Friday, December 31, 2010
Photo of the Day
Anthony Dexter and Eva Gabor in CAPTAIN KIDD & THE SLAVE GIRL.
A fun Swashbuckler with the underrated actor Anthony. He should have
had a bigger career.
Nudity
File under "when you can't show actual nudity, a statue will do." From ALEXANDER THE GREAT
From BLACK DEVILS OF KALI
PEPLUM Cliché: Cast of Thousands
Though often promised but rarely lived up to, movies always promised a "cast of thousands" but usually had a cast hundreds.
From LAND OF THE PHARAOHS. The crowd scenes were huge in this film.
Gordon Scott in GOLIATH & THE VAMPIRES
From SINS OF POMPEII
Both photos above and below, from QUO VADIS(1951)
Filmed in Italy after WWII, MGM were able to get huge crowds for a cheap
price for QUO VADIS because of the poor post-war economy.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Photo of the Day
Stephen Boyd and Christopher Plummer battle it out in THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
Great scene in a flawed film.
Erroneous Movie Memorabilia
As a collector of movie posters and lobby cards it always makes me laugh when the still
photo on the lobby card looks totally different than how it was in the actual film.
Gia Sandri and Giovanni Cianfriglia in HERCULES THE AVENGER
PEPLUM Anachronism: Language Barrier
Having our heros in some exotic settings is always fun but not very logical. How does Hercules communicate with an Inca? How did Samson converse with Chinese monks?
Giuliano Gemma and Mark Forest in HERCULES AGAINST THE SONS OF THE SUN
Gordon Scott and Luong-Ham Chan(?) in SAMSON & THE 7 MIRACLES OF THE WORLD
(Maciste at the Court of the Great Khan)
(Maciste at the Court of the Great Khan)
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Photo of the Day
Scilla Gabel and José Greci in COLOSSUS OF THE ARENA, the BRAWNIEST PEPLUM ever made!
The Velarium
The Velarium is the awning structure that covered the Colosseum. Very little is known
about it. The photo below shows the support system that sustained it. According to the
drawing above, there was also a massive net surrounding the interior. I've seen hundreds
of gladiator movies and have never seen anything like this. There was something like
it in GLADIATOR but not exactly the same. The Velarium is almost mythical.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Photo of the Day
Gordon Mitchell inspects the body of Spartacus in THE REVENGE OF SPARTACUS.
One of the many latter PEPLUMS directed by the wild Michele Lupo. This film is pretty
good but a tad overlong.
Movie Poster Mondays
Poster for HERCULES AND THE TREASURE OF THE INCAS (SAMSON in the original Italian version). It's a PEPLUM/WESTERN. It can't be described as a Spaghetti Western. The prop Alan is holding is a prop which appeared in many other films. Seeing Alan Steel in jeans is amazing/startling/odd after wearing a wrap or tunic in so many musclemen epics.
youtube
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Photo of the Day
Jesus gives Charlton Heston, as BEN-HUR, a much needed drink of water. Great epic but a tad too long and the religious stuff doesn't hold up well today.
Merry Christmas everyone and thanks for visitor this blog!
Sword & Sandal or Fantasy?
If this is where Sword & Sandal genre is headed, I want to
get off. Looks more like Lord of the Rings than Greek mythology.
Future PEPLUM Star: David Gandy
David Gandy may not be a bodybuilder but he does have a classic look
to be a PEPLUM star. The intensity in his stare makes him a natural.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Doppelganger
Roger Browne and Giacomo Rossi Stuart
Both actors appear in a couple of films together and it's sometimes difficult to tell them apart.
PEPLUM Anachronism: Fashion for Women
Tina Louise is wearing a stola with an obvious modern padded bra in the wonderful
SAPPHO - THE VENUS OF LEBOS. I love this movie but some of the fashion
for the women are totally anachronistic.
Fetching for sure but it's more Frederick's of Hollywood
than Ancient Greek fashion.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Photo of the Day
Hélène Chanel has plans for Kirk Morris in MACISTE IN THE VALLEY OF THUNDERING ECHO.
One of the rarer Kirk Morris "Maciste" film, this also one of the four PEPLUM films Hélène
and Kirk made together. (BTW, what's Kirk wearing?)
One of the rarer Kirk Morris "Maciste" film, this also one of the four PEPLUM films Hélène
and Kirk made together. (BTW, what's Kirk wearing?)
ARTEMIS - Greek God of the Month (week 4)
Did you know that Artemis rode a chariot pulled by wild deers?
According to the cheeky youtube clip Santa Claus stole the idea from Artemis.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, etc!
According to the cheeky youtube clip Santa Claus stole the idea from Artemis.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, etc!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Photo of the Day
José Greci, Virna Lisi and Jacques Sernas in DUEL OF THE TITANS (Romulus & Remus)
What a great photo!
Cinematic Confusion
There was a muscleman in LAND OF THE PHARAOHS? This British poster is
so wrong, it's mind boggling.
German DVD cover for SAMSON starring...Gordon Scott?
That's an image of Gordon Scott when it should be Brad Harris.
That's Dan Vadis? They used the artwork for a Peter Lupus film
for HERCULES THE INVINCIBLE.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Photo of the Day
Alan Steel (Sergio Ciani) is HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN.
Fun, colorful PEPLUM that's actually pretty cool but unfortunately has been made a target as
being "one of the worst films ever" because of MST3K. Obviously they haven't seen VAN HELSING.
Movie Poster Mondays
French poster for MACISTE IN THE VALLEY OF KINGS.
All the PEPLUM ingredients are there.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Photo of the Day
Gordon Scott in HERO OF ROME, one of his better (and I quote) "6 films I shot back to back."
Babe of the Week: Chelo Alonso
Chelo Alonso, born Isabella Garcia, as seen in MACISTE IN THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS. Photos of what Chelo did before she became a PEPLUM star.
Chelo in New Orleans in 1955
