(originally posted on
August 19, 2011)
Photographic proof that STAR WARS was basically a PEPLUM set in a science-fiction/outer space setting. I saw STAR WARS before any Sword & Sandal films and as I was watching the 300 or so films one after the other I couldn't believe how much of the elements in the STAR WARS films were inspired or directly lifted from Italian Sword & Sandal films, which at the time and for the most part even today are still frowned upon. There are so many elements that I won't mention all of them but here's a bunch just to give you an idea.
Opening credits that sets up the storyline :
From VENGEANCE OF HERCULES
Desert locations, with bones of dead creatures :
Wise Old Man
Evil Ruler on his throne
Disposable soldiers of Evil Ruler
HERCULES & THE CAPTIVE WOMEN
Resourceful little people always on the side of good
GOLIATH & THE SINS OF BABYLON
Donut-style hair fashion statement
Cheesecake (there's very little Beefcake in Star Wars films)
Publicity shot of Rhonda Fleming for SERPENT OF THE NILE
Torture (what's a PEPLUM film without a torture scene?)
GOLIATH AND THE SINS OF BABYLON
Sword fights (hence the term Sword & Sandal)
Council chambers
HEROD THE GREAT
Crushing walls of death
The annoying sidekick
2 comments:
Thanks, a truly outstanding compilation!
Great! And what about the arena scene in SW Ep II: Attack of the Clones?
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