By the Gods!

Babylon seen in SLAVES OF BABYLON (1953)

Directed by William Castle, this often misunderstood mini-epic from Columbia Pictures boasts many dazzling matte paintings. It's one of the reasons why I like it. The artist, or artists, responsible for these fun works of art is not known. I'll have more on this in a future post.

Different titles: THE CONQUEROR OF CORINTH (1961)

Today, it's THE CONQUEROR OF CORINTH (1961) starring Gianna Maria Canale, John Drew Barrymore, Geneviève Grad, Jacques Sernas and Gordon Mitchell.

Since acquiring the new HD print, I decided to do this one. Not many variations with this movie. The titles are almost all the same except for the French one, and the US title, which was THE CENTURION. Of course, as is often the case, the original US title is missing in action. The English title here is the International English title, presumably for the UK and Hong Kong, Australia, etc.

Original Italian title. Taken from the HD print.

The English, or International English title. The title for the US release was THE CENTURION. 

The French title translates as THE BATTLE OF CORINTH

The German title is the same as the Italian one.

This is the US title, misspelled. CENTURIAN should be spelled CENTURION, like its movie posters.

Gianna Maria Canale and Jacques Sernas, from the new HD print.

By the Gods!

Gordon Scott in CORIOLANUS - HERO WITHOUT A COUNTRY (1964)

This screenshot os from a HD version of the movie. It's beautiful. And I made a Fan Dub of it. I was actually working on a Fan Dub of this movie taken the Spanish DVD version when I got this one from my amazing source. I decided to do an upgrade and used this beautiful print instead of the one from the DVD. This my first Fan Dub in full HD. It's cool. Unfortunately, I uploaded to Youtube and they blocked it (even if it's available on other channel in albeit poor copies...). I have to find a new place to show these movies/Fan Dubs. Youtube has been on a blocking spree in recent weeks. Anyway, I'm pleased with the result. I'll try to upload a short clip of it.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Original Italian poster of O.K. NERO (1951)

A comedy, and like so many comedies of the PEPLUM genre, it starts in modern Italy and the story goes back to the days of Ancient Rome. Not to be confused with NERONE E MESSALINA(1953), also starring Gino Cervi. Nice poster.

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By the Gods!

Gianna Maria Canale in CONQUEROR OF CORINTH (1961; aka The Centurion)

Gianna in HD. These screenshots were taken from a beautiful new HD print I recently got (thanks to my amazing source). Gianna looks stunning. One of the better new HD prints. Now if only these prints were available in English! Click on images to view details.

Geneviève Grad, Nando Tamberlani, Gianna. Beautiful image.

At the movies...

CLEOPATRA (1963) playing at the State Lake cinema in Chicago

By the Gods!

Anouk Aimée, as The Queen, has a chit chat with her brother, played by Stanley Baker, in SODOM AND GOMORRAH (1962)

One screengrab is from a recent copy broadcast in HD. And the other is a screengrab of the regular DVD. Which is which?

The one on top is the Italian broadcast in HD and the one below is from the German DVD. Aside from the stretched image issue, they're virtually the same. The HD print is not really a new HD print but the old one broadcast in HD. Remarkably enough the HD broadcast version is severely cut. I didn't have time to see which scenes were cut. The DVD itself had many odd issues so one day the movie will have a stunning HD transfer. 

The Queen and her brother are supposed to be lovers and this scene was shot in a way to hint at their sexual relationship.

Behind-the-Scenes

Steve Reeves carries Sylvia Lopez for a candid photo while filming HERCULES UNCHAINED (1959)

Clip of the week: GOLIATH AGAINST THE GIANTS (1961)

Brad Harris as Goliath showing his strength! 

By the Gods!

Vittorio Gassman in THE VIOLENT PATRIOT (1956)

A very well made movie directed by Sergio Grieco. Sergio went from somewhat quaint historical/costume dramas to uber macho action movies, set in the past or present. I think this was his transitional picture as some scenes are quite violent. I like it but some might not as it tends to be in the 'Melodrama' style of the 1950s. It doesn't bother me but some might have issues with this approach. This scene takes place at the end. It's very memorable and theatrical, the best scene of the movie. This is from an HD version but the image, as good as it is, is not pristine as most films in HD. Also known as JOHN OF THE BLACK GANGS, which I have in English. 

Then & Now: Noëlle Adam

Noëlle in THE WONDERS OF ALADDIN (1961); the most recent photo of the actress

By the Gods!

Walter Chiari, Abbe Lane and Ugo Tognazzi in TIBERIUS (I Baccanali di Tiberio, 1960)

Just got a beautiful copy of this in HD (screengrab was taken from it). I never really had a bad copy of this movie but the English version, which played on TV in the US, is still missing. Since the movie is a comedy and there's plenty of dialogue, following it in Italian is a bit hard (but doable). Abbe is really cute in this. 

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Original Italian poster of GOLIATH & THE CONQUEST OF DAMASCUS (1965)

Nice, simple art. But he doesn't look like Peter Lupus.

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PEPLUM TV Official store

By the Gods!

Kirk Morris as Maciste in TRIUMPH OF MACISTE (1961)

One of the many 'Feats of strength' in this classic PEPLUM which desperately needs an HD upgrade. I doubt it will ever get the Blu-ray treatment therefore a TV broadcast in HD will most likely be the only chance to view it in high definition. 

Behind-the-Scenes

Photos from the premiere of HERCULES UNCHAINED at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 1960. Jack Lemmon with a bunch of babes dressed in Greek costumes. Below: Mitzi Gaynor is helped by two muscular men, including Gordon Mitchell on the right.

By the Gods!

Poppea (Olinka Berova) witnessed the secret and sacred ceremony of the Vestal Virgins in POPPEA'S HOT NIGHTS (1969)

When the Vestal Virgins see her they run after her. She has to die because only Vestal Virgins are allowed to witness this dance. The VV dance to a fish deity in phallic form. This is actually a fun film. Is it great art? No but it's entertaining. And it's basically the first 'sex and sandal' movie which spawned a gazillion of them in the 1970s and a good part of the 1980s, including the infamous CALIGULA (1979). Olinka is good in it. She co-stars with her then husband, Brad Harris. I have 3 versions, including French and German copies. The German copy, the best looking one (the screengrabs are from this copy), is 79 minutes long. I recently got another French copy and the runtime for this one is 87 minutes long. It's from a VHS transfer and some scenes are affected by digital artifacts but this copy is the best yet, even if the image is not as good. Think of it as a regular PEPLUM movie with nudity and (mild) sex scenes.

Lobby Cards Set: LAND OF THE PHARAOHS (1955)

Original US lobby cards set of LAND OF THE PHARAOHS (1955) starring Jack Hawkins, Joan Collins, and Dewey Martin. Very good set. My only issue is the printing. The colours do not match the film's beautiful colours. Card 1 and 8 are from the same scene but they change colours. Overall, pretty good even if there are some major scenes missing.

Clip of the week!

Opening to SIEGE OF SYRACUSE (1960), directed by Pietro Francisci. 

By the Gods!

William Russell and Sean Connery, as Alexander the Great, in ADVENTURE STORY (1961)

Sean died on October 31 at the age of 90. Sean was most famous for playing James Bond. He didn't appear in many PEPLUM productions. Aside from this, he played Robin Hood in ROBIN & MARIAN (1976). His other roles were cameos of sorts, such as King Agamemnon in TIME BANDITS (1981), the Green Knight in SWORD OF THE VALIANT (1984), King Richard in ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES (1991), and King Arthur in FIRST KNIGHT (1995). He was also the voice of the dragon in DRAGONHEART (1996). ADVENTURE STORY, a TV production, is his only straight-forward PEPLUM role. It's good but it's Alexander the Great with a Scottish accent. R.I.P., Sean.

Identify the movie

Can you identify the movie by this screengrab?

The screengrab is from FURY OF HERCULES (1962) with Luisella Boni in this scene. No one identified it.

By the Gods!

David Prowse and Madeline Smith in UP POMPEII (1971)

David Prowse died on Novembre 28 at the age of 85. David appeared in a handful of genre films but he's most famous for having played Darth Vader. In this scene. Frankie Howerd (standing) trips over the couple making love in a sauna. It's a brief scene but at least we see him. Prowse appeared in dozens of movies and even more TV shows. R.I.P., David.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

French poster of SIEGE OF SYRACUSE (1960)

In English, the title is SYRACUSE - THE END OF AN EMPIRE. Just under the title there's another title it's also known as: LA CHARGE DE SYRACUSE. And then it's also known as LE SIEGE DE SYRACUSE.

PEPLUM TV Official store

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