Here's a quick overview of some of the PEPLUM books I have in my library.
More titles will be added on a regular basis.
WITH FIRE & SWORD by Patrick Lucanio
An expensive book (over $100.00), it was seemingly published more for Academia than for the general public.
Good:
- Great format and text. Easy to read.
- A good overview of the genre, no matter how error filled it is
- Great name for book
Bad:
- Unnecessarily repetitious and padded
- Many errors
- Dubious knowledge of the genre
- Super expensive
- Few images or illustrations
RETRO STUD by David Chapman
The first PEPLUM book I ever bought. Like almost all books listed here, this one has good aspects to it and some truly horrendous ones as well (yes, horrendous!). I don't even know where to start!
Good:
- Good layout
- Excellent selection of posters
Bad:
- Dubious reviews of movies that are impossible to get
List posted at the permanent page.
WITH FIRE & SWORD by Patrick Lucanio
An expensive book (over $100.00), it was seemingly published more for Academia than for the general public.
Good:
- Great format and text. Easy to read.
- A good overview of the genre, no matter how error filled it is
- Great name for book
Bad:
- Unnecessarily repetitious and padded
- Many errors
- Dubious knowledge of the genre
- Super expensive
- Few images or illustrations
RETRO STUD by David ChapmanThe first PEPLUM book I ever bought. Like almost all books listed here, this one has good aspects to it and some truly horrendous ones as well (yes, horrendous!). I don't even know where to start!
Good:
- Good layout
- Excellent selection of posters
Bad:
- Author dislikes the PEPLUM genre (!!!)
- A boatful of titles that don't exist
- Generally lazy
CINEMA ITALIANO by Howard Hughes
Well, I won't beat around the bush with this book: avoid
Good:
- None to list
Bad:
- Doesn't care for the genre
- Out of 300 pages, only 75 pages dedicated to the PEPLUM genre
- Expensive
LE PEPLUM by Laurent Aknin
A small book (123 pages or so) that's nearly all about Hollywood.
Good:
- Covers recent PEPLUM films
- Good layout
- Cute
- Author dislikes the PEPLUM genre (!!!)
- A boatful of titles that don't exist
- Generally lazy
CINEMA ITALIANO by Howard HughesWell, I won't beat around the bush with this book: avoid
Good:
- None to list
Bad:
- Doesn't care for the genre
- Out of 300 pages, only 75 pages dedicated to the PEPLUM genre
- Expensive
LE PEPLUM by Laurent AkninA small book (123 pages or so) that's nearly all about Hollywood.
Good:
- Covers recent PEPLUM films
- Good layout
- Cute
Bad:
- Little interest in Italian PEPLUM films
- Nearly all Hollywood
EPIC FILMS (second edition) by Gary Allen Smith
Very well researched and the layout is beautiful. Needs updating though.
Good:
- Excellent layout
- Well researched
- Includes titles of projects that weren't completed.
Bad
- Missing titles or genres (like Arabian genre...but all PEPLUM books have this problem...)
- Pricey!
IL GRANDE LIBRO DI ERCOLE by Steve Della Casa and Marco Giusti
Reviewing this hefty book is difficult since it's in Italian.
Good:
- Actors list, with photos, is excellent
- Good but not great layout
- Illustrated
Bad:
- NO INDEX
- Authors favour Hollywood films
- Missing titles, genres, etc
- Name of the book doesn't make any sense
ITALIAN SWORD & SANDAL FILMS by Roy Kinnard and Tony Crnkovich
This 'book' only contains listings.
Good:
- Nothing
Bad:
- Everything. A rip-off.
FANTASTIC FIFTIES - PEPLUM edition
This magazine (is it really a magazine?) covers the subject of films from the 1950s (and early 1960s).
Good:
- Glossy publication
- Rare interview with Steve Reeves
Bad:
- Photos, photos, photos
- Expensive (nearly $40.00 with shipping and handling)
HEROES NEVER DIE! by Barry Atkinson
One of the latest books covering the genre.
Good:
- Little interest in Italian PEPLUM films
- Nearly all Hollywood
EPIC FILMS (second edition) by Gary Allen SmithVery well researched and the layout is beautiful. Needs updating though.
Good:
- Excellent layout
- Well researched
- Includes titles of projects that weren't completed.
Bad
- Missing titles or genres (like Arabian genre...but all PEPLUM books have this problem...)
- Pricey!
IL GRANDE LIBRO DI ERCOLE by Steve Della Casa and Marco Giusti
Reviewing this hefty book is difficult since it's in Italian.
Good:
- Actors list, with photos, is excellent
- Good but not great layout
- Illustrated
Bad:
- NO INDEX
- Authors favour Hollywood films
- Missing titles, genres, etc
- Name of the book doesn't make any sense
ITALIAN SWORD & SANDAL FILMS by Roy Kinnard and Tony CrnkovichThis 'book' only contains listings.
Good:
- Nothing
Bad:
- Everything. A rip-off.
FANTASTIC FIFTIES - PEPLUM edition
This magazine (is it really a magazine?) covers the subject of films from the 1950s (and early 1960s).
Good:
- Glossy publication
- Rare interview with Steve Reeves
Bad:
- Photos, photos, photos
- Expensive (nearly $40.00 with shipping and handling)
HEROES NEVER DIE! by Barry AtkinsonOne of the latest books covering the genre.
Good:
- Excellent publication (print, design...)
- Illustrated (photos, posters...)
Bad:
- Dubious reviews of movies that are impossible to get
- Overwrought writing style
- Comes in two editions: black and white, and in colour. The colour edition is very expensive.
- Comes in two editions: black and white, and in colour. The colour edition is very expensive.
More to come...
4 comments:
I agree with your opinion on almost every book you list here. And thank you for the nice mention of my book Epic Films. At one point I was going to write a book just about Arabian Nights movies but never got around to it. Also my definition of Peplum is much narrower than yours. I know, pricey. But I had no control over that. It did come out as a less expensive paperback. I'm glad you like my book. It was a labor of love.
It's a very good book. Needs updating for more recent titles like ALEXANDER, TROY (complete review) or 300. It would give the book a greater scope. I also think CONAN THE BARBARIAN should have been included (sequel and RED SONJA). If GOLIATH AND THE VAMPIRES made it, CONAN should also be there. But those are minor quibbles. As for the price, I know this is out of your hands. PEPLUM books aren't cheap. lol.
I had written an earlier edition of the book back in 1991. After the release of Gladiator I was asked by the publisher to update the original book. I was delighted because in the nearly a decade since the first one so many of the Italian films became available for me to watch in good copies. Of course I would have included Alexander and Troy had the book come out a few years later. I didn't include the Conan films because I have always considered them part of the Sword and Sorcery trend and not really Peplum. But that's just my preference. I doubt the publisher will ask me to update the book a third time. I do have a new book called Hollywood and the Bible which should be out later this year.
It's a shame though about the update. It would be great.
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