On the island of Atlantis, Hercules (Reg Park) has to pass a test powered by the forces of Uranus in HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN
The colossus of Atlantis!
Back next week.
Back next week.
Friday, August 29, 2014
By the Gods!
On the island of Atlantis, Hercules (Reg Park) has to pass a test powered by the forces of Uranus in HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN
Behind-the-Scenes
Filming scenes with the top half of the colossus statue for THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
PEPLUM Fascination : Big heroes and little kids
The huge success of PEPLUM films in the 1950s and 60s was due in part to how young kids, mostly young boys, were impressed by the muscly action going on on the big screen. One can measure a film's "success" by what I term the "fascination" aspects within the stories, which made kids flock to theatres to see more and more. The producers of these European films KNEW about this (unlike today's films) and they intentionally tried to milk it for all its worth, even having a kid hang around in one scene to gawk at the big Hero.
IMO, this is what makes these films so great and fun, and unique. Today's action films have none of this 'fascination' aspect and I'm rarely impressed by any Hero or stories. The PEPLUM films from the Golden Era knew how to bring out the little kid in all of us.
From HERCULES UNCHAINED. The kid is not acting there. He's mightily impressed by Steve.
Mark Forest looks like a giant to a boy in HERCULES AGAINST THE MONGOLS
Aeneas (Steve Reeves) and his son (Charles Band) in THE AVENGER (War of the Trojans)
Little kid looking up to Henri Vidal in FABIOLA
Boy watches Harry Baird and Joe Robinson arm wrestling in THOR AND THE AMAZON WOMEN
A boy tries to help Ursus (Samson Burke) in VENGEANCE OF URSUS
Gordon Scott and his son in CORIOLANUS : HERO WITHOUT A COUNTRY
IMO, this is what makes these films so great and fun, and unique. Today's action films have none of this 'fascination' aspect and I'm rarely impressed by any Hero or stories. The PEPLUM films from the Golden Era knew how to bring out the little kid in all of us.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Monday, August 25, 2014
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Screenshot of the week
I'm still taking some time off. There will be some changes to the blog. I'm still working on it in the meantime here's a cool screenshot with two of my favourite PEPLUM stars.
Back soon!
SABINES vs SABINES
Here's a visual comparison between RAPE OF THE SABINE WOMEN (1962), a Mexican film, and ROMULUS AND THE SABINES (1961), an Italian/Euro production, which was first made. The Mexican production stars Lorena Velázquez, Tere Velázquez, Lex Johnson and Wolf Ruvinskis. The Italian one stars Roger Moore and Mylène Demongeot, among others.
The Setting : EARLY ROME
The three main male characters
The celebration before the abduction
The main targeted female(s)
The charmer trying to seduce the female(s)
The abduction of the women
The abducted women revolting
The conclusion
The Setting : EARLY ROME
The three main male characters
The celebration before the abduction
The main targeted female(s)
The charmer trying to seduce the female(s)
The abduction of the women
The abducted women revolting
The conclusion
Friday, August 8, 2014
Photo of the Day
Good guy battling bad guys on the Colossus in THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES
Great scene!
Anyway, I'm taking some time off. I might post irregularly here and there! I'll be back soon enough.
Pietro Francisci's Films : Running maidens / ladies-in-waiting / musicians
A signature aspect in Pietro Francisci's films: we see a group of maidens or Ladies-in-Wainting or musicians running away or strutting away from their ruler. This is just one of the many signature details in his films which makes them fun.
posted at the permanent THE FILMS OF PIETRO FRANCISCI page
THE QUEEN OF SHEBA
Above and below : dancer and musicians are told to leave by the Queen of Sheba and they promptly leave together
HERCULES (1958)
HERCULES UNCHAINED
Above : A lot of ladies-in-waiting / maidens running away in this film: Hercules arrives and the ladies-in-waiting leave promptly.
SAPPHO THE VENUS OF LESBOS
Above : The King's maidens run to him when the rebels enter the temple. Many such brief scenes in this film.
SIEGE OF SYRACUSE
Above : a group of three ladies-in-waiting inform the woman working on the flowers that this lady, Clio, is distraught and they have to leave
HERCULES, SAMSON & ULYSSES
posted at the permanent THE FILMS OF PIETRO FRANCISCI page
THE QUEEN OF SHEBA
Above and below : dancer and musicians are told to leave by the Queen of Sheba and they promptly leave together
HERCULES (1958)
Above : Iole's ladies-in-waiting run away from her once her father enters the room.
HERCULES UNCHAINED
Above : A lot of ladies-in-waiting / maidens running away in this film: Hercules arrives and the ladies-in-waiting leave promptly.
Above and Below : Hercules is fed up with the ladies-in-waiting playing with him so he orders them to leave.
Above : Maidens are being chased by Ulysses (not in shot)
SAPPHO THE VENUS OF LESBOS
Above : The King's maidens run to him when the rebels enter the temple. Many such brief scenes in this film.
SIEGE OF SYRACUSE
Above : a group of three ladies-in-waiting inform the woman working on the flowers that this lady, Clio, is distraught and they have to leave
Above: another ladies-in-waitting running away scene in SIEGE OF SYRACUSE
HERCULES, SAMSON & ULYSSES
Above : Delilah tells everyone to leaves, including the female musicians who all run-off together
PEPLUM GIF Animation : PERSEUS THE INVINCIBLE
Richard Harrison as Perseus battles the creepy Medusa monster. Love this! This is taken from the Spanish version with the Medusa shooting lasers from its eye!
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Photo of the Day
Michael Biehn is Sebastian in THE MARTYRDOM OF ST. SEBASTIAN
A French TV production starring two English speaking actors (the other is Nicholas Clay). Like so many PEPLUM films, the story starts in modern times and Biehn is transported back in Antiquity and becomes Sebastian. Biehn and Clay are lovers at one point, which was daring back then. Not bad but very serious or some might say pretentious. Even if next to impossible to get a good copy of this film, you can view some clips on Youtube.
After work activities
Steve Reeves eating some gelato, along with his girlfriend/wife, in Rome back in the day. Yes, his beard was authentic.