Thursday, July 30, 2015

By the Gods!

Pagan dancers dance around a phallic stone at Stonehenge in THE BLACK KNIGHT

The seldom seen film stars Alan Ladd. It's, well, sorta bizarre film. The dancers in this scene are particularly awful.

PEPLUM GIF Animation : GOLIATH & THE VAMPIRES


Gordon Scott in action from GOLIATH AND THE VAMPIRES. He did most of his stunts in this film.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

By the Gods!

 Richard Widmark and company prepare for battle in THE LONG SHIPS

It doesn't look like it's going to hold back anything. A Hollywood production imitating a PEPLUM production. It's a very boisterous movie.

Behind-the-Scenes

Deborah Kerr tries to keep cool during the making of QUO VADIS. She looks exceptionally young here.

Monday, July 27, 2015

By the Gods!

Trojans prepare for a big fight in HELEN OF TROY

I like these scenes showing armies getting ready. It's an interesting aspect few films bother showing.

Movie Poster Mondays

German poster for TRIUMPH OF THE TEN GLADIATORS

Colorful art and action

Thursday, July 23, 2015

By the Gods!

Hylas (John Cairney) and Hercules (Nigel Green) inside the Talos treasure in JASON & THE ARGONAUTS

Ruh roh! They just woke up Talos.

In Greek mythology, Hylas and Hercules were, hmm, you know...more than friends...of course, this family film didn't show this angle. Aha!

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

By the Gods!

Anna Maria Polani and Howard Ross (aka Renato Rossini) in MISSIONE SABBIE ROVENTI

This film was never dubbed in English so there's no official English title. It translates as MISSION HOT SANDS. I haven't seen it yet and it's pretty hard to come by. I believe this is one of the few films in which Howard was leading man (but since I haven't seen it I can't be certain of this).

Behind-the-Scenes

Kirk Douglas is holding Umberto Silvestri and waiting for the cue when making ULYSSES (1954)

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Jacques Sernas, RIP

Jacques and Rossana Podestà in HELEN OF TROY

While I took a month off, PEPLUM star Jacques Sernas died. He was 89 years old. He was star of countless PEPLUM films and was one of the major actors of the genre. He was given an opportunity that most actors of the genre, including Steve Reeves, never got : lead role in a major Hollywood epic which was HELEN OF TROY. Unfortunately that film failed to establish him as a leading man in other Hollywood productions but he became one with European / Italian films. Aside from the 4 films listed here he was also in GODDESS OF LOVE, SIGN OF THE GLADIATOR, GOLIATH AND THE VAMPIRES, SON OF SPARTACUS, QUEEN OF THE TARTARS, DUEL OF CHAMPIONS, THE NIGHTS OF LUCRETIA BORGIA and that's just on the top of my head. He was overlooked compared to other actors and I always enjoyed his presence. All the PEPLUM stars are dying off.

JACQUES in THE LOVES OF SALAMMBO

Jacques costarred along with Steve Reeves and Virna Lisi in DUEL OF THE TITANS

Gianna Maria Canale starred along with Jacques in CONQUEROR OF CORINTH

Monday, July 20, 2015

By the Gods!

Hercules (Steve Reeves) emerges from a river in HERCULES UNCHAINED

Nice shot of Steve in action!

Some blog notes:

I'll be posting irregularly for the time being. I'm currently working on a project which is taking much of my time. I'm not dropping this blog (I have more than one blog). It'll just be more casual, not every day. I'm also trying to change the design of the blog which is pretty much dated. I need to find a good template. You might see changes happening here from time to time as I try to find the right look and design.

Movie Poster Mondays

Italian poster for THE SINNER (aka Desert Desperado). Very rare film, in any language.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Blog note


Blog should be back on July 20th or the end of the month. In the meantime I'm trying to take it easy.