvia Lopez.

By the Gods!

Samson (Alan Steel) lifting a locked gate in SAMSON & THE SLAVE QUEEN (1963; Zorro contro Maciste)

Would a scene like this make it in an action picture today? I highly doubt it. Brawny action is not in vogue these days. This is why these old movies are worth more today than back then. And Alan (née Sergio Ciani) was always up to the challenges.

I'm about to complete a Fan Dub of this movie. It's been a long and arduous process. The *only* English audio available anywhere, which I have, is in terrible shape and it's missing some crucial scenes. I tried  to do it years ago but I thought it was too difficult. Well, the Fan Dub is nearly finished. It's a fun film and it's fun dubbing fun movies like this one but wow, was it difficult. Though the story is simple enough, the direction by Umberto Lenzi makes it's more complex and elaborate than the story itself. 

Now, what will I do with it? I don't want to upload it to Youtube. Personally, Youtube has been such a constant negative force against me that I'm reluctant to upload any of my new stuff there. I'm thinking of doing a Patreon account but the last time I created one I only got 2 subscribers!. Would anyone be willing to subscribe to a Patreon account if I upload my work there?

PEPLUM Movie Poster

French poster of ARABIAN ADVENTURE (1979)

Very colourful poster. I like it.

PEPLUM TV Official store

PEPLUM TV Official store

By the Gods!

Hugh Griffith as Sheik Ilderim in BEN-HUR (1959)

With the current political correctness madness going on around the world, with statues being removed and movies and TV shows canceled or unlisted from streaming service, how do you think PEPLUM movies, such as this one, will survive? HBO has already removed GONE WITH THE WIND (1939), and the BBC has removed many British comedies. If this keeps up, the PEPLUM genre will be devastated. Not just for these type of roles, which exist but aren't that many. No, it's also for the content and religious aspects. It's a shame that one horrendous incident with police violence has lead to this censorship. 

Charlton Heston, as Ben-Hur, and Hugh Griffith in brown face. Will this movie be censored now?

Wardrobe Malfunctions

Added a couple of images of 'wardrobe malfunctions' from PEPLUM movies at the permanent page.

WARDROBE MALFUNCTIONS

Jane Seymour in SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER (1977)

By the Gods!

Goliath (Mark Forest) is surrounded by soldiers and their spears in GOLIATH AND THE SINS OF BABYLON (1963; Maciste, l'eroe più grande del mondo)

This one of the few ways to stop a muscular hero: surround him with deadly spears even though the spears here don't look too deadly. Usually, once surrounded, the Hero is a captive and his brought to a King or Queen for some judgement. In this case, Goliath escapes this PEPLUM cliché with Mimmo Palmara and Giuliano Gemma, on horseback, coming to his rescue. An awkward rescue.

Behind-the-Scenes

The three stars of GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS (1959) take a photo together.Giulia Rubini, Steve Reeves and Chelo Alonso.

BY THE GODS!: Steve Reeves TV Times…

At BY THE GODS!

By the Gods!

 A scene from NORMAN'S AWESOME EXPERIENCE (1988)

In the scene above, Marcus Titanus (Lee Broker) meets two time travellers from the future. At first he eyes her (Laurie Paton) but goes for him (Jacques Lussier) instead. Yes, it's a comedy.

Like so many other PEPLUM movies, three people from contemporary times end up in Ancient Rome after some lab accident. The movie is a Canadian production filmed in Switzerland and Argentina, for locations, which I find odd since all the locations could have been shot in Canada. The movie actually has some excellent productions (armies and such) but it still looks like a small budgeted film. Norman (not pictured) invents many things, including the balloon pictured below.

Have you seen it? No one has seen it.

Then & Now: Abbe Lane

Abbe in JULIUS CAESAR AGAINST THE PIRATES (1962); Abbe photographed in 2016.

By the Gods!

The Black Corsair (Bedi) confronts Blanchot (Pietro Torrisi)

THE BLACK CORSAIR (1976) starring Kabir Bedi (Black Corsair), Carole André (Duchess), Mel Ferrer (Van Gold), Angelo Infanti (Captain Morgan), Sal Borgese (Carnaux), Franco Fantasia (Van Stiller), and Pietro Torrisi (Blanchot). Directed by Sergio Sollima.

The Black Corsair (Kabir) figures who the Duchess is, played by Carole André.

During the 1970s, PEPLUM movies were rare, and most of the ones released during that decade were usually of the soft porn kind, mostly those from Italy. But the genre, in its infinite number of categories, wasn't too hot on films set in Antiquity but other sub-genres, like Swashbucklers, were still popular. IMO, THE BLACK CORSAIR is one of the best of that decade. Audiences were getting tired of Spaghetti Westerns and Italian producers began to focus on other stories, including pirate movies. Starring the tall Kabir Bedi as the titular character, the movie itself is quite memorable for many things.

The Black Corsair and the Duchess fall in love.

There is a story here somewhere, something about the Black Corsair capturing a Duchess (Carole André) who keeps her identity secret because she's the daughter of a man everyone hates, Van Guld (Mel Ferrer). The Black Corsair figures her identity before she divulges it. The two become lovers. Once the Black Corsair's crew discovers her identity, they all force him to cast her away on a small boat. The Black Corsair, in love with the Duchess, vows to find her again. There's a subplot about a ship that wasn't looted correctly since it still has tons of gold in it and getting that ship, and the gold, becomes a quest of sorts for the motley crew, and the villains as well.

The Black Corsair (Bedi) befriends Yara (Jeannine) in a scene early in the movie. Yara becomes a pirate.

Like so many Italian films of the 1970s, the story is secondary. It's barely there. The film is more about atmosphere, action, and locations. Extremely leisurely in pace, the story unfolds so slowly that if don't pay attention, by the halfway mark you might forget what's going on. And this is the movie's only major liability.

Mel Ferrer is the villain. Excellent production. 

Unlike so many Italian films of the 1970s, it's not crude or doesn't have a heavy emphasis on sex or nudity, which is nice to see. It's very classy. Everything about this film is stunning: the locations, the sets and costumes, the music, and the cast.

PEPLUM fans will recognize Franco Fantasia and Salvatore Borgese. Both have good roles.

Above and below: Pietro Torrisi as a blond henchman who fights with the Black Corsair. This scene is one of the best in the movie. Pietro was still beefy in the 1970s.

The film is filled with familiar PEPLUM stars, including Sal Borgese, Franco Fantasia and in a show stopping sequence, Pietro Torrisi, who goes head to head in a great sword fight with the Black Corsair. His character is named Blanchot at IMDb but in the movie itself he has another name, which eludes me right now. And then there's Angelo Infanti (WAR GODDESS (1973)) as Captain Morgan. Infanti was an excellent actor but he's sorta wasted as his role is pretty much played for laughs, as no one seems to know who Captain Morgan is.

Angelo Infanti as Captain Morgan. Though his role is more for laughs than anything else, I have to say that Infanti made a great Morgan.

As for Kabir as the Black Corsair? He's probably not the most expressive of actors but the guy is impressive throughout. Casting him was an inspired choice. Dressed in his 'black corsair' costume, Kabir towers over everyone.

Kabir Bedi as the Black Corsair. He towers over everyone.

Dagmar Lassander is one of the female characters.

Great location!

The locations in this movie are stunning. This is helped immensely by the film's greatest aspect: the cinematography. Shot in Techniscope, the movie, in HD, is simply stunning. This is how movies should look like. Techniscope is one of the best film formats ever. The first movie to be shot in Techniscope was THE PHARAOHS' WOMAN (1960), starring Linda Cristal and Pierre Brice. Other titles include THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (1966)! Film critic Roger Ebert actually wrote about how he disliked Techniscope. Well, he was totally wrong about this.

Sonja Jeannine as Yara. Excellent cinematography! 

So, great locations, cinematography, great cast and action scenes = winner! Oh, and the poster art is great too!

This is really one of the best PEPLUM titles of the 1970s.

I reviewed this movie from a HD version I just acquired. I also have another copy taken from the internet.

8 out of 10. I give the cinematography a 10 out of 10.

Great poster!

PEPLUM Movie Poster

French poster of THE GIANTS OF ROME (1964)

The French title is completely different than the other the original title. It makes it sound like a Western. In 'Widescope'.

PEPLUM TV Official store

PEPLUM TV Official store

By the Gods!

Iloosh Khoshabe and Salvatore Furnari in VULCAN - SON OF JUPITER (1962)

PEPLUM movies featured little people more than any other genre. Why is that? Was it something in Italian culture? Was it the juxtaposition of big, beefy hero next to a kid-like little man? It's hard to say why they were so prominent in PEPLUM movies. I'm not complaining, it's just an observation. It's one of the many aspects of the genre that makes it unique.

Vulcan, the mythological being, was the blacksmith of the Olympian gods. He was born deformed and was considered extremely ugly, so much so that his mother, Hera, tossed baby Vulcan off of Mount Olympus but the baby survived. Iloosh is neither ugly or deformed. Vulcan is the Roman name while Hephaestus is the Greek counterpart.

Lobby Cards Set: THE WIZARD OF BAGHDAD (1960)

Original US lobby cards set of THE WIZARD OF BAGHDAD (1960) starring Diane Baker, Dick Shawn and Barry Coe. Average set which showcases, more than anything else, the studio bound movie. It has highlights of the best scenes, including the Bathing Beauty scene and the wrestling/swordfight scenes. Not bad but nothing spectacular.

By the Gods!

Massimo Serato and Livio Lorenzon in CAVALIER IN THE DEVIL'S CASTLE (1959)

I recently got a great copy of this, in widescreen and in color. It was from a TV broadcast (I removed the logo in the corner). There is a nice copy in Italian on Youtube from an unscrupulous channel I won't name but this TV broadcast one is much better. It's a really a fun film that's good looking as well. The story is pretty simple and sorta predictable but the quick pacing keeps it moving, even though the many melodramatic scenes of Massimo's evil character dealing with two beautiful women, played by Irène Tunc and Luisella Boni. I already wrote a mini-review of this here. Suffice it to say, this color version blows the once ubiquitous Black & White copies that circulated everywhere.

Co-written by Sergio Corbucci.

Irène Tunc is miserable with Massimo

Massimo is about to marry Luisella Boni, a popular PEPLUM cliché!

Behind-the-Scenes

Steve Reeves and Sylva Koscina wait for further instructions from director Pietro Francisci (far right).

By the Gods!

The cast from SPARTACUS AND THE TEN GLADIATORS (1964)

From left to right: Pietro Torrisi, Armando Bottin, Frank Oliveras, Romano Giomini, Enzo Fiermonte, Gianni Rizzo, Dan Vadis, Sal Borgese, Jeff Cameron, Aldo Canti, and Emilio Messina.

This screengrab was taken from a HD broadcast of the movie in France. Though the image is not perfect by any means (it's sorta soft and blurry; click on image to see more closely), it's the best version of this movie available anywhere. I believe it's a new copy of a print but up-converted to HD. Even so, it's great to see it in such an excellent resolution. Most PEPLUM movies will probably never get a proper HD release so these broadcasts are going to be the only real source of HD versions. A fun film that's better than the first one.

Same set, different films

Big doors from HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN (1961), starring Reg Park, were re-used in TERROR OF THE STEPPES (1964), starring Kirk Morris. Great use, either way.

By the Gods!

Jeffrey Hunter in GOLD FOR THE CAESARS (1963)

This is one of the few PEPLUM films which tells me that it was a difficult shoot. The location scenes are excellent but the setting up of everything (crew and actors) must have been arduous. The actors look exhausted. It's one of the few genre films in which the location scenes don't look fake. There's an unusually realistic aspect to the scenes. But the film has many studio-bound scenes which look like...studio-bound sets. Jeffrey was 37 years old when he made this. 5 years later he would be dead at the age of 42. Pretty sad.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Original Italian poster of ISABELLA - DUCHESS OF THE DEVILS (1969)

Pretty basic poster. It looks innocent enough but the content is more 'adult' than this. Also known as Ms. Stiletto.

PEPLUM TV Official store

PEPLUM TV Official store