By the Gods!

Charles Laughton and Claudette Colbert in THE SIGN OF THE CROSS (1932) 

The photo above is quite amazing, certainly compared to how we see it in the movie itself (below). So much detail missing. The movie itself is quite startling and sorta groundbreaking in a couple of ways but the grandeur, as seen in the photo above, is sorta missing in the tight B&W composition. 

As mentioned in this week's Musings!, THE SIGN OF THE CROSS was re-released in 1944 with additional footage. You can view some additional details at BY THE GODS! blog.

Behind-the-scenes

Behind the scenes photo with Sylvia Lopez and Edmund Purdom, in costume, while filming HEROD THE GREAT (1959)

By the Gods!

Princess Nellifer (Joan Collins), Treneh (Sydney Chaplin) and Nabuna (an unknown actor) in a scene from LAND OF THE PHARAOHS (1955)

The actor who played Nabuna is s mystery. IMDb credits Carlo D'Angelo as the actor but this is a mistake. The real Carlo is below (from HEROD THE GREAT). These are two different people. So for now his identity remains a mystery. It's odd to watch a big production like this and to have an actor in a good role, with dialogue and all, and remain a mystery. Would Joan know (or remember)? 

Different Versions: HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN from my collection

This will become a regular feature here at the blog. I'll show the different versions of titles, big or small, with at least than 3 versions or more in my collection.

Since publishing the HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN review of The Film Detective Blu-ray review, some have enquired about this TV version I used as an example between the Blu-ray and the Retromedia DVD. I could have used the copy of the French DVD or Italian DVD but I got the Italian broadcast one 8 years ago, in 2013, and I thought that it would be an adequate version for the comaprison.

If you look at my PEPLUM collection I posted online, I don't have DVD discs of the Italian and French DVD releases. I acquired those versions through trades. I have the movie on disc with the MillCreek version (from the WARRIORS 50 megapack), the Retromedia DVD release, which I used in the comparison, and the new Blu-ray release from The Film Detective. All other files are digital via the internet.

For this comparison, I'll go from the highest resolution to the lowest. I have 9 different versions of the movie. I've included the resolutions in each screenshots.

Posted at the permanent page: DIFFERENT VERSIONS


The Film Detective Blu-ray

This is the release with the highest resolution. It's a shame the clarity is pretty weak, there's a distortion in the image and the orange tint ruins what could have been a great release.


Fan Sub version

I don't know who did this Fan Sub (adding custom made English subtitles to a print with a different language) but I believe it was made with the Italian DVD version. In the process, its aspect ratio was up-converted to 1014x434. It's not a native resolution to the original file. It only has the Italian audio.


French DVD version

As I stated before, I don't have the DVD disc of the French version. It's a very good print but on the dark side. This MKV file has both the Italian and French languages.


Retromedia DVD version

I have the disc, from the cool HERCULES COLLECTION boxset. This print has more info on the left side, top and bottom but not on the right side. In English only.


Italian TV Broadcast

This is the so-called Italian TV broadcast version I got back in 2013. This print differs from the French and Italian DVDs so it doesn't originate from these releases. It's cropped from all sides and it's not as dark and the colours are more muted. I used this version for the Blu-ray review. In Italian only.


Italian DVD version

The copy is from the Italian DVD, which I don't have in my collection of physical media, such as DVDs, VHS or Blu-rays. It's much darker than the TV broadcast or the recent Blu-ray release in the US.  And there's more information on all sides.


French VHS version

The French VHS is terrible quality but it's in widescreen. In French only.


Spanish version

I found this Spanish version on Youtube. It's heavily cropped and the colours are very saturated. In Spanish only.


MillCreek version

This is the version from the WARRIORS 50 megapack. Horrible image. In English only.

Clip of the week: NERO AND THE BURNING OF ROME (1953)

Gino Cervi as Nero; Jole Fierro as Poppea; Paola Barbara as Agrippina. Directed by Primo Zeglio. Exclusive clip.

By the Gods!

Tawny Kitaen as Gwendoline in GWENDOLINE (1984) 

Tawny died on May 7 at the age of 59. GWENDOLINE is her only PEPLUM movie. She also played Deianeira on the HERCULES TV show with Kevin Sorbo. The movie itself was trashed by critics back in the day and personally I prefer the second half of the movie than the tedious first half but I have a soft spot for this silly movie. RIP, Tawny.

Musings! (05-11)

Searching far and wide for all things PEPLUM! Luciano Marin and Steve Reeves in GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS (1959)

Streaming is NOT the future of PEPLUM movies!

Just a couple of Musings! ago, March 02, and April 20 and 27 to be exact, I mentioned how stunning prints of PEPLUM movies have been showing up at various streaming services in Europe, mainly in Italy, Canal+ in France and one in Spain. Well, it seems most if not all PEPLUM movies have been removed, including Canal+'s offerings. 

I tell you...someone monitors this blog closely. It's one of the reasons why I don't create posts with links to my Youtube channels anymore. Since I've stopped doing this my Youtube channels have been 'stable' if that's the proper word.

The blog's success can also become it's downfall.

Speaking of success, I created the blog over 11 years ago because there was so little dedicated to the PEPLUM genre on them interwebs. Yes, there were a couple of sites that had stuff on the genre but for the most part nothing earth-shatteringly important. So, I created the first PEPLUM Youtube channel, which was a success. Then the blog 3 years later, in 2010, which today, is more popular than ever. But little did I know that there were people out there who thought they were the 'leaders' of the genre. These folks created a huge amount of Facebook accounts, reviews at IMDb, etc, *after* my first Youtube channel and after the blog were a success. Even though their presence on the internet was minimal, they felt I was encroaching on their territory. But they are the ones who approached me, not the other way around. Today, all of these people have stopped communicating with me. It's a silly situation but that's how things go. I can count on at least 5 people who have shunned me...just because of the blog's success. Weird.

Cinematic Confusion

French VHS cover of THE PIRATE AND THE SLAVE GIRL (1959) starring Lex Barker and Chelo Alonso. Looks nothing like the movie. It's so weird. People who rented this movie must have looked at the cover in a weird way as the movie unfolded.


Have you seen?

The 1944 re-release of THE SIGN OF THE CROSS (1932)? They added WW2 scenes prior to the movie. This version is not available anywhere. 

New Feature at the blog

Starting this week, there will be a new feature at the blog. It will be called 'Different Versions' in which I'll show the different versions I have of many titles. I already do this with Different Titles but with Different Versions, I'll show screenshots of one scene from all different copies. HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN (1961) will be my first choice. Stay tuned!

-------

I was supposed to review DUEL OF THE TITANS German Blu-ray last week but I purchased a copy of the US release of the movie (I assume it is since I'm still waiting for it to arrive in the mail). Once I get this print, I'll do the review.

------

Last week's 'Identify this movie' was from IN THE SHADOW OF THE EAGLES (1966) with a screenshot of Gabriella Pallota.

------

I watched just a handful of movies during the past week. I'll have more on this next week.

------

Stats for the past week:

 

Future Musings:

- List of PEPLUM books

- List of movies available in HD / Blu-ray

- PEPLUM Museum?

By the Gods!

Carl Möhner in THE FALL OF ROME (1963) 

I like this movie. It was released before THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (1964). Of course on can't compare one with the other but it's still the first 'Fall of Rome' movie made. Carl is good in it. As far as I know this is his only PEPLUM movie. He should have done more. Directed by the always dependable Antonio Margheriti, who loved working with models and the earthquake at the end of the movie gave him ample opportunity to showcase his work with small scale buildings.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Spanish poster of ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (1972)

Interesting poster. A combination of photos, like lobby cards, plus art. Charlton looks dour.

PEPLUM TV Official store

Official PEPLUM TV Merch 

By the Gods!

Samson (Brad Harris) and Millstone (Alan Steel) are about to bring down the temple in SAMSON (1961)

Steel's character was named Hercules in some versions, including the French release. Two strong men are better than one. This scene recalls the scene the climatic scene in HERCULES (1958). They had to act quickly so the two together got things done. "Hey, stop talking and start pulling!" Samson should have said. It's fun but with two mighty men, the damage was disappointingly minimal. 

Then & Now: Claire Bloom

Claire Bloom in ALEXANDER THE GREAT (1956) ; a recent photo of the actress

By the Gods!

Elissa Landi as Antiope in THE WARRIOR'S HUSBAND (1933)

Yesterday I got a copy of this 'lost' film and watched most of it for the first time. I need more time to give a complete overview of it but needless to say I'm besides myself. This movie is considered 'lost'. One known copy happens to be at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. The copy I got is a bootleg. It's not very good but it's good enough to see how lush the production is. In a pristine state, the movie must be beautiful to look at. The story centers on Amazons and we see how Amazons live, in massive buildings, with throngs of marching female warriors. In this society, men stay home to take care of the kids while the women go to war and are warriors. It's fun to watch (something that's rarely shown in movies) and Theseus (David Manners) enters the story and it becomes a comedy of the sexes, a pre-code one at that. It reminds me of COLOSSUS AND THE AMAZON QUEEN (1960) with Rod Taylor, Ed Fury and Gianna Maria Canale. It's original runtime is only 75 minutes long but the bootleg is missing 15 minutes so it's only an hour long. 55 minutes of the movie plus the ending with closing credits. Originally, this was a successful play starring Katherine Hepburn. It was eventually adapted into a musical called "BY JUPITER". 

I'd like to thank the generous fellow who provided this gem.
 

David Manners as Theseus

 

Big sets and marching warriors (below) abound in this production

The marching Amazons start dancing in a Charleston-style footwork.

Greek men captured by Amazons, chained and paraded as prize.

Lobby Cards Set: THE WARRIOR'S HUSBAND (1933)

Incomplete lobby cards set of THE WARRIOR'S HUSBAND (1933) starring Elissa Landi and David Manners. A rare set for an extremely rare movie. These 4 cards are gorgeous, sorta like the movie itself. I like all 4 cards. 

Clip of the week: HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN (1961)

Destruction of Atlantis! With Fay Spain. Great scene! 

By the Gods!

The statue of Uranus from HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN (1961)

Amazing set. One of the biggest from a European-produced PEPLUM movie. This image is a combination of two screenshots taken from a good copy of the movie (not the recent Blu-ray release...). 

Musings! (05-04)

Searching far and wide for all things PEPLUM! Luciano Marin and Steve Reeves in GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS (1959)

More on NERO'S BIG WEEKEND

Yesterday I posted about NERO'S BIG WEEKEND (1956) which was one of the movies that year that made Brigitte Bardot a superstar. But there's most interesting stuff just by reading the opening credits:

Actress Giorgia Moll is listed, spelled Georgia

Lucio Fulci is listed as Assistant Director. Fulci would become director in his own right.

Mario Bava was the director of photography and visual effects. He would directed PEPLUM movies later on.

Score by A. F. Lavagnino and conductor was Carlo Sabina, a composer as well.

And look at this...In Eastmancolor and Tecnostampa? 


Identify the movie!

Can you identify the movie from this scene?

No one identified last week's movie. It was from SEVEN REBEL GLADIATORS (1965).


Cinematic Confusion

Another very odd French VHS cover. The movie is TRIUMPH OF HERCULES starring Dan Vadis but the front cover has nothing to do with the movie. There are no scenes in it which take place on a boat. And the image on the back cover is Yann Larvor from SAMSON & THE MIGHTY CHALLENGE.


 

The answer to this mystery movie I posted about at the beginning of last month is WHEN THE RAVEN FLIES (1984), an Icelandic production. The movie is on Youtube so you can check it out. REVENGE OF THE BARBARIANS makes it sound more exciting...not to be confused with the 1960 movie starring Daniela Rocca.


Has anyone seen this movie?

 

LA VIE EROTIQUE D'URSUS (1970) or THE EROTIC LIFE OF URSUS. A lost movie? It apparently used scenes from HERCULES - PRISONER OF EVIL (1964) starring Reg Park and inserted erotic scenes in between those from the older movie. A definite curio I'd like to see.


Movies I watched...

NERO'S BIG WEEKEND - In HD but in Italian only. I just got the English subtitles to this movie today so I'll be rewatching it again.

SINBAD AND THE CALIPH OF BAGHDAD (1973) - This movie needs a good transfer, the audio boosted and new English dub. I like this movie, the last directed by Pietro Francisci, but the English audio is pretty weak.


--------

Last week's questions. The movie titled HERCULES VS THE GIANT WARRIORS is an alternate title for...TRIUMPH OF HERCULES.

 

--------

Stats for April were very good. 55,000 views which translates as an average of 1800 daily views. The blog used to get 900 to 1000 average daily views. The blog also gets these high peak days (seen below) which are a total mystery to me.

--------

Official PEPLUM TV T-shirt...
 

--------

Future Musings:

- List of PEPLUM books

- List of movies available in HD / Blu-ray

- PEPLUM Museum?

By the Gods!

Poppea (Brigitte Bardot) and Nero (Alberto Sordi) have a chat in NERO'S BIG WEEKEND (1956)

I'm always fascinated how stars become stars. Most people know Brigitte Bardot but few people know how she became a star. Brigitte starred in 6 movies in 1956, including this Italian comedy, plus HELEN OF TROY, and...AND GOD CREATED WOMEN. So, 1956 was the year Bardot became Bardot. She would become a cinematic sex symbol from then up until the beginning of the 1970s. I posted a screenshot of this at the PEPLUM Channel Facebook account and many had no clue she was in a movie with Gloria Swanson and Italian stars. It's one of many reasons to watch this movie, regardless if one finds it funny or not. Sordi had already starred with Sophia Loren in TWO NIGHTS WITH CLEOPATRA (1954) so he was used to sharing screen time with beautiful women. Also known as NERO'S MISTRESS. Screengrab taken from a beautiful copy in HD. I'll have more on this in tomorrow's Musings!

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Canadian poster of SHEHERAZADE (1963)

Hmm...

PEPLUM TV Official store

NEW STUFF! 

Official PEPLUM TV Merch