Harold made a dozen Italian PEPLUM films, including GLADIATORS OF ROME and a couple of Michele Lupo films such as COLOSSUS OF THE ARENA but in between those films he appeared briefly in this Hollywood produced Sword & Sandal film. The scene is brief but it's cool nonetheless.
What did you think of
ReplyDeleteNigel Green's portrayl of Hercules
in JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS?
I thought he was pretty good,
but needed to pump some iron
and do sit-ups for about a year
before filming began.
How many other"one-hit wonder"
Hercules have there been anyway?
Im not sure if this is a thread about black actors in peplum movies.
ReplyDeleteOne to remember would be Woody Strode.Probably best known as the
slave gladitor Draba in SPARTICUS.
He also played the King of Ethiopia
in the 1956 remake of THE TWN COMMANDMENTS.He was also an uncredited gladitor in
Demetrius and the Gladiators.
K.C
Jason and the Argonauts also starred
ReplyDeleteNancy Kovack as Medea
and Honor Blackman as Hera.
Two of the best bods in the history of peplums!
I personally don't care much for Nigel Green's Hercules (nothing against the actor). Ray Harryhausen purposely hired Green to go against the trend of the day, of having young muscular heroes (Green as Hercules apparently caused derision in the audience) and that's the only reason. Ray dismissed Italian musclemen films and didn't want to be associated with them which unfortunately didn't happen as most people back then thought JASON & THE ARGONAUTS was just another European export and the film flopped during its first release.
ReplyDeleteIf Hercules was a Scotsman,
ReplyDeletehe would have looked like
Nigel Green.
Am I right or am I wrong? This movie was filmed entirely in Italy, and considered Ray's best work. I saw this in the theater when it came out and the place was packed, and I liked it so much went to see it again the following week (it played for 10 days in our theater which was unheard of in early 60's with the exception of a few Blockbusters) and the place was crowded. I think when they rereleased it a ton more people flocked to see it.
ReplyDeleteThe on location filming was in and around Campania Italy with some interior studio shots at Shepperton studios in England.
ReplyDeleteI guess you have to be a baby boomer
to appreciate Nigel Green's version of Hercules.
He was 6 ft 4 inches tall.
He may not have been ripped
and had a six pack,
but I thought to myself when
I saw it on tv in the late 1960's and early 1970's,
thats how I thought Hercules would act in real life anyway.
BTW Around 1980 Columbia pictures re-released this movie on the big screen,I saw it several times.
K.C
I say,Poppycock and Boulderdash!
ReplyDeleteNigel Green was a near great actor.
His roles in Zulu,Ipcress File and Tobruk among others were just simply marvelous.
Reg Park was also a Brit mate.
ReplyDeleteBut I do not believe that he had had any formal thespian training
as Nigel Green no doubt had.
prior to starring in the peplums(as far as I know).
I loved this movie. Nigel Green was wonderful in the film . I liked Douglas Wilmer as well.
ReplyDeleteJack Gwillim is one of my favorite actors. He stole the movie for me.