Tuesday, December 22, 2015

By the Gods!


Happy holidays all! I'm taking some time off during the holiday period so see ya next year!

Monday, December 21, 2015

By the Gods!

Jeffrey Hunter as Jesus in KING OF KINGS

Jeffrey was a PEPLUM star with several genre films to his credit, including this big budgeted production some have called "I was a Teenage Jesus." A recent research came out earlier this year  stating that Jesus was most likely not a good looking man. What bizarre research. Anyway, even though I find this film needlessly episodic, I think Jeffrey was underrated as an actor and this film showed he could carry an entire film. 

Movie Poster Mondays

French poster of VENGEANCE OF URSUS

I just completed a Fan Dub of this film. More on this tomorrow.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

By the Gods!

Milly Vitale is all decked out in REVAK THE REBEL (aka The Barbarian)

She's ready to start celebrating Saturnalia!

Happy Saturnalia!


December 17 through December 23

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

By the Gods!

Bella Cortez and Liana Orfei in THE GIANT OF METROPOLIS

It's Bella's birthday today so happy birthday! She's 73.

Behind-the-Scenes

Tony Curtis and Jean Simmons have a laugh as they take a break during the filming SPARTACUS

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Hercules Unchained

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Steve Reeves

The Loves of Hercules

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Massimo Serato - Mickey Hargitay

Hercules & the Princess of Troy

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Gordon Scott - George Ardisson - Diana Hyland

Fury of Hercules

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Brad Harris

Hercules (1964)

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Dara Singh

Hercules against the Sons of the Sun

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Giuliano Gemma - Mark Forest

Hercules (2014)

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Dwayne Johnson

Hercules (1983)

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Lou Ferrigno

Hercules in New York

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Arnold Schwarzenegger - Arnold Stang

Monday, December 14, 2015

By the Gods!

Kirk Morris, as Hercules, meets Luciana Gilli amongst the camels in CONQUEROR OF ATLANTIS

Film starts as a Hercules film set in the desert and then becomes a sci-fi fantasy film once they arrive in Atlantis. Kirk wear a typical Hercules mini-tunic at first before wearing trousers for the rest of the film. This was Luciana's last PEPLUM film. It tried to be different. It was made during the twilight of the PEPLUM genre, when nothing could save it.

Movie Poster Mondays


Italian poster of TEMPLE OF WHITE ELEPHANT

Sandok is played by Mimmo Palmara. No resemblance in the colourful artwork here.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

By the Gods!

Gabriele Ferzetti, as Fabius Maximus, along with Terrence Hill (aka Mario Girotti) and Rita Gam in HANNIBAL

Gabriele died on December 2. He was 90 years old. Gabriele was *the* solid actor in HANNIBAL, keeping it from derailing into risible junk. He's best known to have starred in Antonioni's L'AVVENTURA. Though a big star in Italy, Gabriele made only a handful of PEPLUM films.

PEPLUM GIF Animation : HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN

Alan Steel jumps into action, causing the usual damage to a tavern

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

By the Gods!

Samson (Victor Mature) spies on Delilah (Hedy Lamarr) combing her hair in SAMSON & DELILAH

Hair is very important to this story. 

Cinecittà movie sets


Here are some photos of movie sets taken at Cinecittà in Rome. You can view the Flickr album. Thanks Alan and Carole.


Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Hercules and the Treasure of the Incas

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Alan Steel

(also known as : Samson & the Treasure of the Incas ; Lost Treasure of the Incas ; Lost Treasure of the Aztecs)

Seven Slaves Against Rome

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Pietro Marascalchi - Pietro Ceccarelli - Nello Pazzafini - Mario Novelli - Alfio Caltabiano - Gordon Mitchell

Legions of the Nile

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Linda Cristal

The Ten Gladiators

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Pietro Torrisi - Emilio Messina

Hunchback of Notre Dame

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Gina Lollobrigida

Monday, December 7, 2015

By the Gods!

Wandisa Guida and Burt Nelson in REVENGE OF THE CONQUERED (aka Drakut)

Beautifully shot film with a sorta poor script with a great PEPLUM genre cast. Both Wandisa and Burt had already worked together in REVOLT OF THE SLAVES. Wandisa had a prominent role while Burt was support. In this film, Burt has the lead role, his only film as lead. Wandisa was lead female role in many PEPLUM productions. I've made a Fan Dub version of this.

Movie Poster Mondays

One of many Italian posters for THE GIANTS OF THESSALY

Nice difference from the typical artwork.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

By the Gods!

Ameeta and Dara Singh as Samson in SAMSON (1964)

A match made in heaven? Bollywood meets Italian PEPLUM! All the typical clichés from the genre plus dance numbers! Dara made several PEPLUM-inspired films, including a Hercules flick.

PEPLUM GIF Animation : HERCULES AGAINST MOLOCH

Moloch, played by the impressive Pietro Marascalchi, comes out of his lair for a sacrificial offering.

The mystery of who played Moloch was first discovered here at the blog : see 2013 post.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

By the Gods!

Mark Damon and Joyce Taylor in BEAUTY & THE BEAST (1962)

Not the classic story per se. More of a re-working with Damon changing into a werewolf at night. I didn't watch it all the way through. Looks okay but, hmm, cheesy. Damon became a film producer. Acting wasn't really his calling but he was good in a couple of films, including SON OF CLEOPATRA. I'm not familiar with Joyce Taylor's career, which was mostly television. 

Behind-the-Scenes

Sylva Koscina and a serious looking Steve Reeves chill out during the filming of HERCULES (1958)

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Thief of Baghdad

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Steve Reeves - Giorgia Moll

Theodora - Slave Empress

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Renato Baldini - Gianna Maria Canale

Ulysses vs Hercules

PEPLUM X Tuesdays


Gabriele Tinti