A lot of people are not found of this movie. I like it. Yes, it's not QUO VADIS but that's the whole point of a PEPLUM film : a more pulpy version of some bombastic Hollywood production. It's like a cliffs notes version of a big story. I like this approach. Not everything should be massive in scope. The love story is albeit weak which is a shame because I like Cristina (who's sporting an awful wig). Her screen time is limited. Lang Jeffries is...Lang Jeffries. Solid, dependable, sorta believable but sorta dull as well. This is one of those twin productions : two films made with same set, virtually same cast, etc. The other film is the rarely seen SWORD OF THE EMPIRE (1964). I'll write about these 'twin productions' next week.
I've located three "back-to-backs::
ReplyDeleteSAMSON (orig release 1961)
FURY OF HERCULES (orig release 1962)
both directed by Gianfranco Parolini and both with Brad Harris, Mara Berni, Luisella Boni ("Brigitte Corey"), Sergio Ciani ("Alan Steel"), Carlo Tamberlani, Franco Gasparri ("The Boy") and Serge Gainesbourg
HERCULES AND THE TYRANTS OF BABYLON (orig release 1964)
GOLIATH AT THE CONQUEST OF DAMASCUS (orig release 1965)
both directed by Domenico Paoella and both with Peter Lupus ("Rock Stevens"), Helga Line, Mario Petri, Arturo Domenici, Anna Maria Polani, Andrea Aureli, and Daniele Vargas
HERCULES AGAINST THE MONGOLS (orig release 1963)
HERCULES AGAINST THE BARBARIANS (orig release 1963)
both directed by Domenico Paoella and both with Mark Forest, Jose Greci, Ken Clark, Renato Rossi ("Red Ross"), Maria Grazia Spina and Nadir Moretti ("Nadir Baltimore")
Good list
ReplyDeleteThere's much more. I'll write an article on this next week