Sophia Loren, as Honoria, looking resplendent in ATTILA
She apparently hated making this film. Sophia is still with us. Hopefully for another 20 years. Aha!
Friday, June 19, 2015
RIPs : Pierre Brice and Richard Johnson
PIERRE BRICE
PEPLUM genre star Pierre Brice, who appeared in several PEPLUM films, earlier this June. He was 86 years old. Most notably Pierre played Dionysus in THE BACCHANTES, which is one of my favourite PEP films ever. I'm sad. His other films are THE PHARAOHS' WOMAN, THE COSSACKS and another favourite SAMSON AND THE SLAVE QUEEN or ZORRO VS MACISTE. Brice played Zorro. RIP Dionysus.
Pierre in DACII
Pierre was also in WITH FIRE AND SWORD co-starring Jeanne Crain
Also, British actor Richard Johnson died at the age of 87. Though his PEPLUM films are not as extensive as Pierre's, Richard Johnson did leave a mark in the genre with two notable roles, in JULIUS CAESAR (above) and COLUMNA (below).
Oddly enough, both Pierre and Richard died on the same day, June 6. All the PEPLUM stars are dying.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
By the Gods!
Moira Orfei and Gordon Scott in HERO OF BABYLON
Moira, being her campy self, dies again in a violent death. I love Moira for many reasons but maybe because she didn't seem to mind that her characters were often dispatched in the most unceremonious ways. Gordon is an impressive hero in this film!
Behind-the-Scenes
Riccardo Freda directs Gianna Maria Canale and Georges Marchal in THEODORA - SLAVE EMPRESS
Gianna was married to Freda. Interesting photo.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Monday, June 15, 2015
By the Gods!
The 'Apocalyptic' ending in THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
One of the (many) things which disappointed me about this film is the fact that the truly amazing sets were so underused in the film. We see a lot of the sets during big crowd scenes such as this one but I always thought they would have been more stunning if the main characters could be seen just walking about them during other parts of the story, not just the climax. Oh well...
Movie Poster Mondays
Belgian poster of SLAVE OF CARTHAGE (aka The Sword and the Cross)
In Cinetotalscope and Ferraniacolor!
Friday, June 12, 2015
By the Gods!
Geoffrey Horne plays the dual roles in LIONS OF CORSICA (1961)
One of many versions of this famous story. It's not bad but feels sorta lifeless. As of this writing it's not available in English. Part of the Seeing Double cliché at the PEPLUM Clichés page.
Christoper Lee RIP
Christopher Lee as King Lico in HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD
Legendary actor Christopher Lee died yesterday. He was 93 years old. Chris made TONS of films, many bad, many classics. He's been an enduring presence in movies and TV since the 1950s. He'll be mostly remembered for his turn as Dracula in the many Hammer films he made co-starring Peter Cushing. He'll also be remembered for LORD OF THE RINGS and those STAR WARS films of the 1990s. Christopher appeared in a couple of PEPLUM films in Italy including HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD along with Reg Park (first 4 photos). He was quite effective in RASPUTIN THE MAD MONK. He was one of a kind. RIP.
Reg Park was Hercules in HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD. Two tall fellows.
Chris with Leonora Ruffo
Chris with Raf Baldassarre
Chris in THE WHIP AND THE FLESH co-starring Daliah Lavi
Above and below : THE PIRATES OF BLOOD RIVER, co-starring Kerwin Mathews
THE DEVIL-SHIP PIRATES
RASPUTIN : THE MAD MONK
Chris in JULIUS CAESAR (1970)
ARABIAN ADVENTURE (1979)
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
By the Gods!
One of three PEPLUM films Sean made in Europe. He also made other films before dying tragically in 1971. This was supposed to have been a big break for Sean and it was released by Paramount but critics destroyed the film upon its release and well Sean's acting career was limited. Alessandra, a PEPLUM regular, has a sizeable role in this.
Behind-the-Scenes
Chelo Alonso waits for the crew to set up a shot while filming TERROR OF THE RED MASK
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Monday, June 8, 2015
By the Gods!
How many times has Kirk, or any other PEPLUM hero, appeared before baddies, usually in chains, and vowed to destroy them. A veritable PEPLUM cliché. I'll have to do a compilation of these scenes.
Movie Poster Mondays
Italian poster of COLUMNA
Nice evocative poster, a bit too 'romance novel' like when you consider the movie but the likenesses are on point.
Friday, June 5, 2015
By the Gods!
John Payne, as Barbarossa, and Donna Reed in RAIDERS OF THE SEVEN SEAS
The first time I saw this film I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. A United Artist film so this "B-movie" has higher than expected production values. No one today watches these films except for fans like me and retired people. Aha! Payne is unrecognizable in this film but still excellent. And Donna is, well, Donna Reed. She was also star of GREEN DOLPHIN STREET in which she has one of the most amazing scenes I've ever seen so by the time she made this the beautiful gal was familiar with the genre.
PEPLUM GIF Animation : THE MINOTAUR
Dance number from THE MINOTAUR starring Rosanna Schiaffino and Alberto Lupo as the non-dancers. The costumes also showed up in THE 300 SPARTANS
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
By the Gods!
This scene is cut from the US edition. A good 10 to 15 minutes were cut from the original version directed by Riccardo Freda. The changes are not that earth-shattering to the story...it simply sets up the world the story takes place in. The beautiful Hélène Chanel doesn't make a convincing Chinese woman. Hélène appeared in many classic PEPLUM films and she's one of the underrated Queens of the genre.
Behind-the-Scenes
