Photo of the Day

Olga Schoberová is about to enjoy some grapes from Femi Benussi in POPPEA'S HOT NIGHTS.

One of those rare Sword & Sandal films made in the late 1960s/early 70s.

What movie is this from

Can you identify this movie?

Before they were PEPLUM stars: Bud Spencer

Bud Spencer, aka Carlo Pedersoli, was the first Italian to swim the 100 m freestyle in less than one minute. He achieved this on 19 September 1950. Spencer participated in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, reaching the semi-finals in the 100 m freestyle (wikipedia).

Spencer would have a brief cameo in QUO VADIS in 1951 and one of his first speaking roles in HANNIBAL (last photo). Amazing how Bud would turn out. Arf.

Photo of the Day

The Golden Minotaur in SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER.

One of Ray Harryhausen's most memorable creations. 

After the PEPLUM films

Brad Harris and Tony Kendall in one them KOMMISSAR X movies. 

Both Brad and Tony were Sword & Sandal stars and eventually changed 

genre when the PEPLUM explosion quickly died

GLADIATOR BEGINS Game

I usually don't play video games (I don't have much time) but I do have a PSP and play when I'm on the go. I found this game and it's fun. Just setting it up is fun: like many games, you can design your own characters, in this case gladiator; you can rotate him (or her), give him difference faces (all of them angry), different body types. The possibilities are endless. I named this gladiator PHAON, from SAPPHO ~ THE VENUS OF LESBOS. Next one should be HYPERBIUS. There should be a game with all the big PEPLUM stars, like Steve Reeves, Mark Forest, etc and design their look. Now that would be cool.

Photo of the Day

Gianna Maria Canale is the TIGER OF THE SEVEN SEAS. Gianna is incredibly 

beautiful in this fun film. This photo is a great example.  

The Burial of Atala by Girodet

Though the setting is supposed to be 18th century American South the look and style

 is more Roman inspired than American. They should make a movie based on this.

Photo of the Day

Kirk Morris in CONQUEROR OF ATLANTIS. Great photo. 

I've already uploaded this photo on facebook in a folder for Kirk Morris.

I'll be creating folders for every star and uploading several photos there. 

Movie Poster Mondays

Italian poster for HERCULES AGAINST THE TYRANTS OF BABYLON.

Nice detailing/rendering. Really captures everything about a PEPLUM film but 

Peter Lupus looks, hmm, crazy.

PEPLUM Goof

Georges Marchal and Gianna Maria Canale in THE WARRIOR & THE PRINCESS.

Is Georges wearing loafers?

Photo of the Day

Jany Clair watches Gordon Scott win over Nello Pazzafini in HERCULES AGAINST MOLOCH
(or CONQUEST OF MYCENE). If it wasn't for the overuse of stock footage, this would
be one of the best PEPLUMS ever.

Elizabeth Taylor in QUO VADIS

Elizabeth Taylor, who did a screen test for QUO VADIS, reportedly has a cameo in it after she lost the role to Deborah Kerr. It's difficult to find her in the movie, which boasts a cast of thousands. But here is what some believe is Liz's very brief appearance in the epic movie. Sophia Loren is also reported to be in the movie but I still didn't find any sign of her.

Future PEPLUM Star: Tim Tebow

Ok, he might not have a future in PEPLUM films but here's the

rising football star is in some sort of play as a Roman soldier.

A buff Tim practicing in the field. The gridiron gladiator reminds me of Sam Worthington. 

Photo of the Day

Corrado Pani, Debra Paget and Yvette Lebon in CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER.

Love this film.

PEPLUM Behind the Scenes

Steve Reeves with some *really* happy girl at some party or function. 

Steve is PEPLUM perfection! Photo provided by Pasquale Azzollini

Giovanni Cianfriglia - Profile

Photo of the Day

Ludmilla Tchérina as Amitys in SINS OF ROME (original Italian title: SPARTACO).

The dance sequence with the ship in the middle of the colosseum is one of best moments
in PEPLUM history. I get chills watching it. Directed by Maestro Riccardo Freda.

Medieval Imagery: Aubrey Beardsley

Love this stuff

Elizabeth Taylor 1932 - 2011

Though miscast as Cleopatra, Elizabeth Taylor's role is now the stuff of legends. 

Elizabeth Taylor, with Robert Taylor, in IVANHOE.

Elizabeth did a test shot for QUO VADIS but the

role went to Deborah Kerr. 

Photo of the Day

Climax from TERROR OF THE STEPPES starring the one and only Kirk Morris. 

Some have asked me from which film the banner is from. Well, there you go. This scene is one 

of my favourite scenes ever. Scenes like this one made me a PEPLUM fan.

youtube

Ben Hur Live

Large scale stadium spectacle. Only in Europe. A mix of Cirque Du Soleil and Biblical spectacle.

Photo of the Day

King Aeetes (Jack Gwillim) orders his special army to attack JASON & THE ARGONAUTS (1963)

Movie Poster Mondays

Spanish poster of MACISTE IN THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS.

The poster has a typo with Mitchell Gordon instead of Gordon Mitchell. Beautiful poster.

Photo of the Day

Francis X. Bushman whips Ramón Novarro in the silent version of BEN-HUR

PEPLUM Anachronism: Laboratories

Amazing how laboratories from the past are so modern looking. Fun and cute but not really accurate.

Above and below: from GOLIATH & THE VAMPIRES

Above and Below: SINBAD & THE EYE OF THE TIGER

Photo of the Day

Mark Damon in THE TYRANT OF CASTILE. 

Beautiful mounted and filmed Swashbuckler with a few anachronistic problems.

Will the real CAPTAIN HENRI MORGAN please stand up...

Big and rotund or chiseled and buff?

Laird Cregar in THE BLACK SWAN.

Torin Thatcher in BLACKBEARD, THE PIRATE.

Steve Reeves in MORGAN THE PIRATE.

Big in Nepal

I recently uploaded A QUEEN FOR CAESAR at my SapphoPEPLUM

channel and for some reason a website in Nepal posted a link on their 

homepage (above) and have been getting hits after hits from it. Of all places. 

Photo of the Day

George Barbier, Basil Rathbone, Sigrid Gurie and Gary Cooper in 

THE ADVENTURES OF MARCO POLO.

Almost everyone hates it but I like it. Yes, it's superficial but it's fun, has a
great cast and great production values.

The many hairstyles of Marilù Tolo

This is just a small sample. Marilù changes her style so many times, even during 

 the same film, that I get her confused with other actresses, certainly with Hélène Chanel.