PEPLUM X Tuesdays
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
By the Gods!
Not one of my favourite films of the PEPLUM era. The story is too convoluted and its all over the map which pretty much zaps any fun to be had from it. I try to like it but it gets under my skin for all the wrong reasons. Oh well...
Movie Poster Mondays
French poster for SINBAD AND THE CALIPH OF BAGHDAD
I love this film. This was Pietro Francisci's last film and it's quite unique and different from other Sinbad films. Many might not get it without the prerequisite monsters and such. It's totally Italian in tone and it's very sexy.
Friday, March 27, 2015
By the Gods!
Ivo Garrani as King Pelias in HERCULES (1958)
Ivo died on March 25. He was 91 years old. Ivo appeared in many PEPLUM films including THE GIANT OF MARATHON, CARTHAGE IN FLAMES, SON OF SPARTACUS and MORGAN THE PIRATE just to name a few. He was excellent as King Pelias and also gave good performances. RIP.
PEPLUM GIF Animation : SANDOKAN THE GREAT
Steve Reeves as Sandokan, surviving a tiger attack. Co-starring Geneviève Grad
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
By the Gods!
Karis (Daniela Rocca) tries to sort things out with Phillipides (Steve Reeves) in THE GIANT OF MARATHON
Beautiful photo. Nice film even with its liabilities. I always feel bad for Daniela's role in the film. She tries and tries and tries to woo Phillipides but to no avail.
Behind-the-Scenes
Reg Park stays in shape, with the help of Salvatore Furnari, while filming HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Hercules (1958)
PEPLUM X Tuesdays
Gabriele Antonini - Fulvio Carrara - Willy Colombini - Steve Reeves
Monday, March 23, 2015
By the Gods!
This film is impossible to get. It does exist...somewhere. Anyway, this is one of the first films which shows Hercules, albeit in a supporting role. The first feature length film about Hercules would appear 35 years later and made in Italy : Hercules starring Steve Reeves. It's amazing that such a mythical character inspired so few films prior to the Reeves / Francisci epic. Elissa Landi was also in SIGN OF THE CROSS just a year before.
Movie Poster Mondays
British poster for CARRY ON CLEO
The poster (and the film, well, sorta) is a spoof of the Elizabeth Taylor film.
Friday, March 20, 2015
By the Gods!
This film took a whopping 6 months to shoot. It's truly mind-boggling. PEPLUM genre includes films with stories set in prehistoric times but some films are more PEPLUM-like, such as this one, than others.
PEPLUM GIF animation : HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN
Proteus vs Hercules (Reg Park) from HERCULES & THE CAPTIVE WOMEN. A psychedelic moment before psychedelia was popular.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
By the Gods!
Mario Novelli and Iloosh Khoshabe are THE INVINCIBLE BROTHERS MACISTE
A fun film that's somewhat an odd one in the genre. I've seen it many times and will probably watch many times more. The one thing which always bothered me about it though : Mario and Iloosh don't look like brothers.
Upcoming film : BEN-HUR remake
Some behind-the-scenes photos of the making of the new BEN-HUR remake starring Jack Huston and Nazanin Boniadi.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Monday, March 16, 2015
By the Gods!
Hercules plays along with Samara but we know Herc is always on the side of good! I love Jany as the evil Queen. I think I have to make a list of the best PEPLUM couples and this one would certainly be in the top 10.
Movie Poster Mondays
German poster for SLAVE QUEEN OF BABYLON
I love the artwork here. Very much like a European comic book.
Friday, March 13, 2015
By the Gods!
Michele Mercier and Guy Madison in WOMEN OF DEVIL'S ISLAND
A film about women prisoners on some remote island. It's actually better than it sounds. This film has the same production and pretty much the same crew as AVENGER OF THE SEVEN SEAS. Watching both films back to back will produce a very strong sense of deja vu.
Michele looks better as a blonde. In studio shot scenes, she looks a bit too severe with dark hair while in exterior shots she's warmer and a bit more vulnerable. As for Guy, imo, I believe he was incredibly underrated. His good looks probably got in the way of great roles in Hollywood but I've never been disappointed by any of his European made films. He's always very solid.
Michele looks better as a blonde. In studio shot scenes, she looks a bit too severe with dark hair while in exterior shots she's warmer and a bit more vulnerable. As for Guy, imo, I believe he was incredibly underrated. His good looks probably got in the way of great roles in Hollywood but I've never been disappointed by any of his European made films. He's always very solid.
PEPLUM GIF animation : COLOSSUS OF ROME
Memorable scene from COLOSSUS OF ROME (aka Hero of Rome) starring Gordon Scott. Gordon showing his fortitude.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
By the Gods!
Lang Jeffries looks at a dead Wandisa Guida in REVOLT OF THE SLAVES
This film is chock full of extras or background actors whom have never been identified. This photo shows a bunch of them.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Monday, March 9, 2015
By the Gods!
Sylvia Lopez is being whipped in SON OF RED CORSAIR
Whipping scenes in PEPLUM films are usually reserved for male characters but women being lashed have occurred in other films like THE MONGOLS and WOMEN OF DEVIL'S ISLAND.
This was her second to last film. Sylvia died of leukaemia. She died in November 1959 and this was released in June of 1959.
Movie Poster Mondays
Italian poster for THARUS - SON OF ATTILA
Colorful, action packed poster. Jerome is made to look like Steve Reeves here.
Friday, March 6, 2015
By the Gods!
Big PEPLUM cast of actors in big action scenes taking place in big colourful sets make for big fun film!
PEPLUM GIF animation : 3 STOOGES MEET HERCULES
The 3 Stooges with Samson Burke as Hercules. Goofy PEPLUM flick.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
By the Gods!
Glaukus (Georges Marchal) sees to the slave (Adriana Benetti) he just ran into in SINS OF POMPEII
I really like the tunic Georges wears in this scene. PEPLUM perfection. I like this film, certainly the ending, but it is slow and very talky, almost theatrical-like talky. But it's good nonetheless.
