By the Gods!

Kathryn Grant and Kerwin Mathews in THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD 

The old 'new' Sinbad : prior to this film, Sinbad was simply a horny sailor traveling the seven seas but after Ray Harryhausen had him fight mythical creatures created by his claymation special effects well the entire nature of Sinbad changed. Kerwin would star in several European-made PEPLUM adventures after this. As for Kathryn, this would be one of her last starring roles. Excellent score by Bernard Herrmann. 

PEPLUM GIF Animation : THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII

Steve Reeves showing his might in THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII

By the Gods!

Jack Palance (Torvald) checks out his lead gladiator, played by Joe Robinson, in BARABBAS

This brief scene is filled with subtext. Very little is known of Torvald who's basically portrayed as a total psycho. But keeping with the time period the film was made, we sorta figure out what the director intended his character to be with this scene. He IS one of the more energetic characters in this film.

Behind-the-Scenes

Behind-the-scenes photo from THIEF OF BAGHDAD : Giovanni Cianfriglia and Edy Vessel sit patiently as they set up a test shot. Beefy Giovanni was a stand-in for Steve Reeves.

Son of Samson

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Mark Forest - Federica Ranchi - Angelo Zanolli

Nefertiti - Queen of the Nile

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Liana Orfei - Edmund Purdom

The 10 Commandments - Yul Brynner

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

The 10 Commandments

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Legions of the Nile - Linda Cristal

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Serpent of the Nile

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

William Lundigan - Rhonda Fleming

The Egyptian

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Gene Tierney - Victor Mature

By the Gods!

Henry Cavill as Theseus in IMMORTALS

Still no official sequel planned yet even if there's talk about it (link). But then how does one make a sequel to the 2011 film?

Movie Poster Mondays

Yugoslavian poster for GOLIATH AGAINST THE GIANTS

Beautiful art.

By the Gods!

Brad Harris as Hercules in FURY OF HERCULES

Not to be confused with SAMSON, also starring Brad, and basically the same actors and same crew. The main difference? Well, one is better than the other (SAMSON) and Brad wearing a white toga in FURY (see above) as opposed to the mainly burgundy one in SAMSON. I much prefer SAMSON but I like FURY OF HERCULES and even made a Fan Dub of it but story-wise, it's weak. 

PEPLUM GIF animation : SPARTACO - SINS OF ROME

From SPARTACO - SINS OF ROME starring Massimo Girotti. Great scene.

By the Gods!

 Wandisa Guida, Gordon Scott and Ombretta Colli hang on for dear life in GLADIATOR OF ROME

Not the greatest PEPLUM ever made but the ending, as passive as this looks, is still quite memorable nonetheless.

Different versions : A QUEEN FOR CAESAR

Here's a comparison between the French and Italian versions for A QUEEN FOR CAESAR. What's interesting is in the way it ends in the French version. Thanks to Alan for providing the French version.

An internet first only available here at PEPLUM TV

In the Italian version, Pascale Petit is wearing a blue wrap while in the French version, below, she's completely nude.

In the French version, Pascale stands up to reveal her nude backside, below, while in the Italian version she remains seated and clothed.

Daughters of Destiny - Raf Vallone

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

The White Warrior - Steve Reeves

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Ulysses

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Kirk Douglas - Rossana Podestà

Constantine and the Cross - Belinda Lee

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Quo Vadis - Audrey Hepburn

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Goliath and the Giants

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Extras as Amazons

Barabbas - Jack Palance

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Swordman of Sienna

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Sylva Koscina - Stewart Granger

By the Gods!

Jean Simmons and Richard Burton amidst the splendour of THE ROBE

Great photo. First film released in CinemaScope. It's always a cool fact that the first widescreen film was a PEPLUM.

Movie Poster Mondays

 Spanish poster for MACISTE - AVENGER OF THE MAYAS

As I posted on last Thursday, this film is a Franken-PEPLUM: a combination of several films with news scenes. Even the poster is a combination of two films : of COLOSSUS AND THE HEADHUNTERS and the artwork below looks like Dan Vadis from THE REBEL GLADIATOR

By the Gods!

Sylva Koscina, as Iole, spends warm summer days looking at her beauty in HERCULES (1958)

That's future Bond girl Luciana Paluzi as Iole's maid. I love these scenes in the film. There's something so idyllic about them. And of course Sylva is gorgeous.

PEPLUM GIF animation : SEVEN SLAVES AGAINST ROME

Gladiatorial action from SEVEN SLAVES AGAINST THE ROME

By the Gods!

Kirk Morris, as Maciste, in COLOSSUS AND THE HEADHUNTERS

Amazing location. You see the shadows from the clouds caressing the mountains in the background. The entire shot is great. I wonder where it was shot. Let's face it it's not grand art but I've watched it many time and will continue to watch it since it's still entertaining. There are some really good moments in it but then there are some really bad ones too. The entire production is odd since only a handful of actors in this production appear in other PEPLUM films.

Who wore it best?

Gordon Scott in A QUEEN FOR CAESAR or Alberto Lupo in SON OF CLEOPATRA

Hercules Unchained

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Steve Reeves - Sylvia Lopez

Angelique: The Road to Versailles

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Claude Giraud - Michèle Mercier

Hercules (1983) - Lou Ferrigno

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Maciste vs the Mole Men - Paul Wynter

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Slave Queen of Babylon - Yvonne Furneaux

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Herod the Great - Sylvia Lopez

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Ursus and the Tartar Princess

PEPLUM X Tuesdays

Ettore Manni - Yoko Tani

By the Gods!

Lewis Stone and Maria Corda in THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HELEN OF TROY (1927)

Directed by Alexander Korda who made several such 'Private life' biographical films. I have yet to see this one.

Movie Poster Mondays

German poster of SIGN OF THE PAGAN

The title and the artwork are much better than the US poster.

By the Gods!

The jig is up for Germano Longo in SWORD IN THE SHADOWS ; Livio Lorenzo and Tamara Lees are the witnesses

A very rare Swashbuckler with an entire cast and crew members who were regulars of the PEPLUM genre. It's a good film with Germano playing an evil character, which was a bit different for  him. Livio is one of the most prolific actors of the genre (he was in every other PEPLUM films). It somehow reminds me of REVENGE OF THE CONQUERED, which I made into a Fan Dub.

Thanks Alan!

PEPLUM GIF Animation : GOLIATH & THE BARBARIANS

A brutal Steve Reeves toses Livio Lorenzon to his death in GOLIATH & THE BARBARIANS

By the God!

Kerwin Mathews is transported to the temple of Aphrodite by a bevy of beauties which include Tina Louise (centre right) who is SAPPHO - VENUS OF LESBOS

One of my favourite PEPLUM films. This photo is great!

Actor profile : Ursula Davis

Continuing with profiling relatively unknown supporting actors of Italian/Euro PEPLUM films. Today it's Ursula Davis née Pier Anna Quaglia. Ursula only appeared in a dozen films and made just 3 PEPLUM films and yet her face is unforgettable. Her distinctive beauty and acting made her stand-out from the crowded PEPLUM babe crowd.

Her first film was BRENNUS - ENEMY OF ROME where she stood toe to toe with Gordon Mitchell. Her two other PEPLUM films were THE INVINCIBLE BROTHERS MACISTE and SPARTACUS AND THE TEN GLADIATORS. Love her. I wish she had made more PEPLUM films. Oh well...

BRENNUS - ENEMY OF ROME (1963)

Ursula starred with Gordon Mitchell (above) and Erno Crisa (below) in BRENNUS

THE INVINCIBLE BROTHERS MACISTE (1964)

Ursula one of three main actresses in INVINCIBLE BROTHERS MACISTE : Claudie Lange and Gia Sandri (below)

SPARTACUS AND THE TEN GLADIATORS (1964)

Ursula was the love interest for the handsome Romano Giomini in SPARTACUS AND THE TEN GLADIATORS

Previous Actor profiles:

Philippe Hersent

Elena Zareschi

Benito Stefanelli

Claudio Scarchilli