15% off with the code NOV15. Valid until November 13.
The magazine was featured at the MagCloud page for movies. Pretty cool.
Friday, November 3, 2023
Lobby Cards Set: TWO NIGHTS WITH CLEOPATRA (1954)
Original italian lobby cards set of TWO NIGHT WITH CLEOPATRA (1954) starring Sophia Loren, Alberto Sordi, Paul Muller and more. Great set but I doubt this set is from the original 1954 release. Alberto and Sophia are featured prominently.
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Musings!
David and Peter Paul and Eva LaRue in THE BARBARIANS (1987)
Directed by Ruggero Deodato, who began working on PEPLUM movies back in the day and directed the notorious CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1979), decided to add to the whole 1980s PEPLUM revival with this you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it movie. Twin bodybuilders with no acting experince were cast in this somewhat colorful and yet messy movie. I don't dislike it. In fact, I watched many times but yeah, it's not CITIZEN KANE! I can't tell the difference between the two brothers. Eva would later work on the popular daytime soap ALL MY CHILDREN. Only in the 1980s.
Behind-the-Scenes
Director Arthur Lubin and Steve Reeves, in character, pose for a photo on the set of THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD (1961)
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
SPFX DEPT.
Scenes from LAND OF THE PHARAOHS (1955)
Excellent matte paintings from this spectacular film. The matte work is very subtle. Lou Litchtenfield was responsible for them. He was uncredited. Since the bulk of the movie takes place indoors, these two exterior shots are at the beginning and at the very end.
Monday, October 30, 2023
Musings!
Totokamen Sabachi (Totò) is about to get smashed by Maciste (Samson Burke) in TOTO VS MACISTE (1962)
The bulk of PEPLUM comedies or movies spoofing the PEPLUM genre are about the uber dense muscular guy, basically a meathead, vs the more cunning but punny man, like Toto. This is a perfect example of this. It's fun but quite predictable after a while. No English Dub version but a version with English subtitles exist. From what I've been told or read, the English translation doesn't get the jokes. They don't translate well. I believe it.
-------
Note: posting will be sporadic in the coming weeks due to some medical issues with my mother. I hope you understand. Once things settle down, regular postings should resume.
PEPLUM Movie Poster
Italian poster of LAND OF THE PHARAOHS (1955)
The Italian title translates as THE QUEEN OF THE PYRAMIDS. Gorgeous poster and artwork. The colours are really popping.
Monday, October 23, 2023
PEPLUM Break!
I love doing this blog but it takes a lot of my time. I take a break roughly every two months so this is that time again.
So stay tuned!
I'll leave you now with King Leonidas (Richard Egan) from THE 300 SPARTANS (1962), saying "From this wall, we do not retreat!"
---------
20% off with code OCT20. Valid until October 26.
Friday, October 20, 2023
Image of the week!
Randus (Steve Reeves) finds remnants left by his father in THE SON OF SPARTACUS (1962)
VHS Covers
VHS covers of LAND OF THE PHARAOHS (1955) starring Jack Hawkins, Joan Collins and others. Since this is a major film from Hollywood, the covers tend to be similar.
US VHS cover. The standard cover for most countries.
Polish cover
German VHS cover.
Spanish cover
Italian cover. It translates as THE QUEEN OF THE PYRAMIDS.
French cover
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Musings!
Tamara Lees, Livio Lorezon and Germano Longo are the main stars of A SWORD IN THE SHADOW (1961)
It's a rare PEPLUM movie where the villain, played with over-the-top verve by Germano Longo, is the main character of the story. There is a good guy, Fabrizio, played by Mario Valdermarin (not pictured) who's ok but he's totally eclipsed by Longo. It's a typical story of terrible people scheming things which makes for an entertaining movie. Longo is so good when he's not on screen, you sorta miss him. He does overdo it at times but that's the nature of his character. Tamara Lees had top billing but he role is more passive than anything. It's one of those PEPLUM movies in which no one has the right title: IMDb says it's SWORD IN THE SHADOWS while the copy I have taken from an old TV broadcast (below) from the US is titled A SWORD IN THE SHADOW.
Behind-the-Scenes
Alan Steel (Sergio Ciani) and Luisella Boni pose for a photo on the set of SAMSON (1961)
Steel is jacked!
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Clip of the week: THE TEN GLADIATORS (1963)
The ten gladiators are having fun. With Dan Vadis, José Greci, Pietro Torrisi and others.
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
HD Alert!
A mirrored Kirk Morris in ANTHAR THE INVINCIBLE (1964)
This fun movie has already been released on Blu-ray format years ago. In fact, there are two BDs of this film: one from Italy and the other from Spain. With that being said, there's a version of this HD print with the English audio added to it. Neither of the two BD releases had the English audio available. I suspect the fellow who did this Fan Dub is the same who added the English audio to the recent two HERCULES movies in HD and mentioned here at the blog. Directed by Antonio Margheriti. Well worth looking for.
Vintage Article
Old article of an interview with Lou Ferrigno and how Steve Reeves influenced him. He said his dad was big Steve fan and he brought Lou to see GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS (1959) and he couldn't believe any man looked like Steve.
Monday, October 16, 2023
Musings!
Romulus (Roger Moore) tends to a wounded Rea (Mylène Demongeot) in ROMULUS AND THE SABINES (1961)
This movie was sold a a fun comedy about kidnapping and rape for the whole family. The basis of the story is based on the 'rape of the Sabine women' and, yes, the scene of the kidnapping takes place in the movie. My personal opinion: parts of it work very well while other parts don't. Many of the latter scenes drag on or aren't funny or interesting. The film needed some good editing. But overall, I like watching it because the production is pretty good. And it looks good but it lacks momentum. The cast is excellent. Moore is not out of his element here even though one wouldn't compare him to Steve Reeves or Gordon Scott. Mylène is a regular of PEPLUM productions. The French version of this includes nudity during the kidnapping scene. It's not the only film on this legendary old story. There's a Mexican movie called THE RAPE OF THE SABINE WOMEN which came out in 1962. It's also known as THE SHAME OF THE SABINE WOMEN.
PEPLUM Movie Poster
British poster of THE TRIUMPH OF HERCULES (1964)
Simple but still eye-catching design. The Golden Warriors make an appearance. The movie had a theatrical release in the UK.
Friday, October 13, 2023
Image of the week!
Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) is sent to the galleys of a warship in BEN-HUR (1959)
BY THE GODS! magazine...
I received the final version of the magazine in the mail yesterday. It's pictured above.
I would like to thank all of those who purchased it. The more people successful it is, the more editions they're will be.
If you want a quick rundown, you can go to BYTHEGODS.ca for some details.
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Musings!
Delilah (Rosalba Neri) instructs a man to cut the hair of Samson (Anton Geesink) in THE GREAT LEADERS OF THE BIBLE (1965)
The movie is made of two short stories. The second on being the story of Samson and Delilah. The production is good if a bit too baroque for my taste. Rosalba is excellent in it. A regular actress of the PEPLUM genre, her Delilah is decidedly not as showy as previous or future interpretations. It's very grounded. The one thing that's odd about Rosalba's career is she was credited for movies in which she didn't appear in, including HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD (1961) and CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER (1960). I tried to find her in that movie but I can't and yet she's credited for it.
Behind-the-Scenes
Charlton Heston, as Moses, and Vincent Price on the set of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956). In the studio with blue screen. The exterior view will be added later in post-production.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Clip of the week: GOLIATH AND THE SINS OF BABYLON (1963)
Goliath (Mark Forest) joins the team. With Mimmo Palmara and Giuliano Gemma.