By the Gods!

Alessandra Panaro and Rosalba Neri are rivals in HERCULES AGAINST MOLOCH (1963)

This is one of those odd casting situations in which Rosalba plays a mother of a certain age. is made to look older even though she was as young as Alessandra. Neri was born in 1938 while Panaro was born in 1939. Both actresses are still alive. This scene is included in the SAME VOICE...DIFFERENT ACTRESSES compilation posted below. I consider both 'Queens' of PEPLUM cinema. This screenshot is from a widescreen copy of it which I'm thinking of making a Fan Dub of it, even though the image is not super sharp.

By the Gods!

Conrado San Martín and Virginia Mayo in REVOLT OF THE MERCENARIES (1961)

When you think of who's the queen of the PEPLUM genre, does Virginia Mayo come to mind? Not really. Virginia made a couple of films in Europe as her US career waned. She did star in Hollywood productions, THE SILVER CHALICE (1954) and KING RICHARDS & THE CRUSADERS (1954). It's hard to categorize her career. I recently made a compilation of all the major PEPLUM female stars and she's one of the stars I didn't include in it. Conrado acted in supporting roles before briefly becoming a leading man. He's still alive! Not to be confused with REVENGE OF MERCENARIES (1962).

Behind-the-Scenes

A wet Steve Reves takes a break from filming a raining scene in DUEL OF THE TITANS (1961)

By the Gods!

Trumpeters announcing the start of a ceremony in PERSEUS THE INVINCIBLE ( 1963 ; also known as Medusa against the Son of Hercules)

This is a cliché of the genre. It's one which always brings a smile to my face. I need to do a compilation of these scenes. These scenes don't last long so it will be short compilation.

Different titles: HEROD THE GREAT (1959)

HEROD THE GREAT starring Edmund Purdom and Sylvia Lopez, directed by Viktor Tourjansky, was released in 1959. An all-around excellent production, this film had an actual theatrical release in North America. Here are the different titles from 4 different countries.

Original Italian title

Dramatic title design for the original Italian release.

US Allied Artists release

The design for the US Allied Artists release looked like the generic bible studies kind. 

French title

The French title translates as THE CRUEL KING. Just in case people didn't get what it was about, they also included the French version of the Italian title in parenthesis.

German title

According to Google translate, the literal translation of the German title is HEROD THE BIG ONE! Without HERODES, Der Grosse translates as THE GREAT. Google Translate is odd.

By the Gods!

Lex Barker and Anna Maria Ferrero in CAPTAIN FALCON (1958)

Anna Maria Ferrero died last week at the age of 84. She did just a couple of PEPLUM movies as she starred mainly in films set contemporary times. She's not Lex's love interest in this but a supporting character. Her career started in the early 1950s so by the time she peaked, the PEPLUM genre exploded. RIP.

Movie Poster Mondays

French poster of REVAK THE REBEL (1960)

A bit of an exaggeration there. More HERCULES than REVAK.

By the Gods!

Landa (Chelo Alonso) and Emiliano (Steve Reeves) are lovers in GOLIATH & THE BARBARIANS (1959)

This was one of 6 films Chelo starred in 1959. She only appear in 19 or so films so that's a big chunk of her career in movies. This was one of Steve's 5 films that year. They were both very busy. While Chelo's garment is pretty classic in the genre, can Steve's garment be considered a fur tunic? Hard to describe his costume there. Another classic with no stellar / HD print available anywhere. Check out the list of hard to find classics.

By the Gods!

Ulysses (Gabrielle Antonini). Hercules (Steve Reeves) and Iole (Sylva Koscina) in HERCULES UNCHAINED (1959)

This screenshot is from the only true widescreen copy out there, from a German DVD. For some odd reason, this scene is edited in the most unusual way (some German DVDs are just weird). Anyway, the colours in this scene are terrible. Sylva's garment looks radioactive. At least the skin tones are good. It's amazing that this classic still doesn't have a decent print or even an HD broadcast available anywhere.  From what I know, Antonini is still alive. I'd love to interview him.

Vintage advertising

A huge billboard advertising QUO VADIS in production in 1949, 2 years before its release. Now that's early.

By the Gods!

Helga Liné and Dan Vadis in TRIUMPH OF THE TEN GLADIATORS (1964)

Ancient Rome, even Pompeii, had elaborate fountains, fed by the aqueduct system but I don't think they were this elaborate (the story doesn't place in Rome). I like moments like these but they also sorta bring me out of the story's setting. The fountains are located in the Villa d'Este, also known as Tivoli Gardens. Fun film nonetheless.

Fantasy casting that almost was

According to The Fantastic Fifties magazine, in an edition dedicated entirely to the PEPLUM genre, Steve Reeves was set to star in ONE MILLION YEARS B.C., along with Raquel Welch. According to this unearthed interview, Reeves was offered $50k to work on the caveman film. He refused the role since Italian producers payed him 5 times that amount. Now that would have been interesting. With that being said, John Richardson (below) did a great job in that role but even so, the pairing of Reeves and Welch was actually a fantasy pairing I wrote about years ago, and it almost came true.

The Fantastic Fifties edition on the PEPLUM genre unearthed a forgotten Steve Reeves interview in which he said he was offered the male role in ONE MILLION YEARS B.C.. More on this magazine in a future post.

By the Gods!

Carl Möhner tries to survive against Milton Reid in FALL OF ROME (1963)

The casting of Carl Möhner is interesting. His physique is more average than the super sculpted one we're accustomed in seeing in PEPLUM films. It makes for a nice change. This scene is pretty good. Like other PEPLUM films, Milton Reid is not credited for this taut fight scene. Footage from other films, mainly ALONE AGAINST ROME (1962), were used. This usually bothers me but Antonio Margherita made such good use of the footage that it's one case it's okay this time. Also released under the title CENTURION.

Movie Poster Mondays

French poster of ATLAS AGAINST THE CZAR (1964)

This movie has many amazing posters, including this one.

Fotonovela: THE SINNER (part 6)

Part 6 of serialization of THE SINNER fotonovela starring Ruth Roman. Click on image to see a larger size.

Added to the permanent blog page of THE SINNER

Article of the week: ULTIMATE MOST WANTED List (updated)

The last update to my ULTIMATE MOST WANTED LIST was back in Feb. 2016. Since that time I've acquired many titles, and discovered many more titles. This is an update of that list. This will most likely be my last update since things rarely change and new undiscovered titles, which even though it still happens from time to time, are becoming less frequent to the point of not being important enough to warrant future updates.

So what exactly do I look for in a title:

- Uncut

- Original English title / credits

- Widescreen aspect ration, or if it wasn't shot in widescreen, at least its original format.

Some titles will probably never surface since they're forgotten and they will never get a proper DVD or Blu-Ray, or even beautiful HD digital copy. The one thing which I've seen happening more and more these days is stunning copies from HD TV broadcast. Recent acquisitions like HERCULES AGAINST THE MONGOLS and HERCULES AGAINST THE BARBARIANS, all in stunning HD transfers, are now possible to find, somewhere out there. The problem with this, like the problem with DVDs or Blu-Rays, is many titles will never be shown on TV in HD. So, chances of coming across a pristine HD version of SAMSON & THE SEVEN MIRACLES OF THE WORLD or GOLIATH AGAINST THE VAMPIRES, popular titles, seem remote. If they haven't been shown in HD yet, will they ever be shown in HD?

Now, as those who follow my blog know, getting a PEPLUM film that's uncut, with English opening credits in the right aspect ratio is like looking for a unicorn. They are extremely rare. Since many of these films don't have any studio backing them up here in North America, the original releases for the US market are in some sort of limbo. Unless they do something like what Warner Archives have done, the likely hood of getting an English version of SIEGE OF SYRACUSE (originally released by Paramount) or a widescreen English copy of THE PHARAOHS' WOMAN (originally released by 20th Century Fox) are almost next to none.

The one source that can always change things is the UK. PEPLUM movies made in Italy had a different distribution process in regards to the UK and North America. Many of those films, released directly to TV in the US actually got theatrical distribution in the UK, like PERSEUS THE INVINCIBLE. And many titles, such as FURY OF ACHILLES and SIGN OF THE GLADIATOR were recently shown in some network TV broadcast, in an English dub and in a reasonable widescreen format. Unfortunately, UK TV broadcasters love to cut down these films and though I've seen some nice versions from UK TV broadcast, nearly all of them were mercilessly cut. SIGN OF THE GLADIATOR is one such film. It was shown on television in the UK, in a nice widescreen format, but more than 20 minutes was cut from it. I tried to do a Fan Dub of this, using the uncut Italian copy and adding the English dub to it, but so many scenes were cut that the Fan Dub would have been something like five minutes in English, two minutes in Italian with English subs, repeatedly. I stopped making this Fan Dub because aside from PEPLUM fanatics like me, viewing the film this way, switch repeatedly in English to Italian and back to English, would have be dreadful. So, I abandoned it (for now). Had the TV broadcast of SIGN OF THE GLADIATOR in the UK had been uncut, this wouldn't have been an issue but this illustrates the frustrating issue: if the English widescreen copy is not missing altogether, those that are available are cut to the point of being ridiculous.

Doing Fan Dubs is one solution. Here's a just a partial list of Fan Dubs or Fan Subs I've made:

79 AD THE DESTRUCTION OF HERCULANEUM

A QUEEN FOR CAESAR

DUEL OF CHAMPIONS - with new opening credits

GIANT OF METROPOLIS

THE GIANTS OF THESSALY

GLADIATOR OF ROME

HERCULES (1958)

HERCULES AGAINST ROME

THE LAST ROMAN

MACISTE IN THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS

MACISTE IN KING SOLOMON’S MINES

MACISTE VS THE MOLE MEN

MACISTE IN THE VALLEY OF THE THUNDERING ECHOES

THE MINOTAUR

THE NORMANS

NEFERTITI - QUEEN OF THE NILE

SALAMMBO

SLAVE QUEEN OF BABYLON

SON OF SPARTACUS

TRIUMPH OF MACISTE

ULYSSES VS HERCULES

THE MIGHTY URSUS

ATLAS AGAINST THE CZAR

REVENGE OF THE CONQUERED (Drakut)

THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS

LES CAVALIERS DE LA TERREUR (Knights of Terror)


Fan Subs (subtitles)

APHRODITE GODDESS OF LOVE - English Fan Sub

7 SLAVES AGAINST ROME

SEVEN REBEL GLADIATOR

THE REVENGE OF THE GLADIATORS

GODDESS OF LOVE


What do these versions all have in common? Since I've taken the films from European/Italian sources, the majority of opening titles and credits are not in English (except for HERCULES and DUEL OF CHAMPIONS which I recreated the opening credits), and these Fan Dubs are mostly cut as well.

While Fan Dubs are a great (if very time consuming to make), it is not a perfect solution for the problem of obtaining true copies of these movies. Fan Dubs don't rectify things with regards to seeing a film with its original English title and uncut. I made a Fan Dub of THE MIGHT Y URSUS and since the only widescreen copy released in Europe is extremely cut, the Fan Dub I've made of it was also incomplete.

So, this brings us back to the original : the perfect copy of a film is uncut, with its original English dub, with English title/credits and in widescreen, if it was shot that way. Since I'm a realist and I know most of these titles will never be shown this way, acquiring beautiful copies in other language is fine. It's better than nothing.

Here's the updated list. This list will change with time.

I'm posting it at the permanent page.

A

ADAMO ED EVA (Adam & Eve; 1949) - Dub or Sub (this was apparently dubbed in English)

ALI BABA AND THE SACRED CROWN - a HD widescreen, in any language. I have a nice copy in widescreen but the image is soft and murky.

AL SERVIZIO DELL'IMPERATORE (1958) - Alessandra Panaro stars.

AMORI E VELENI (1952) - Giorgio Simonelli

ANTHONY OF PADUA (1951 US) - Francisci film

APHRODITE - GODDESS OF LOVE - Original English widescreen release and uncut

ATLAS - the Roger Corman flick in its original widescreen format. Does it even exist?

Also, a copy of ATLAS in any other language than English? As this ever been released in Europe?

AT SWORD'S EDGE / A FIL DI SPADA (1952) Frank Latimore and Milly Vitale

ATTACK OF THE MOORS - working English dub ; I have it in English but it's a badly made Fan Dub which has the English track and the European track together. Weird.

AVENGER OF THE SEVEN SEAS - I have different copies of this Richard Harrison film ; they all have audio issues


B

BATTLE OF THE AMAZONS - I have it in widescreen and English but poor quality

BEHIND THE MASK OF ZORRO - Tony Russel stars. I have this but it's a poor copy. Looking for nice one.

THE BIG FISHERMAN - Widescreen

THE BLACK CAPTAIN (1951) Steve Barclay and Marina Berti

THE BLACK DUKE - Starring Cameron Mitchell. I have it in English but it's missing the English title/opening credits

THE BLACK LANCERS -

THE BLACK PIRATES (1954) - starring Anthony Dexter. Better print. Current one is truly poor. I have a trailer of this and the image is stunning. So, where's a good copy of this?

BLOOD AND DEFIANCE (1962) Directed by Nick Nostro  Starring Gerard Landry and Jose Greci

THE BORGIAS - Dub or Sub


C

CAPITAN DEMONIO (1950)

CAPTAIN FALCON - Dub or Sub

CAPTAIN FRACASSE - Dub or Sub

CAPTAIN KIDD & SLAVE GIRL - in Color ; I have this film but it's only available in Black & White even though it was shot in color. Apparently the color version is lost.

Where's the color?

THE CAPTAIN OF VENICE / IL CAPITANO DI VENEZIA (1951)  Leonardo Cortese and Mariella Lotti with Andrea Checchi, Dante Maggio, Franco Balducci and Pietro Tordi

CAPTAIN PHANTOM / CAPITAN FANTASMA (1953) Directed by Primo Zeglio Starring Frank Latimore

CATERINA SFORZA, LA LEONESA DI ROMAGNA (1959) Directed by Giorgio Walter Chili  Starring Virna Lisi. I have it but I’m looking for the color version.

CATHERINE OF RUSSIA - Dub only. I have a Sub version of this

CHALLENGE OF THE GLADIATOR - Never released in widescreen.

CLASH OF STEEL - Dub or Sub

CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER - Better widescreen print (in any language). I have it in widescreen but the image is soft and blurry.

COLUMNA - English Dub

CONQUEROR OF THE DESERT / SHAITAN, IL DIAVOLO AVVENTUROSO / FORTUNE CARRÉE (1955) Directed by Bernard Borderie Starring Pedro Armendariz

THE COSSACKS - Dub or Sub


D

DAMON & PYTHIAS - I have this one in English but I realized I never saw this film in another version, like the Italian one, IL TIRANA DI SIRACUSA. I'm looking for this one in any language other than English.

DEFEAT OF THE BARBARIANS - Starring Ken Clark. Widescreen (in any language)

DEVILS OF SPARTIVENTO - Widescreen in English ; I have several versions of this gorgeous film and none of the aspect ratios are correct.


E

EL NASER SALAH AD-DIN  (Saladin) - Better print

ESTHER & THE KING - In Italian


F

FALCON OF THE DESERT - A decent widescreen of this, in any language.

FURY OF THE PAGANS - I have the English subtitles for this so looking for English dub


G

THE GAY SWORDSMAN - I only have the beginning of this film

THE GIANT OF EVIL ISLAND - Original English version

THE GIANT OF MARATHON - In widescreen with English title/credit. I do have a beautiful HD copy of this in French but the original US version in HD would be great.

GLI AMORI DI ANGELICA - Starring Claudie Lange. I'm looking for its Italian version.

GODDESS OF LOVE - English dub. I already have the English sub version.

GOLD FOR THE CAESARS - Better copy than the one that's available.

THE GOLDEN ARROW - This Antonio Margheriti movie has never been released on DVD in the US

THE GOLDEN FALCON starring Massimo Serato. There's a nice clip on Youtube but never came across it anywhere else.

GOLIATH AT THE CONQUEST OF DAMASCUS - Decent widescreen print

GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS - Starring Steve Reeves and Chelo Alonso. Better print - current prints are unsatisfactory. How is it that this title still doesn't have a decent widescreen print?

GOLIATH AND THE REBEL SLAVE - Starring Gordon Scott. I have so  many different copies of this and there's only one version that's uncut and it's not in widescreen. So, English title/credit, uncut and in widescreen.

GOLIATH AND THE VAMPIRES - Better print. Why is this popular film so difficult to obtain in a gorgeous widescreen version? It's mind boggling.

THE GORGON (1942) starring Rossano Brazzi


H

HANNIBAL - Starring Victor Mature. Original English opening credits and uncut

HELEN YES…HELEN OF TROY - Widescreen (in any language). I have it in widescreen but poor and with a logo.

HERCULES (1958) - Uncut - the definitive version ; every version of this Pietro Francisci classic is different: the French version is different from the Italian. Both of those versions are different from the two US versions (Original release and TV version). So the true Director's cut is missing.

HERCULES & THE BLACK PIRATE- In English and widescreen. Getting widescreen copies of some Alan Steel films is already difficult in Italian.

HERCULES AND THE MASKED RIDER - Nice pristine widescreen copy

HERCULES & THE PRINCESS OF TROY - In any language other than English? Was this Gordon Scott TV pilot made for the US market ever shown or released in Italian or French?

HERCULES AGAINST THE SONS OF THE SUN - Original widescreen English copy

HERCULES THE AVENGER - Better print than the current one available in English. Why is this title so difficult to get in a decent print?

HERCULES THE INVINCIBLE - Original International English version.

HERCULES UNCHAINED - Uncut. Not one widescreen version out there is uncut. A definitive version would be great. For instance, the 'Hercules vs Antaeus' scene is cut in the only decent widescreen copy available on the market. On one hand, it's great, while on the other, it sucks!

This scene is missing from most copies of HERCULES UNCHAINED

HERO OF BABYLON - English title/opening credit. and uncut.


I

I PATRIARCHI (1963) - Rare Marcello Baldi directed film

I PIOMBI DI VENEZIA (1952)

IL CAPITANO DI VENEZIA (1951)

IL CAVALIERE SENZA TERRA (1958) - Giacomo Gentilomo

IL CONTE AQUILA (1955)

IL FALCO ROSSO (49) - Jacques Sernas

IL FIGLIO DI LAGARDERE (1952) - Milli Vitale and Rossano Brazzi

IL MERCANTE DI VENEZIA (1952)- Pierre Billon

IL MOSCHETTIERE FANTASMA (1952) - Rossana Podesta stars

LA PRIGIONIERA DELLA TORRE DI FUOCO (1953)- Giorgio Walter Chili

IL PRIGIONIERO DEL RE (1954)- Giorgio Venturini

IL SANGUE E LA SFIDA (1962)- Nick Nostro

IL SIGNO DEL VENDICATORE - missing film

IL TIRANNO DEL GARDA (1957)

THE INVINCIBLE BROTHERS MACISTE - Widescreen (in any language) I have *multiple* versions of this but none of them are true widescreen with pristine image.

THE INVINCIBLE GLADIATOR - Better print in widescreen (in any language)

ISABELLA - DUCHESS OF THE DEVILS (1969) - English version

THE ISLAND PRINCESS - Better print

IVAN, IL FIGLIO DEL DIAVOLO BIANCO (1953)- Guido Brigone


J

JACOB & ESAU - Starring Ken Clark. One of the rarest PEPLUM films.

JOURNEY BEYOND THE THREE SEAS (57) - I don't know if this Russian super production was released in English.

JUDAS’ KISS - Dub or Sub

JULIET & OSOFERNES (1929) - Rare silent version


K

KARIM - THE SHEIK’S SON The Egyptian-version ; this film was shot in Italian and Egyptian and the Egyptian version is MIA

THE KING’S MUSKETEERS - Starring Jeffrey Stone. I've never seen a clip or anything from these obscure movies. Do they even exist?

KNIGHT OF A 1000 FACES - Widescreen (in any language) but the audio of my copy in English is poor so a clear English dub would be good too

KNIGHTS OF THE QUEEN - Starring Jeffrey Stone. I've never seen a clip or anything from these obscure movies. Do they even exist?

L

L’APOCALISSE (1947)

LA CONGIURA DEI BORGIA (1959)- Antonio Racioppi

LA CORONA DI FUOCO (1961) - film not released in English

LA GERUSALEMME LIBERATA (1935)

LA SPADA IMBATTIBILE - Starring Jeffrey Stone. I've never seen a clip or anything from these obscure movies. Do they even exist?

THE LAST ROMAN - I did a Fan Dub of the edited version but I’m still missing the entire two-parter

LAST OF THE VIKINGS - Original English widescreen version

LA TRAGICA NOTTE DI ASSISI (1961)-Raffaello Pacini

HOT NIGHTS (1977 - Le calde notti Caligola) - Not to be confused with another film with same title. I have a copy in Italian but looking for English dub or sub.

LEGIONS OF THE NILE - Original English widescreen copy

LOVES OF HERCULES - the 'official' widescreen version in English. Making a Fan Dub is impossible since they shot different versions for the European and US markets. Apparently, Netflix has acquired the rights tot this movie so I assume Netflix has a beautiful English version in widescreen.

THE LION OF AMALFI (50) - Vittorio Gassman, Francisci film

LIONS OF CORSICA - Dub or Sub

THE LONG SHIPS - In any language but English.

THE LOVES OF THREE QUEENS - Better print. I have a better print since I posted this list 2 years ago but it's still murky/blurry.


M

MACISTE AVENGER OF THE MAYAS - Never dubbed in English so working subtitles and a pristine print would be cool

MAN WITH 100 SWORDS - Subtitles?

MARIE OF THE ISLES - Belinda Lee film. I have a murky full screen version in English, which is watchable (barely) but a beautiful copy in its original format would be great. A Belinda Lee film is always fun to watch.

MARS GOD OF WAR - Starring Roger Browne. Better print. The widescreen print available is way too dark. This film was released under the SONS OF HERCULES TV series so it never got an actual decent widescreen release in English.

THE BLACK MASK (Maschera nera ; 1952) - Filippo Walter Ratti

THE MASKED MAN AGAINST THE PIRATES - The English version I have is poor.

THE MERCENARIES - (Daniela Rocca / Debra Paget ) - Widescreen (in any language)

MESSALINA (1951) - English dub or working subs

THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS - I did a Fan Dub of this and it's pretty good but the original English version, with titles, is missing

MISSIONE SABBIE ROVENTI - Starring Helga Line and Howard Ross. Why is this film so hard to come by?

MYSTERY OF THUG ISLAND - Widescreen (in any language)


N

NERO AND THE BURNING OF ROME (1953) - Gino Cervi

NIGHTS OF LUCRETIA BORGIAS - Starring Belinda Lee. Dub or Sub

THE NORMANS - Original English version, ATTACK OF THE NORMANS, widescreen and in color? Amazon has a copy of this. I wonder which version they have.


O

OK NERO (1951) - Gino Cervi (I have it)

THE OLD TESTAMENT - Starring Brad Harris. In Italian? I have it in English and German but not Italian.


P

THE PHARAOHS' WOMAN - Better widescreen print (in any language). I have it in widescreen but fuzzy and no colour.

THE PIRATE & THE SLAVE GIRL - Starring Lex Barker and Chelo Alonso. Since they filmed two versions of this, one for Europe and one for the US, and are different.it would be nice to see the original English version intact and in a good copy.

PONTIUS PILATE (1962) - I'm looking for the French version

POPPEA PROSTITUTE SERVICE OF THE EMPEROR - Dub or Sub

PRINCESS OF THE NILE - Better print


Q

QUEEN OF THE TARTARS - Better copy in widescreen (in any language). I don't know how many copies I have of this but none of them are great.


R

RAIDERS OF THE DESERT - Starring Kirk Morris and Rosalba Neri. English dub if it exists. I've made a Fan Sub of this but an English dub would be great. The image is also a bit too dark so a better print too.

RAMPAGE OF EVIL aka Capitani di Ventura (1961) - Widescreen (in any language)

THE RED SHEIK - Original English print in widescreen

REVENGE OF THE GLADIATORS - English dubStarring Mickey Hargitay. I did a Fan Dub of this.

THE REVENGE OF THE GLADIATORS - Michele Lupo film. Looking for its English dub.

REVENGE OF THE MERCENARIES aka Il capitano di ferro / Rampage of Evil  - Widescreen in :  English or any language with English subs

REVOLT OF THE MERCENARIES aka La rivolta dei mercenari 1961 starring Virginia Mayo - English dub

ROLAND THE MIGHTY - This Pietro Francisci film is still missing a decent print, in any language.

ROME AGAINST ROME (War of the Zombies) - Starring John Drew Barrymore. No decent print available anywhere. Why oh why?

Screenshot of the US trailer of WAR OF THE ZOMBIES (aka Rome against Rome). Though the image is not good, the aspect ratio is correct. This film needs to be released with the correct aspect ratio.


S

SABU & THE MAGIC RING - Color version is missing in action.

SAMSON AND THE MIGHTY CHALLENGE - Original English cut

SAMSON & THE 7 MIRACLES OF THE WORLD - I have 2 versions: the US cut copy and the Italian uncut, which is in widescreen but it's fuzzy, not pristine. The entire beginning was removed from the US version. Oddly enough, the original beginning doesn't really add much to the story so cutting the beginning really didn't affect the story but I like my films to be uncut. Since there's no English dub for the original beginning, English subtitles would be great to have.

SAMSON & THE SLAVE QUEEN - Starring Alan Steel. Original US version. Working English Dub - I have a pristine widescreen copy of this (as ZORRO CONTRO MACISTE) and I have an English copy but the audio is so poor and so many scenes are missing that I've given up on doing a Fan Dub on this one.

SAMSON IN KING SOLOMON’S MINES - Original English title, with Samson in the title

SANDOKAN SARAWAK

SANDOKAN - PIRATE OF MALAYSIA - Original English version

SAPPHO - VENUS OF LESBOS aka The Warrior Empress - A clean widescreen print would be fantastic, in any language.

SATYRICON by POLIDORO - Working subtitles (I don't think this was ever dubbed in English)

SCHEHERAZADE (1963) - The English version would be great to get a hold of. I have it in French with English subtitles and the movie has so much dialogue, it's like reading WAR & PEACE.

THE SECRET SEVEN - Original English version

7 FROM THEBES - Better print (in any language). I have a widescreen copy, in Italian. It's nice to see but the image is soft and lacks clarity. So, a sharper widescreen version.

7 REBEL GLADIATORS - English dub

THE SEVEN REVENGES - Dub or Sub Ed Fury's best role

Ed Fury's best role in THE SEVEN REVENGES

7 SLAVES AGAINST ROME - English dub

SIEGE OF SYRACUSE - Dub...where is it?

SIGFRIDO - Dub or Sub

SIGN OF THE GLADIATOR - Uncut - I have this in widescreen and English but the entire beginning is missing. Doing a Fan Dub would be possible with the uncut Italian widescreen print but there are so many scenes cut from the English version that a Fan Dub would mainly consist of 5 minutes of English scenes, 2 minutes of Italian with English subtitles. I've tried doing this and halfway through I decided to stop since watching a film go from English to Italian repeatedly was a nightmare. Why do they do this to PEPLUM fans like me?

SIGN OF THE PAGAN - Uncut - the missing dancing scene with Ludmilla Tcherina

SINBAD AND THE CALIPH OF BAGHDAD - Original English copy with titles/credits

THE SINNER (Desert Desperados) - Starring Ruth Roman. I've been translating a 'fotonovela' for a while now and I'd really like to see this Black & white PEPLUM. It's super rare.

SLAVE GIRLS OF SHEBA - Widescreen (in any language). I now have a couple of different versions of this but the quality is not really good. A pristine copy, in English would do the trick.

SLAVE OF CARTAGE -  English dub. Where is it?

SON OF SAMSON - Starring Mark Forest. Stunning print?

STORY OF JOSEPH & HIS BRETHREN - Last Belinda Lee film. An official English version?

SULEIMAN THE CONQUEROR - Starring Edmund Purdom. No great copy exists for this film.

SWORD OF GRANADA (1953) - Starring Cesar Romero

SWORD IN THE SHADOWS - Widescreen (any language). It's in my collection but the copy I have is barely watchable.

SWORD OF ALI BABA (1965) - A cheapie made with footage taken from ALI BABA AND THE 40 THIEVES with new scenes.

SWORD OF THE EMPIRE - Starring Jose Greci. A decent widescreen copy


T

TAUR THE MIGHTY

TEMPLE OF WHITE ELEPHANT - In English and widescreen

THARUS - SON OF ATTILA

THIEF OF BAGHDAD - Starring Steve Reeves. Better print. Every print out there is terrible.

3 SWORDS OF ROME - English dub?

TIBERIUS - Dub or Sub

LE TIGRI DI MOMPRACEM (1970) - I have a decent copy in widescreen but it's in Spanish. Obviously, I'm looking for the English dub but I would love to have the Italian and French versions too.

TOTO AGAINST MACISTE - Dub or Sub

TOTO THE SHEIK (1950)

TREASURE OF THE PETRIFIED FOREST - Starring Gordon Mitchell. Decent true widescreen?

3 MOUSQUETAIRES - Dub or Sub

TYRANT OF CASTILE - Dub or Sub


U

URSUS (Aka The Mighty Ursus) - Starring Ed Fury. Uncut. Uncut. Uncut. Uncut??? There's a DVD being sold of this at TCM and it's cut. It's basically a Fan Dub of the Spanish DVD with the English dub taken from my Fan Dub of it. So, TCM is selling a bootleg copy.

URSUS IN THE LAND OF FIRE - Starring Ed Fury. English title/credit and uncut

URSUS IN THE VALLEY OF LIONS - Starring Ed Fury. English title/credit and uncut

URUS REBEL GLADIATOR - Starring Dan Vadis. A décent tcopy.


V

VAINCRE A OLYMPIE - English Dub or sub

VALLEY OF THE DOOMED - This Peplum Western (yes, they exist!) is fun but the copies out there are terrible. A nice pristine copy, in English.

VAMPING VENUS  (1928) - This film is considered lost. We can always hope it'll surface one day.


W

THE WARRIOR’S HUSBAND (1933) - Another rare PEPLUM of the 1930s that's impossible to obtain.

WHITE SLAVE SHIP - starring Edmund Purdom. I finally have beautiful copies in two different languages but the English version is still missing.

WOMEN OF DEVIL ISLAND - Original English copy.

THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF GUERRIN MESCINO - Directed by Pietro Francisci

THE WONDERS OF ALADDIN - Starring Donald O'Connor. Though I'm not a big fan of this fantasy, I'd still love to watch it in a better copy.


Z

ZORIKAN THE BARBARIAN - Starring Dan Vadis. Very obscure title with no decent copies available, in any language. So, of course, I want to see it in a decent copy, in any language.

ZORRO COURT OF ENGLAND - Dub or Sub

There are so many Zorro films it would take an entire article just for those titles alone.

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Well, that's it. Like I mentioned above, this will most likely be my last update, unless some major finds surface. I will make some changes to the list (adding or removing titles) but I won't redo the list from scratch.

Movie Poster Mondays

Original Italian poster of CONQUEROR OF CORINTH (1961)

John Drew Barrymore is blond and here they painted him with black hair, which of course is more evil looking than blond hair. Good poster.

By the Gods!

Hulina (Anita Ekberg) kills Genghis Khan (Roldano Lupi) in THE MONGOLS (1961)

Is this a spoiler? Yes and no. We all know Ghengis Khan died but how he died is a mystery. So, of course this gives writers carte blanche to come up with any plot point to explain his death. This is more drama than reality but at least it gives Anita something to do. Many find the idea of Anita playing a Mongol ridiculous. Of course it is, because in the movie she isn't Mongol but descendant of a captive people and is the lover/slave to Khan's son, played by Jack Palance. Blame PC culture for those dismissing this film because of this. Many scenes from this mini-epic were re-used in other films, mainly the big battle scenes. Those scenes were directed by Riccardo Freda, not André De Toth.

By the Gods!

John Drew Barrymore and Susy Andersen in ROME AGAINST ROME (aka War of the Zombies ; 1964)

Next week I'll post an update of the much delayed ULTIMATE MOST WANTED LIST, titles missing from my collection or titles which still don't have an adequate copy of it out there. And this title is certainly on the top of  my list. Why is it so hard to get a beautiful print of this film? It was actually one of the PEPLUM films released to theatres in the US / Canada. There are fans of it who would like to see it in a restore version. It's a unique PEPLUM film, a combo of horror and history.

Behind-the-Scenes

A crew member helps Charlton Heston with the set-up of his costume during the filming of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956)

By the Gods!

Brad Harris, Luisella Boni, Carlo Tamberlani and Serge Gainsbourg in FURY OF HERCULES (1962)

Continuing with the Parolini films, here's a great photo of the conclusion to this film, which is a 'Twin Production' with SAMSON (1961) and personally I prefer the latter but there are some good moments  in this. It IS a PEPLUM film through and through, which is always fun to watch. And Gainsbourg made a great villain. The only thing that bogs it down are the unnecessary muddled subplots. I uploaded a Fan Dub I created at PEPLUM TV and also an Action Highlights compilation of all the best action scenes.

Gianfranco Parolini, R.I.P.

Mimmo Palmara and Gianfranco Parolini in THE TEN GLADIATORS (1963). Parolini sometimes acted.

Director Gianfranco Paroloni died on April 26. His age is difficult to determine since some sources say he was born in 1925 will other sites claim he was born in 1930. He started his career in movies by making PEPLUM films and eventually moved on to make loads of Eurospy films and Spaghetti Westerns. The director wrote and sometimes acted in his productions, as seen above. He often worked with Brad Harris. Suffice it to say, Parolini was fascinated by hyper masculinity and it doesn't get more hyper masculine than the Ten Gladiators series. His PEPLUM films often had evocative sets and camera work which made his productions stand out. He wasn't the most even and thorough  filmmaker but the good stuff always outweighed the uneven stuff. RIP!

SAMSON (1961)

Brad played a variation of Samson in this Gianfranco Parolini production. Alan Steel co-starred and played Hercules, renamed Millstone in the English version.


FURY OF HERCULES (1962)

A 'twin production' with SAMSON, Brad played Hercules in this Parolini film.

Scene from FURY OF HERCULES starring Brad Harris, Serge Gainsbourg and Luisella Boni

79 AD : THE DESTRUCTION OF HERCULANEUM (1962)

Above and below : Brad Harris and Mara Lane. Director Gianfranco Parolini surpassed himself with this production. The story is almost non-existent but the film is gorgeous. The entire scene with gladiators fighting on a lake with crocodiles and a wall of fire is one of the most stunning moments in PEPLUM cinema.

THE OLD TESTAMENT (1962)

Above: Jacques Breathier with Brad Harris. Below is a clip from the movie I uploaded at PEPLUM TV. The direction by Parolini is uneven and certainly not as successful as 79 A.D. but it still has some gorgeous moments and production. 

THE TEN GLADIATORS (1963)

Above: José Greci and Dan Vadis. Below: the Ten Gladiator cast (for that movie). The first of 3 film series, this one is robust and action packed but also messy since it uses a lot of scenes from different films. In fact, I believe this movie uses more footage from other films than any other PEPUM film.

THE THREE AVENGERS (1964)

Alan Steel and Mimmo Palmara fight to the death in this robust PEPLUM film. This was his last genre film before moving on to Eurospy and Spaghetti Westerns.

Pietro Torrisi and director Gianfranco Parolini (mustard coat) chat while attending the Tavola Rotonda Peplum - The 8th Rome Film Festival. Photo taken in 2013.

Gianfranco Parolini

By the Gods!

Part of the cast from THE TEN GLADIATORS (1963) starring Roger Browne and Dan Vadis

The first Ten Gladiators film was directed by Giancarlo Parolini, who died on April 26. I'll have an overview of his PEPLUM movies tomorrow. Though this film is a hot mess (it uses tons of scenes from other films) I like Parolini. He understood the PEPLUM genre and created some of the most startling images of the genre.