Musings!

Kirk Morris in what movie? 

Can you name the movie from this one screenshot? The only clue is Kirk plays Maciste. I'll add more text once someone guess it correctly.

Behind-the-Scenes

Robert Powell watches Franco Zeffirelli setting up scene on the set of JESUS OF NAZARETH (1977; TV)

Clip of the week: ATLAS AGAINST THE CZAR (1964)

Kirk Morris vs Nello Pazzafini! 

New PEPLUM imagery

With a few prompts, new PEPLUM imagery by AI. 

From MEN OF PULP @ X 

AGE OF FURY!

HD Alert!

Yvonne Furneaux and John Erikson in SLAVE QUEEN OF BABYLON (1963)

As I promised a few weeks ago, I said that I was going to create a list of PEPLUM movies in HD or released on Blu-ray. I created the list and it's now available at its permanent page. It's a work in progress and I'll be updating the list with more titles and images of those prints. 

HD List permanent page

Then & Now: Susy Andersen

Susy as Actis in SAPPHO - THE VENUS OF LESBOS (1960; aka The Warrior Empress); a recent photo of the actress.

Musings!

Aesop (Vitali Politseymako; center) is a slave in EZOP (1961)

This is a Soviet production made in 1961. It looks more like the 1930s. Since this print doesn't have English subtitles, I can't follow what's really going on. But here's the summary found at IMDb:

"The plot is based on the legend of the ancient Greek poet Aesop. The action takes place in Hellas in the V century BC. The philosopher Xanthus brings a slave Aesop as a gift to his wife Klee. He is the ugliest slave in all of Greece, but there is no philosopher equal to him in spiritual wealth and intelligence."

This is not the only movie from the Soviet era about Aesop. I guess Aesop was acceptable to Soviet rulers back then. 

PEPLUM Movie Poster

British quad of URSUS IN THE VALLEY OF THE LIONS (1961)

Nice and simple artwork. At least the other Ursus movies were released theatrically in Britain (the UK?).

Image of the week!

Goliath (Mark Forest) offers the Blood Diamond to the God of Vengeance in GOLIATH AND THE DRAGON (1960)

At the movies...

A truck full of bodybuilders promote THE GIANT OF MARATHON at the Loew's Poli theatre in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Musings!

Georges Marchal and Alessandra Panaro in THE SECRET MARK OF D'ARTAGNAN (1962)

How many movies, PEPLUM or not, have ended this way? As I often said, clichés are not bad. It's in the way they're done. If they're uninspiredly done, clichés suck. Georges played good guys as well as bad guys. He was good in either type of roles but I preferred him as a good guy. He could be really passionate with his role. He was a good actor. Alessandra was also a pretty good actress. She didn't achieve the level of success as Sophia Loren but she did appear in productions that were released in theatres outside of Italy, including the US. Her best roles are in THE BACCHANTES (1961) and ULYSSES AGAINST HERCULES (1962). It's an entertaining, solid production with some good action.

Behind-the-Scenes

Carmen Sevilla and Ricardo Montalban on the set of DESERT WARRIOR (1957). Thanks to Juan for the B&W photo which I colourized.

Clip of the week: HERCULES (1958)

Hercules (Steve Reeves) to the rescue during a storm on the sea! Poseidon is not happy!

Special note: this scene was not redubbed in the US print. When Hercules speaks, it's the International English version even if this audio is taken from the Avco Embassy print.

 

Portraits

Rebecca Ferratti as Telena in GOR (1987)

SPFX DEPT.

Scenes from THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD (1961)

More effects scenes from this Steve Reeves movie. Above, we see Steve, or a double, walking towards the lair of Kadeejah. Almost seamless matte painting. Same thing as below. Another spectacular and evocative matte work. This movie is top notch.

  

The other special effects, Steve Reeves. 😂

Different Titles

Today, it's MACISTE IN KING SOLOMON'S MINES (1964), starring Reg Park and Wandisa Guida. Few titles available. It's been these threes for years with no additional titles, in Spanish or German. The title in Great Britain, as seen in lobby cards, is SAMSON IN KING SOLOMON'S MINES but it has never surfaced on VHS, DVD, etc. It's one of the few Enlglish titles with Maciste.

This is the US public domain print. As I stated, it's one of the few if not the only one with Maciste in its title in English.

  

Italian title. Also on the German and French prints. 

 

This is the VHS French title. Translates as THE GOLD AND THE BLOOD. Hmm...

Reg Park and Wandisa Guida. Lobby card from Great Britain.

Musings!

Toto and Moira Orfei in TOTO AND CLEOPATRA (1963) 

Contrary to what it might look like, Moira Orfei doesn't play Cleopatra but Ottavia. Magali Noël played Cleopatra. IMO, Moira eclipsed Magali in terms of presence. This is a comedy so these things don't really matter but a movie featuring the legendary Egyptian queen/ruler should be the stand-out female star. I like all Toto movies no matter how difficult the Italian comedy might end up being translated in English. I don't know if they'll be dubbed in English one of these days. 

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I'm glad to be back. But last week was hectic so I feel I need to take it slow this week.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Original Italian poster of REVENGE OF THE BLACK EAGLE (1951) 

Beautiful artwork. Good likeness of Rossano Brazzi, who's excellent in this. 

PEPLUM Break!

I take a break roughly every two months so this is that time again. I will be back full time in two week. I won't post anything this week but I'll try to post stuff here and there next week and back to full time after that.

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!"

Image of the week!

Commodus (Christopher Plummer), as a god, appears during the sacrificial ceremony in THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (1964) 

Lobby Cards Set: DESERT WARRIOR (1957)

Original Italian lobby cards set of DESERT WARRIOR (1957) starring Ricardo Montalban and Carmen Sevilla. Very nice set. A lot of photos, of all the actors (at the side columns) and gorgeous photos in the centre. Thumbs up! This is an Italian - Spanish co-production and I'm still looking for the Italian version with opening credits in Italian. 

Musings!

Rossana Podesta and Livio Lorenzon in FURY OF THE PAGANS (1960)

I always wondered why this movie was made or for what audience. I'm sure it was green-lighted after the success of GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS (1958), the Steve Reeves classic. This movie looks and feels the same but it doesn't have a muscular actor and the action is there but it's not that thrilling. The movie is not bad but it's sorta without an audience. Livio was also in GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS and basically reprises his role. Rossana is the Chelo Alonso character I guess. Rossana is beautiful in this movie. In fact, she looks younger in this movie compared to her previous epic, HELEN OF TROY (1956). But Rossana doesn't dance so she's definitely no match to Chelo. Without a compelling script, the movie sorta goes nowhere. Also known as FURY OF THE BARBARIANS.

Behind-the-Scenes

Wandisa Guida on the set of VENGEANCE OF URSUS (1961)

Clip of the week: TRIUMPH OF THE TEN GLADIATORS (1964)

Emilio Messina vs his brother Roberto (bald). The rest of the big cast, too many to mention, brawl it out!
 

Funnies!

Peter Lupus in CHALLENGE OF THE GLADIATOR (1965)