By the Gods!

Steve Reeves as Romulus in DUEL OF THE TITANS (1961)

I promised to do a review of the new German Blu-ray of this movie but said I wanted to wait until I got the US version first, to compare. And I did. I watched the German version, the English copy from the German BD, and the US version (bottom right) together. The German version is cut, which is not surprising. But the English one from the Blu-ray and the old US version (with Paramount logo) are identical. No scenes were cut. Same runtime. So there's not much to review. 

Virna Lisi in DUEL OF THE TITANS. I watched three versions at the same time. The one with the English track (bottom left) on the German Blu-ray is identical to the US version, seen here in 4:3 aspect ratio at the bottom right. The runtimes are identical. 

My only complaint about the new German Blu-ray: the audio could have been stronger. It's sorta flat. And some night scenes are really dark. But oddly enough this is very common with almost all Blu-ray releases of PEPLUM movies. And if only the Paramount logo was at the beginning of the movie but since this a German release, the Paramount logo didn't belong there. I give the Blu-ray 9 out of 10. 

Hopefully this movie will be released in the US on Blu-ray, with Paramount logo at the beginning. 

Behind-the-Scenes

Charlton Heston filming the legendary chariot scene from BEN-HUR (1959)

By the Gods!

Gene Evans and Rock Hudson star in THE GOLDEN BLADE (1953) 

A fun old-fashioned adventure movie starring Rock Hudson as an action hero. I like this film and the HD copy of this is very nice, so much better than anything seen before. Was Rock suited for action movies? He's pretty good in this and thankfully the movie doesn't take itself too seriously which helps keep this movie in the fun category. It pretty much follows all the clichés of PEPLUM movies, including going on a quest to try to find those responsible for his father's death, which leads to the Golden Blade. One of many PEPLUM movies with GOLDEN in their titles.

Different Versions: THE GIANT OF MARATHON (1959)

In today's example of different versions found in my collection, the spotlight is on THE GIANT OF MARATHON starring Steve Reeves and Mylène Demongeot. Brace yourselves.

The movie hasn't been released in any format in HD but it was shown in 1280 HD on TV in France. 

The list goes from highest resolution to the lowest. The best versions are the ones with full widescreen image. So, the French TV broadcast, the US Retromedia DVD, and the Italian trade copies are the most accurate. The others are cropped.

Posted at the Permanent page


French TV Broadcast 

French - TV broadcast - widescreen -1280 x 544 - opening credits: French - runtime: 84m 44s - PAL - French only


French Fan Dub / Trade 

French - Trade/Fan Dub - 16X9 - 1078 x 576 - opening credits: Italian but intro text in English - runtime: 83m 45s - PAL - French only


French DVD pack 

French - DVD pack - 16X9 - 768 x 412 - opening credits: Italian but intro text in English - runtime: 83m 56s at PAL - 3 languages: Italian, French and English.


US DVD RETROMEDIA

US - DVD - widescreen - 720 x 304 - opening credits: English - No MGM logo - runtime: 86m 14s - NTSC - English only


Italian TV Broadcast

Italian - TV broadcast - widescreen - 715 x 331 - opening credits: Italian but intro text in English - runtime: 84m 37s - PAL - Italian only


Millcreek / Public domain
 

US - WARRIORS 50 pack (Millcreek) - 4:3 - 638 x 460 - opening credits: English - MGM logo - runtime: 84m 24s - NTSC - English only

GODS OF WAR DVD pack

US - DVD pack - 4:3 - 624 x 464 - opening credits: English - MGM Logo - runtime: 84m 21s - NTSC - English only

Italian (Trade)

Italian - Trade - widescreen 624 x 256 - opening credits: Italian but intro text in English - runtime: 84m 23s - PAL - Italian only 

Greek copy from Youtube
 

Greek - Youtube - 4:3 widescreen - 450 x 360 - opening credits: English title (different than the original English design) but credits in French - runtime: 83m 54s - PAL - English with Greek subtitles


Note:

Trade means I got it from trading with someone. Source unknown.

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Clip of the week: URSUS IN THE LAND OF FIRE

Feat of Strength scene starring Ed Fury as Ursus 

By the Gods!

Ned Beatty died on Sunday, age 83. Ned was a familiar face in the 1970s and 80s, in which he appeared in the mini-series, THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII (1984). He worked along a big cast that included Nicholas Clay (below). RIP, Ned.

Musings! (06-15)

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

MORE RARITIES...

2021 is turning into the year rare versions are finally showing up after years of obscurity. I already mentioned this last week and the trend, for now, continues.

 

I finally got the English subtitles to TIBERIUS (1960) starring Ugo Tognazzi, Abbe Lane and Walter Chiari. The English audio does exist since it was shown on TV in the US in the 1960s. Hopefully, the English dub will also surface since this is a wordy comedy, with non-stop dialogue and reading all that text is a bit much for a comedy.

 

And the original English title of HERCULES THE INVINCIBLE is now on Youtube. It was one of the movies from the SONS OF HERCULES TV series, and was titled SONS OF HERCULES...IN THE LAND OF DARKNESS. That was the only English title available for decades...until now. Yeah! Note: this movie was released as HERCULES THE INVINCIBLE in the UK but I'm not sure if this print is from the UK. 


CINEMATIC CONFUSION

This is a VHS cover for SAMSON AND THE MIGHTY CHALLENGE (1964). The artwork on the cover is identical to the original one except the speared woman. That was added for this VHS release. The thing is...this movie is a goofy comedy so why such a gruesome image. WTH? 


HAVE YOU SEEN?

SEX OLYMPICS (1972). A German movie set in Antiquity. I got English subtitles for this and have been watching it as I'm writing this. Another typically 1970s movie. 

 

GERMAN RELEASES...

Speaking of German movies...DVDs or movies release in Germany have some odd history. I've pointed this out many times for many years and I just discovered another oddity. I ripped some German DVDs from my collection into MKVs and discovered that SAMSON (1961) is missing the entire beginning when Samson (Brad Harris) fights over a boar with Millstone (Alan Steel). This scene is a PEPLUM classic and yet it's cut from the German DVD release.

 

It's very odd certainly when SAMSON was actually released as a Hercules movie but FURY OF HERCULES, with Brad Harris and Alan Steel, was released as SAMSON. 


IDENTIFY THE MOVIE...

Can you identify this movie from this photo?

Henry was able to identify the movie. It's a cut scene for LOVES OF THREE QUEENS (1954) starring Hedy Lamar. 


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Last week, Orsh was able to identify the movie, CONQUEROR OF THE ORIENT (1960) after one clue. Good job. It wasn't an easy one.

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I changed the blog's banner with a new one. I like the previous one with Steve Reeves in THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD but that was specifically for 2020, which was the tenth anniversary of the blog. It replaced the one below which was used for the longest time.

You can view all of the blog's banners and banners used for other social media outlets here 


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Future Musings:

- List of PEPLUM books

- List of movies available in HD / Blu-ray

- PEPLUM Museum?

By the Gods!

Messalina (Maria Félix) and Caius Silvius (Georges Marchal) are lovers in MESSALINA (1951)

This excellent movie was shot in B&W. I love B&W but this movie should have been filmed in color, as this photo shows. It would have been so much more beautiful. Oh well. Still waiting for the English dub of this to resurface. For now, only in Italian with English subtitles. 

PEPLUM Movie Poster

French poster of GOLIATH AT THE CONQUEST OF DAMASCUS (1965)

Great poster. That's Mario Petri fighting with 'Rock Stevens' aka Peter Lupus.

 

PEPLUM TV Official store

Official PEPLUM TV Merch 

By the Gods!

Steve Reeves, as Phillipides, in THE GIANT OF MARATHON (1959)

For a movie that not only boasts one of Steve's most memorable roles and that was directed by Jacques Tourneur and co-directed by Mario Bava, one wonders where's the HD release? With such a background, one would think a beautiful Blu-ray release would have been available by now. The movie is in the public domain in North America. This is probably the main reason why it will take time for it to surface, if ever. This was on of the 5 movies Steve made back to back in and around 1959. He was that hot and popular. 

Behind-the-Scenes

Cecil B. DeMille shows Victor Mature a prop during the filming of SAMSON AND DELILAH (1949)

By the Gods!

Samson Burke, Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia in the comedy SATIRICOSISSIMO (1970)

I finally got a copy with subtitles in which I'll be able to understand the rapid fire Italian dialogue. Franco and Ciccio were a popular comedy duo in Italy. They began in 1954 and lasted up to 1992 after Franco's death. This is not their first PEPLUM movie. They also starred in MACISTE VS HERCULES IN THE VALE OF WOE (1961). From this screenshot, Samson is either super tall or the comedians were super short.

Lobby Cards Set: GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS (1959)

Original US lobby cards set of GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS (1959) starring Steve Reeves and Chelo Alonso. A mixed set with some great cards (no 1,2, 3, and 5) with not so great cards (cards 4, 6, 7, and 8). This set needed a card with Steve going through the amazing Feat of Strength. And there's no close-up of Steve. 

Clip of the week: Gladiator fight

From ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (1972). Great fight. 

By the Gods!

Scenes from MACISTE IN KING SOLOMON'S MINES (1964)

These matte paintings of a kingdom in Africa are excellent. I always love seeing matte paintings since they give the viewer a sense of place. The action in the movie took place here.

Musings! (06-08)

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

THE CONFUSING DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS OF PEPLUM MOVIES...

During my time off, I received the Artus Films DVD of THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS (1957) starring Gianna Maria Canale, Sylva Koscina, Francisco Rabal and Rik Battaglia. It's a definite favourite of mine. I did a Fan Dub of it and it was the most complete version yet. I'm happy with the Artus Films' DVD but I would have preferred a Blu-ray or HD version of it. It also raised a ton of questions on why they were able to get this copy, with Italian opening credits, instead of the one with French opening credits.

Gianna Maria Canale and Sylva Koscina.

To make things more confusing, there's a HD version of this film in French on Youtube, with French opening credits. 

Why couldn't Artus Films, a French distributor, obtain the rights to the French HD version but a Youtube channel, originating in Italy, has the HD version of the film in French?

The whole thing is very confusing. I'll try to write about it without being too confusing.

ARTUS FILMS DVD:

French release, with French cover and back. DVD includes French and Italian languages options. The runtime: 100 minutes PAL (which is at 25 frames per second).

The opening credits are in Italian, not French. The French opening credits are available on the DVD but only as an *extra*. 

YOUTUBE VERSION:

The Youtube version is in HD, in French and a runtime of 92 minutes PAL. The opening credits are in French. 

I verified both versions and they're basically the same, meaning the HD is not really HD but simply an up-conversion of the print found on the DVD. Below are screenshots of the two versions.

Above: screenshot from the Artus Films DVD. Below: screenshot of the Youtube 'HD' version. They are identical.
 

So, the only difference between these two French versions is the Youtube one has the original opening credits in French and 8 minutes are cut.

The Artus Films DVD is uncut, at 100 minutes, but with the original Italian opening credits.

Personally, I prefer the original Italian opening credits so in the end the Artus Films one is the best: it's uncut and it has the original Italian audio which matches with those opening credits. But it's odd that I had to buy a DVD from France, sold as a French release, to get this Italian version.


RECENT ACQUISITION

As stated above, I got the French DVD of THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS, called LA MURAILLE DE FEU (or The Wall of Fire). It's a great DVD. Artus Films know how to make these DVDs: it includes the disc with Italian and French language options. The original French, Italian and US posters. And it comes with a great booklet (below, far left) with info on the movie. They really respect the films they sell. I give it a 10 out to 10. This is how I would do it for all PEPLUM titles. Now if only this was in high definition and the English audio was also included.

 CINEMATIC CONFUSION

VHS cover of TAUR THE MIGHTY (1963) starring Joe Robinson and Bella Cortez. Looks nothing like the original movie even though the hero sorta resembles Joe Robinson. The Spanish title translates as KING OF BRUTE FORCE. 


IDENTIFY THE MOVIE!

Can you identify the movie with this simple matte painting? I'm certain no one will get this.

The movie is CONQUEROR OF THE ORIENT (1960). Orsh got it.

MOVIES I WATCHED...

During my time off, I watched:

THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS

I had to watch this movie several times, trying to see the differences between my Fan Dub, the new DVD from Artus Films, and the so-called HD copy on Youtube. Great looking film.

SIGN OF THE GLADIATOR

There's an English version available on Youtube but it's severly cut, with a runtime just under 80 minutes. They titled it SIGN OF ROME. I also watched the one from Mediaset / RAI, with the odd colours. 


GOLIATH AND THE REBEL SLAVE

One of two Gordon Scott movies I watched. Solid PEPLUM movie. Remarkably enough, the Sinister Cinema version, in English, is complete. I watched that version with an old Fan Dub version someone else did, and titled as ARROW OF THE AVENGER, to see how complete both versions were. ARROW OF THE AVENGER is the UK title. Also starring Serge Nubret (below).

HERO OF BABYLON 

Second Gordon Scott movie I watched. One of my favorites.


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One of the most fascinating way to find scenes cut from movies are lobby cards. It's amazing how many cut scenes, those that didn't end up in the final cut, end up in lobby cards set. I have to write an article about this.

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There's finally the official English version, with English opening credits, on Youtube for THE BACCHANTES. I did a Fan Dub of this movie years ago, and the English audio I had was in a terrible state. But It's one of my favourite movies and Fan Dub jobs, so seeing the original English version after so many years missing in action is quite a surprise. The image quality and audio of that copy are not that great though.

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It seems more and more of these rare, almost 'lost' versions of movies are surfacing one by one. So far it's been a great year for hard to find movies.

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Speaking of hard to find movies, there are English subtitles for the ultra rare NERONE E MESSALINA (1953) starring Gino Cervi (below), which I recently got. It makes a whole lot of difference. Great movie. 

 

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Future Musings:

- List of PEPLUM books

- List of movies available in HD / Blu-ray

- PEPLUM Museum?

By the Gods!

Broderick Crawford strangles Wandisa Guida in GOLIATH AND THE DRAGON (1960) 

I wonder what Wandisa was thinking when shooting this scene. "I'm being strangled by Broderick Crawford!". It must have been a memorable day on the job. Love this wacky movie!

PEPLUM Movie Posters

Original Italian poster of ZORIKAN THE BARBARIAN (1964)

Yes, that's Dan Vadis as the villain. Good art for this mostly forgotten movie.

PEPLUM TV Official store

Official PEPLUM TV Merch