Musings!

Archimedes (Rossano Brazzi) and Diana (Tina Louise) fall in love in SIEGE OF SYRACUSE (1960)

Pietro Francisci directed this movie. It's his most epic one. Huge battles, story takes decades to unfold, etc. I really like it. There are aspects which work better than others. The look, the production, the big scenes are all top notch. The romance between the two leads is, like so many other PEPLUM movies, the weakest part. The romance seemed a bit forced. The melancolic aspects of the sweeping story are much more effective and poignant than the romanctic stuff. It seems the romance was use as means to a point.

I like Rossano. I learned through the many years covering the PEPLUM genre that few who like these movies are fans of his. He's a great actor. I don't understand the hate. And I like Tina Louise. She's such a larger than life beauty that's it's almost impossible not to admire. But the actress was known to be difficult and, oddly enough, she too a good number of people who dislike her (and prefer May Ann on Gilligan's Island). It's odd thing to watch romantic scenes of two people who are hated by people for no valid reason.

Anyway, the movie is still not available in English. It's definitely on top of my list of most wanted. The one terrible thing about the English version is the voice of Tina. Another woman dubbed her (as seen in the English trailer of the movie). In SAPPHO - THE VENUS OF LESBOS (1960), it was Tina's voice. Regardless, I still can't wait to view it in English.