PEPLUM TV: June 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Photo of the Day

Dan Vadis hangs, literally, to dear life in SPARTACUS & THE TEN GLADIATORS

The highlight from one of my favourites PEP films.

Twins or doubles can be considered a cliche but these plot points don't happen too often in PEPLUMS so I won't describe them as such. Here's a few films with twins, usually one good and one evil, or bad guys morphed into the likeness of our Hero.

Rosanna Schiaffino plays estranged twins in THE MINOTAUR; it's a good role for her.

Gordon Scott fights with himself, in one of the best scenes in PEPLUM history, as evil Kobrak takes his shape, from GOLIATH & THE VAMPIRES.

Richard Greene times two in THE BANDITS OF CORSICA. Good film.

Robert Malcolm plays a dual role in SINBAD AND THE CALIPH OF BAGHDAD

PEPLUM imagery in the mainstream

Wrestler Tom Laruffa in Greek gladiator gear

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Photo of the Day

Steve Reeves, in cool helmet, is the son of Spartacus in THE SLAVE (SON OF SPARTACUS)

Playing Thursday night 9PM EST on PEPLUM TV

PEPLUM Cliché: Cast of Thousands (part 2)

I already posted some Cast of Thousands photos months ago. Here are more photos.

From LAST DAYS OF POMPEII (1913)

I wonder if it's a trick shot but if it's not, then wow!

The staggering crowd scenes from SCIPIO AFRICANUS

The crowd is in panic during the burning of Rome in QUO VADIS

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Photo of the Day

Ricardo Montalban is GORDON THE BLACK PIRATE.

I'm playing this movie on Wednesday night on PEPLUM TV. It also stars Vincent Price.

Nefertiti, still controversial

I uploaded NEFERTITI QUEEN OF THE NILE at my SapphoPEPLUM channel and people keep posting the most ridiculous stuff that I had to stop automatic commenting. It seems that even after being dead for thousands of years, Nefertiti is still controversial.

Spot the difference

Same scene, same film and yet different. The top image is from the French version and the image below is from the US version. The differences are odd: Massimo Serato holds his arm on his chest in the French version while he doesn't in the US version. This shot lasts about 30 seconds or more. Why the difference? In the following scene, after Hercules (Mickey Hargitay) throws the axe, we see a close up of Herc and then a group of women and that's it. In the US version, after he throws the axe there's no close-up of Herc; then we see the group of women who talks to Herc's best friend, which is not in the French version. Like I said, the differences are bizarre. Which version is the real version?

Monday, June 27, 2011

Photo of the Day

Kirk Morris wields a big sword in TERROR OF THE STEPPE, one of many Sword & Sandal films

Kirk shot one after the other, often with the same crew, cast and sets.

Movie Poster Mondays

Spanish poster for ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Cool poster but I have to say that Richard looks like a girl there, but that's fine.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Photo of the Day

Anne Baxter as Nefertiti in THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

The campiest performance of all time?

"Oh Moses, Moses...you stubborn, splendid, adorable fool!"

Then & Now: Chelo Alonso

Chelo in 2011. Thanks Pasquale for showing this youtube clip

Before they were PEPLUM stars

Richard Harrison was a physique model before heading to Italy for fame & fortune.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Photo of the Day

Gordon Scott in MACISTE AT THE COURT OF THE GREAT KHAN (aka Samson and the 7 miracles of the World). This scene is cut from the US version. In fact, well over 15 minutes was cut from the original Riccardo Freda directed version. A good 10 minutes was cut from the beginning alone. I just saw this version and it almost feels like a totally different film. The carefully paced direction was gutted and the US version basically looks like a highlights reel.

Dorian Gray 1936 - 2011

Dorian Gray, born Maria Luisa Mangini, died this year, back in February. She took her own life. Dorian appeared in a couple of PEPLUM films, including COLOSSUS & THE AMAZONS (above) and THE QUEEN OF SHEBA, as the handmaiden Ati (below). Dorian was eventually famous for her long blond hair so even if I saw QUEEN OF SHEBA many times, I never realized that Ati was her. RIP.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Photo of the Day

Brad Harris wakes up after being hit over the head in

79 A.D. THE DESTRUCTION OF HERCULANEUM

I'll be playing this movie tomorrow night on PEPLUM TV in an exclusive version only available there

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Photo of the Day

Liana Orfei is the target of Orson Welles' lust in THE TARTARS.

I'm playing this film on PEPLUM TV tomorrow

What movie is this from?

And can you name the actress?

(well, no one guessed it...it's from 79 A.D. THE DESTRUCTION OF HERCULANEUM...

the actress is Susan Paget...she only made two movies)

PEPLUM Location: Tor Caldara

Practically every PEPLUM film shot a scene in that often dried up riverbed.

Susy Andersen as Actis in SAPPHO THE VENUS OF LESBOS

The spectacular climax from HERCULES CHALLENGES SAMSON

(aka Hercules, Samson and Ulysses)

Monday, June 20, 2011

Photo of the Day

Steve Reeves (Hercules) and Gabriele Antonini (Ulysses) during the climax of HERCULES UNCHAINED

Herc's tunic is not red but dark green in the film. These publicity photos always get it wrong.

Movie Poster Mondays

French poster for TRIUMPH OF HERCULES. I like the artist's attempt to paint that weird "jaws of death" torture device in the movie. I played this film on PEPLUM TV last week and it was fun. I'll be putting it in regular rotation there.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Photo of the Day

Mark Forest rescues Dea Flowers in KINDAR THE INVULNERABLE

One of my favourite PEPLUM films ever. It needs to be transferred on DVD with a beautiful print. It's a PEPLUM through and through alright, with the usual fun clichés but there are also some near poetic moments in this film. IMO, it's a stand-out, and not just because of Mark's super tight tights. Arf.