Photo of the Day

Melina Kanakaredes, Sean Bean and Kevin McKidd (with trident tattoo!) in 

PERCY JACKSON & the OLYMPIANS.

I haven't seen it yet, a bit weary about the makers of HARRY POTTER's film version 

of a series of popular children's books and their spin on Greek Mythology .

Pompeii site in the news again

2nd Pompeii structure collapses because of neglect

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Photo of the Day

Gianna Maria Canale getting whipped by Geneviève Grad in The Conqueror of Corinth.
This scene is brief but it rocks!

Movie Poster Mondays

Movie poster for the film that re-ignited interest in the genre and would become the template for practically every Sword & Sandal films made afterwards, certainly in regards with the primary focus on the male physique with Henri Vidal walking about wearing next to nothing.

Soundtrack Master : Miklos Rozsa

One of my favorite scores! If you don't get chills listening to this than you're not alive. Arf. This version of the QUO VADIS? soundtrack is a new modern re-orchestration and it's stunning.

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Photo of the Day

José Greci and Mark Forest (Lou Degni) in Hercules Against the Mongols. Totally fun PEPLUM!

Future PEPLUM production : Cleopatra in 3D

There are rumors swirling about over James Cameron making a 3D epic on the life of Cleopatra and it would star Angelina Jolie in the title role. Epic blockbuster or epic disaster in the making?

Then & Now : Mylène Demongeot

Mylène Demongeot in The Giant of Marathon; Mylène today

Photo of the Day

Joe Robinson and Bella Cortez in the deliriously over-the-top TAUR THE MIGHTY

PEPLUM Behind-the-scenes

Kirk Douglas and Stanley Kubrick on the set of SPARTACUS

Stock Footage : The Castle

This shot of an army leaving a castle/fortress has been used and re-used in at least a dozen PEPLUM flicks. I still do not know the original source but it looks more medieval than Roman.

Photo of the Day

Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra in the incredibly lush film CAESAR & CLEOPATRA. The film bombed at the b.o.. The film had tons of behind the scenes in-fighting. Few people seem to like it but I do. This is one of my favorites. Such a great picture. 

Future PEPLUM Star? Zeb Atlas

Adult film star Zeb Atlas.

I doubt he'll have a future in Sword & Sandal films but he sure looks like the late Dan Vadis here.

Photo of the Day

Gordon Mitchell as Maciste from Maciste in the Land of the Cyclops. Maciste : "I was born from the rock"

Gerome's Les Gladiateurs

Amazing sculpture

PEPLUM Anachronism : Bullfighting

Bullfighting (or some form of Man VS Bulls) has existed since the beginning of time 

but the representation of bullfighting in films that take place in Ancient Greece is totally 

erroneous. It's too modern, more of the current Spanish tradition than anything else. This 

scene is from "My Son, The Hero" and I dislike this scene with a passion. It not only

 takes me out of the movie but it serves no purpose to the story.

Photo of the Day

Kirk Morris (Hercules) battles with Iloosh Khoshabe (Samson) in "Hercules vs Samson"; this scene is one of the best PEPLUM scenes ever. Thrilling and original.

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PEPLUM Imagery in Vintage Media

The word "Gladiator" is an all-encompassing word

Phalanx Formation

 Cool stuff!

Photo of the Day

Rosalba Neri watches her deformed son, who's made to think he's the god Moloch, getting ready for a ceremony in Hercules against Moloch (the Conquest of Mycene). If it weren't for the constant use of footage from other films for the big battles and such, this would be one of the best PEPLUMS ever.

HERMES - Greek God of the Month - week 4

The Tomb of Hermes

Archeologist finds the Tomb of Hermes in...Egypt? Maybe it's the tomb of Hermes Trismegistus.

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It is thought that Hermes is the Greek version of the Egyptian god Thoth. The combo of the two gods is known as Hermes Trismegistus which some have completely dismissed.

Alexander the Great is said to be the one who discovered the Emerald Tablet of Hermes, in the tomb of Hermes-Trismegistus in the Valley of Hebron

The god Trismegistus has made an appearance in one film, THE KEEP, which oddly enough is about a tomb too. Though not a PEPLUM, the evil god is shown as a big muscular omnipotent being.

Photo of the Day

Ed Fury in The Seven Revenges. By far his best performance in a PEPLUM film.

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Movie Poster Mondays

Italian poster for Sappho the Venus of Lesbos, released in the US with the boneheaded title The Warrior Princess, which has no female warrior princess. One of my all-time favorite PEPLUM films.

Historical Location : Doric Temple

Doric Temple in Sicily. What a magical place. A temple in the

middle of nowhere.

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Photo of the Day

Stunning shot from ERIK THE CONQUEROR

PEPLUM Babe of the Week : Lana Turner

Lana Turner in THE PRODIGAL. The film doesn't have enough of Lana

Another publicity shot for THE PRODIGAL

Roger Moore and Lana in DIANE, a great Historical/Romantic Swashbuckler

Upcoming Releases: SINBAD The Fifth Voyage

Hmm...what is this? In Dynamation? Is it a real film, animated film, what?

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Photo of the Day

Ken Marshall & Alun Armstrong in the Sword & Fantasy/Sci-Fi flick KRULL

PEPLUM Behind the Scenes

Jayne Mansfield & Mikey Hargitay at some costume party.

The famous sexy couple starred in one PEPLUM film 

together, HERCULES VS THE HYDRA (aka The Loves of Hercules)

Mini Fotonovela : Maciste against the Moon Men

Alan Steel and Jany Clair

Photo of the Day

José Greci in Goliath & the Sins of Babylon. Love her!!!

Future PEPLUM Star? Matt Davis

Matt is 6'5" and impressive but probably supporting roles, not starring roles. 

Photo of the Day

Mark Forest tries to save Yvonne Furneaux from a crushing death in The Lion of Thebes.

This scene is ace! Check it out on my youtube channel

PEPLUM Anachronism

Nancy Kovack as Medea is helped by fellow dancers in Jason & the Argonauts.

Is that a zipper? Hard to say but it's posted at IMDb as an official anachronism.

Miscast Hall of Shame

Good old boy Rory Calhoun in The Colossus of Rhodes. 

Colossus of Rhodes is an amazing film but Rory was ridiculously miscast. With his greasy hair from the 1950s, his aw-shucks acting and his terrible costume with shiny go-go boots, Rory stood out like a sore thumb. Because he's practically in EVERY scene, his presence drags down the film considerably. Had it been someone else, like Lang Jeffries, well, it would be a perfect PEPLUM but as it is, Rory prevents

it from being 100% credible. Oh well...

Photo of the Day

A sneaky Paul Wynter in Maciste in the Land of the Cyclops

Design of Olympians for a role playing game. Cute.

PEPLUM Fantasy Casting

Fantasy cinematic casting that never happened but should have: Steve Reeves and Raquel Welch. The pulchritudeness of this pairing would have been off the scale...