Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all my followers and visitors, regulars and casual lurkers! 

Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and joyous holidays!

Image(s) of the week!

An angry Hercules (Steve Reeves) confronts Omphale (Sylvia Lopez) in HERCULES UNCHAINED.

BY THE GODS! magazine..

You can buy BY THE GODS! magazine at MagCloud.

Click link below:

https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2574706

BY THE GODS! magazine mentioned at Nicholas Diak's website.

Lobby Cards Set: HERCULES AGAINST ROME (1964)

German lobby cards set of HERCULES AGAINST ROME (1964) starring Alan Steel. Colourful set with Alan in 7 out of 8 cards. This is how it's done. lol. There should have been at least one card with Wandisa Guida or Mimmo Palmara but I digress. Great set.
The German title translates as HERCULES - THE AVENGER OF ROME...which is the complete opposite of the original title.

Musings!

Joseph (Bekim Fehmiu), Mary (Maria del Carmen San Martin) and a young Jesus (Matteo Bellina) in the middle of the desert in A CHILD CALLED JESUS (1990)

It's that time of the year when it becomes awkward for the PEPLUM genre. Christmas is basically the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Oddly enough, there aren't that many movies about that period. Yes, there are some movies like BEN-HUR (1959) which shows Joesph and the virgin Mary in the manger with baby Jesus but the story instantly fast forwards to when Jesus is an adult. Since there are so few movies about the birth of Jesus, it's always difficult for me to post about it during this festive time. Well, there's this Italian mini-series directed by Franco Rossi, who also directed the more famous THE ODYSSEY (1968) which also starred Bekim Fehmiu. The original Italian mini-series had 4 episodes but there's an English version which was abbreviated down to a 3 hour movie...I think. Anyway, the mini-series shows scenes of a young Jesus with scenes of a 30+ year old Jesus. It goes back and forth like this throughout the series. Even though it was made in 1990, the mini-series looks like THE ODYSSEY, made 22 years before that. 

Behind-the-Scenes

Jeffrey Hunter, as Jesus, and Siobhan McKenna on the set of KING OF KINGS (1961)

Clip of the week: THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD (1961)

Karim (Steve Reeves) is in a tight spot! 

 

HD Alert!

Steve Reeves in THE WHITE WARRIOR (1960)

I posted about this movie on November 23. Someone mentioned that there is an HD copy of this Riccardo Freda movie with cinematography by Mario Bava. Well, I finally got hold of this copy. Let me tell you...lol! I watched the HD MKV file via the VLC app. I thought the image was extremely dark (like many of these HD transfers). Screenshot below. Well, while working on this movie and taking screenshots of all the different I have I realized something: the VLC app unnecessarily darkens the image. I made an MP4 file of the movie and the image (above) is much better. The movie looks great in HD but it is a bit on the dark side. Not as much as viewing it with VLC below.

I'll make a comparison of all the different versions soon (I already have all the screenshots taken). It's interesting to see which version is the correct one. I'm please with it even though it's not as colourful as other prints. 

Note: never watch a movie with the VLC app.

The dark image as seen while using the VLC app. 

PEPLUM Banners

The THE GIANT OF MARATHON banner above has been at the blog since June 2021. I'm not tired of it but should I change it with the banner below, from HERCULES UNCHAINED. Do you like it? Should I keep the MARATHON one for 2024?

There's a new banner for the Christmas - New Year period. It's Steve Reeves and Giorgia Moll in THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD (1961) which has a very Christmasy feel to it. The tiny Christmas tree is not in the movie. I already used a scene from that movie for a previous banner.

You can view all previous banners of the blog for the past 13+ years at the Banners permanent page. 

PEPLUM Blog Banners

Here are some of my favourites:
 

Steve Reeves in MORGAN THE PIRATE. Also used for my short-lived FIRE & SWORD Youtube account. 

 

From APHRODITE - GODDESS OF LOVE.

Dan Vadis in HERCULES THE INVINCIBLE. For X (Twitter) and Facebook accounts.

Fredric March and Claudette Colbert in SIGN OF THE CROSS

Musings!

Massimo Girotti and Luisa Ferida in THE IRON CROWN (1941) 

This is an incredible movie, a heady mix of genres, all in one amazing film. It's PEPLUM, of course, but it's an incredible combo of Medieval or Robin Hood, Religious, Mystical, Tarzan (hero living in forest), etc. It has so many elements in it, as I mentioned above: religion and mysticism. Violence and love. For an old movie, it's loaded with stuff. The US version is re-edited from the original, and oddly enough, it actually made some improvements to it in some aspects but the entire film needs to be seen to experience. Directed by Alessandro Blasetti, who would re-ignite the PEPLUM genre with FABIOLA (1949). A young Massimo would become a big star of Italian cinema. Of course, the movie is not available in English in HD.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Half of a British quad of MACISTE IN KING SOLOMON'S MINES (1964) 

Proof the movie was released in English in movie theatres. A British quad is like a US half sheet poster, a horizontal rectangle. The other half has THE TEN GLADIATORS (1963).

BY THE GODS! magazine...on eBay!

A follower on X (Twitter) contacted me to say that MagCloud sent her a second copy of BY THE GODS! magazine by accident. She's selling it on eBay.

 

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Preview of cover of issue #2 at BY THE GODS!

You can also purchase BY THE GODS! at MagCloud.

Click link below:

https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2574706

Image of the week!

Minurte (Renzo Ricci) and Semiramis (Yvonne Furneaux) enjoy a feast in SLAVE QUEEN OF BABYLON (1963; image in HD)

VHS Covers

VHS covers of CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER (1960) starring Debra Paget and Ettore Manni. I couldn't find the Something Weird VHS cover.

 

The US VHS cover. I found it being sold on eBay from an account based in Puerto Rico so I assume this is the cover from the US. It says it's in English.

German cover. There's even a photo of the video cassette.

 

 

French VHS cover. They used PEPLUM to categorize the movie type.

 

Spanish VHS cover.

 

Polish VHS cover. This artwork has nothing to do with the movie.

Musings!

Fausto Tozzi, as Captain ZancoDi Monforte or the villain, has Agnès Laurent captive in NIGHT OF THE GREAT ATTACK (1960)

I recently got a hold of a couple of copies of this film and I have to say that the widescreen one is a definite upgrade, with English audio added to it as a Fan Dub(with scenes with no English audio since the English print was cut). My previous copy was in dire straits. Watchable but poor nontheless. This is a solid movie with Fausto who excels in his role. I'm not familiar with Agnes Laurent and looked up her list of movies. I've never seen any of her other movies. Great fun.

Behind-the-Scenes

I usually post photos for behind the scenes posts but today here's a video of behind the scenes look of the making of HERCULES (1983) starring Lou Ferrigno and directed by Luigi Cozzi.
 

Clip of the week: SIEGE OF SYRACUSE (1960)

Archimedes (Rossano Brazzi) deploys his war machines with death rays. Directed by Pietro Francisci. 

SPFX DEPT.

Scenes from THE SILVER CHALICE (1954)

Like the movie itself, the visual effects in THE SILVER CHALICE are highly stylized, to the point of almost looking like an animated movie. My favourite aspect of this often maligned movie are the visuals. It's a totally unique film in regards to the visuals. Since many people hated it, I guess this style didn't catch on. Regardless, I like them. Not realistic by any means but they're very dramatic.

Vintage Article!

Yet another old article on Steve Reeves titled 'The Training Wisdom of Steve Reeves.' which includes some photos from HERCULES (1958). Reeves has had tons of articles on him.

Musings!

Scene from SPARTACUS - SINS OF ROME (1953) 

If you'd ask me what's the most spectacular scene in a Spartacus movie, I would not say anything from the 1960 version starring Kirk Douglas or any newer productions of Spartacus. No, the most spectacular scene is in this movie. The arena with the ship and water recreation is still the most spectacular scene in a movie based on the story of Spartacus. It's one of the best scenes in a PEPLUM movie. It's stunning. Director Riccardo Freda did an amazing job here. And yet aside from fans like me, few people know of its existence.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Bulgarian Turkish poster of CHALLENGE OF THE GLADIATOR (1964)

It's nice. Google translate said it's Bulgarian. If anyone knows if it's Bulgarian or otherwise, please let me know. SinemaSkop!

Addendum: it's Turkish!

BY THE GODS! magazine..

Preview of cover of issue #2 at BY THE GODS!

20% off with code HOLIDAYS20. Valid until December 11.

Click link below:

https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2574706

Image of the week!

Cassandra (Janette Scott) tells of a dire prophecy to Helen (Rossana Podesta) and Paris (Jacques Sernas) in HELEN OF TROY (1956)

At the movies...

 THE ROBE (1953) playing at the Olympic theater in Watertown , NY.

Musings!

Maciste (Mark Forest) is put to a test of strength in MACISTE - THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD (1961; also known as Maciste against the Mole Men)

That's Paul Wynter and Roberto Miali below the spears. I've already posted about this at the blog. It's one of the best Feat of Strength scenes in PEPLUM cinema. The thing is, trying to get the entire set-up in one photo is difficult since the movie, shot in widescreen, only shows the bottom half or top half. And if the whole scene is shown in one shot, it's filmed from far away. So, I finally came across a photo that captures the entire crazy set-up. Who designed this? They need an award!

Behind-the-Scenes

Steve Reeves and Mylène Demongeot, still in costume, are at some party during the production of THE GIANT OF MARATHON (1959)

Clip of the week: SEVEN SLAVES AGAINST ROME (1964)

Roger Browne vs Pietro Marascalchi. With Gordon Mitchell and all.

This is the Italian version, which I have and forgot to note it in yesterday's post. 

HD Alert!

Screenshots from a HD version of SEVEN SLAVES AGAINST ROME (or Seven Slaves Against the World; 1964) starring Roger Browne and Scilla Gabel.

This Michele Lupo movie looks stunning in HD. This was from a Spanish streaming service (note the logo). So, it's in Spanish. I also have it in Italian. The English dub has been missing forever! No Blu-ray available anywhere.

Gladiatorial action looks great!

Gordon Mitchell and Pietro Marascalchi, who is still not credited at IMDb.

Then & Now: John Terlesky

 John in DEATHSTALKER 2; A recent photo of the actor turned director.

Musings!

José Greci and Lang Jeffries in SWORD OF THE EMPIRE (1964)

I like this film. It's not perfect by any means but it is entertaining with a good leads and good production. The one thing I dislike about it is the casting of the Emperor. Not very convincing. The other thing is: did José and Lang got along? The relationship seems on the frosty side in the movie. But aside from that, it's a PEPLUM that delivers. The title is great! At one point this movie was nearly impossible to get in English. I need a beautiful copy of this. Oh, that's Howard Ross in the background. 

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Original Italian poster of RAGE OF THE BUCCANEERS (1961)

Nice poster. Fun movie. It's also known as GORDON - THE BLACK PIRATE.

Image of the week!

Delilah (Liana Orfei) and Hercules (Kirk Morris) are attracted to each other, in happier times, in HERCULES, SAMSON AND ULYSSES (1963)   

Lobby Cards Set: THE SARACENS (1963)

Original Italian lobby cards set, or fotobusta, of THE SARACENS (1963) starring Richard Harrison. Nice set. Very colourful. It's missing one card but even so overall, it nice showcases the scenes from this movie. Nice photos of Richard.