Thursday, December 31, 2015
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!
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
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
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
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.
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)
