Friday, June 3, 2016

Retro Friday : PEPLUM Prop : The Gong

Old posts updated (originally posted on December 16, 2010)

It's well known that Italian PEPLUM flicks recycled props (among other things) and here's one funny example: that gong! The gong has appeared in so many Sword & Sandal films that I've lost track. It even appeared in films of the 1980s. It's fun to spot it whenever I watch a movie.


HERCULES & THE CAPTIVE WOMEN

TERROR OF THE STEPPES

GLADIATORS 7

URSUS IN THE LAND OF FIRE

URSUS IN THE VALLEY OF LIONS

THE LION OF THEBES

THRONE OF FIRE

4 comments:

  1. Thanks.

    Most interesting and well done compilation. I have never understood the gong's irregular shape.

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  2. That gong is like an old friend, reappearing again and again :)
    It's the same with certain swords I've seen featured in Italian peplums as well as Harryhausen's Jason and the Argonauts, Amicus productions´ The People the Time Forgot and Ridley Scott's Legend. It'd be interesting to track the history of some movie props, though I realize that would be quite difficult.

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  3. Another movie prop that kept getting recycled by Cecil B. deMille were sets of six foot long wrist chains for slave girls. These are used in SIGN OF THE CROSS, CLEOPATRA, AND THE CRUSADES.

    Presumably these chains are for purely symbolic purposes, as their length does not restrain the arm movements of their wearer. Indeed, they could become dangerous weapons if wrapped about someone's neck.

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  4. This gong also appeares in Mole Men vs. the Son of Hercules.

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