Image of the week!

Samarra (Lana Turner) assists Nahreeb (Louis Calhern) in the ceremony with the man (George Robotham) being offered as sacrificial offering in THE PRODIGAL (1955)

Roger Browne, R.I.P.

American actor Roger Browne died last month at the age of 94. He starred in a dozen or so PEPLUM movies before acting in Eurocult / Eurospy / Euro superhero movies. The first film I saw him in wasn't a PEPLUM but EMANUELLE IN AMERICA (1977), of all films. Anyway, when I eventually saw in PEPLUM movies, I was like, "Ah, that's him!" He has stated in an interview that he preferred doing Eurospy movies because PEPLUM movies were a lot of work. He was associated with director Michele Lupo, starring in 3 of his 'Slave' films. He started as extras in movies, like BARABBAS. He is in more movies but I haven't found him yet, including PONTIUS PILATE (1962).

Roger had a small role in BARABBAS (1961). I wrote in 2012 about his appearance in this movie even though he wasn't credited at IMDb back then. He has been added to the cast at IMDb since I posted this.

Roger, as Mars, and Annie Gorassini, as Venus, in VULCAN - SON OF JUPITER (1962). Roger's first big role. Below: with Iloosh Khoshabe, as Vulcan.

Roger in MARS - GOD OF WAR (1962). Roger played Mars twice, back to back, in two different productions. He's with Venus again, this time played by Jackie Lane. 

Roger was the main star of THE TEN GLADIATORS (1963), along with Dan Vadis and others in a crowded cast. The movie was a hit and two other movies were made but without him. Roger has two major fights in this movie. One is with Dan Vadis. And the other, below, with Mimmo Palmara. They are the highlights of the movie. Ultra brawny action!

 

Roger in SEVEN SLAVES AGAINST ROME (1963) with Pietro Marascalchi. Even more ultra brawny action! When he's not fighting and punching men, Roger was with Scilla Gabel (below).
 

 

Roger was still the lead in Michele Lupo's next 'Slave' movie: THE REVENGE OF THE GLADIATORS (1964) starring Gordon Mitchell, Scilla Gabel and others.

 

Roger was still the lead in the third and last 'Slave' movie directed by Lupo, SEVEN REBEL GLADIATORS (1965) starring Pietro Torrisi and Harold Bradley. Unlike the previous Lupo film, which was super serious, REBEL was an action comedy quasi slapstick.

Roger co-starred with Mimmo Palmara and Mario Novelli in the fun action adventure THREE SWORDS FOR ROME (1965). The three actually made a fun team. Unfortunately, by the time this movie was released the PEPLUM genre was dying a quick death so no sequels.

 

Roger's last role in a PEPLUM production was the TV pilot HERCULES AND THE PRINCESS OF TROY (1965).

Roger would also appear in SAMOA - QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE (1968) and KARZAN AND HIS MATE (1971), which can be perceived as falling under the PEPLUM umbrella.

In the 14 years I've been doing the blog, some people asked me how Roger was cast in PEPLUM movies, meaning they couldn't see him on the same level as Steve Reeves or Gordon Scott. Initially, he had a great physique but it became more ordinary as time went on. Just look at how big he appeared in BARABBAS. He was always up to the task. His brawny fights are all memorable. RIP.

Musings!

Lang Jeffries and Philippe Leroy in the arena in ALONE AGAINST ROME (1962) 

I like this film. It's pretty solid, with good cast, productions, score, etc. The story is believable. It's one of those 'serious' PEPLUM production. And then this ending happens. I have to say that I'm not a big fan of this ending. It's totally improbable. The fight itself is excellent. It's entertaining. It's just I don't believe this would ever happen the way it happened in the movie. A realistic PEPLUM quickly became unrealistic. With that being said, I don't dislike the movie because of it. I'm more disappointed by the ending. It's as if they didn't know how to end the story. Regardless, it's a thumbs up for the entire production with a little side not over the ending. This movie needs an HD release!

Behind-the-Scenes

Peter O'Toole on a cigarette break on the set of MASADA (1981; TV miniseries)

Clip of the week: MACISTE IN THE VALLEY OF THE THUNDERING ECHOES (1964)

Maciste (Kirk Morris) vs crushing walls!  Long clip!

Portraits

Alan Steel as Samson in SAMSON AND THE SLAVE QUEEN (1963)

HD Alert!

Claude Dantes and the mysterious Masked Man (who shall remain nameless to avoid spoilers) in THE MASKED MAN AGAINST THE PIRATES (1964)

I recently bought a batch of German Blu-rays and DVDs recently and this title was part of it. I like the movie but I also bought it because I want to support any HD releases of movies from the Golden Era of the genre. This HD print is something else. The colours are so vivid the movie looks like the Muppet Show. I have an old print, in English, and the colours and look of the movie is more subdued. This ultra vivid print is a bit of getting use to. The HD also shows some of the productions errors, like the shadow on the blue sky (bottom image). This was the first movie for the director and it shows. Fun movie nonetheless. Guessing who the Masked Man is is not so difficult if one notices his body type. The Blu-ray has German, Italian and French audios. No English audio. Santo of the Caribbean!

The whole cast of the movie, including George Hilton, Dantes and Giovanni Vari. The vivid colours makes the movie look like a kid's movie.

 

Then & Now: Timothy Dalton

Timothy in CLEOPATRA (1999; miniseries); a recent photo of the actor.

Musings!

Susy Andersen, as Actis, in SAPPHO - THE VENUS OF LESBOS (1960)

Last week, I uploaded a clip of this film, which is one of my favourites. The movie is directed by Pietro Francisci, the grandfather of the PEPLUM genre. He directed HERCULES (1958). His films have a distinctive style that no one else had (and few got). And this movie is no exception. To say I like it would be an understatement. One of the fun aspects of this production is Susy. The Italian actress has appeared in a handful of other PEPLUM movies, like ROME AGAINST ROME (War of the Zombies) but this one is a stand-out. I wondered what happened to her and someone shared her Facebook page. I wonder: should I do a Then & Now with her? Or leave her alone. A side note: in Greek mythology, Actis is one of the sons of Helios and Rhodos!

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Japanese poster of ATTILA (1954) 

Another stunning Japanese poster of an Italian PEPLUM movie.

Image of the week!

Goliath (Gordon Scott) against the vampires in GOLIATH AND THE VAMPIRES (1961)

At the movies...

 THE ROBE (1953) premiere at the Roxy theater in NYC. 

Musings!

Cameron Mitchell and Ivica Pajer in CAESAR THE CONQUEROR (1962)

This is my favourite Cameron Mitchell PEPLUM movie. MASSACRE IN THE BLACK FOREST and THE LAST OF THE VIKINGS are both close second. It's an unassuming movie which delivers more than most bigger production. The cast is excellent. The four major leads, with Mitchell, Pajer, and Rik Battaglia and Raffaella Carra, are all good in their roles. Mitchell and Ivica are both unsung heroes of the PEPLUM genre. My only complaint is the ending. I feel they didn't know how to end it. I recently bought a regular DVD from Germany because it had the English audio included (and posted a clip from it last week). Hopefully, a HD version will become available, with English audio!

Behind-the-Scenes

Sarah Douglas and Arnold Schwarzenegger prepare for a scene on the set of CONAN THE DESTROYER (1984)

Clip of the week: SAPPHO - THE VENUS OF LESBOS (1960)

Tina Louise, as Sappho, in a chariot race!

Funnies!

Iloosh Khoshabe and Mario Novelli in THE INVINCIBLE BROTHERS MACISTE 

SPFX DEPT.

Scenes from PERSEUS THE INVINCIBLE (1963; aka Medusa vs Son of Hercules)

This excellent movie is known for its elaborate practical effects of the Medusa and a dragon (by Carlo Rambaldi!) but it's matte paintings are as good as the other stuff. The one on above looks realistic and the one below has an incredible otherworld;y look and feel to it. I always loved them. Emilio Ruiz del Río is the artist who created them.

Giovanni Cianfriglia

Actor and stuntman Giovanni Cianfriglia died on October 30. He was 89 years old. The fit man worked mainly as a stuntman/body double at the beginning of his career and quickly moved on to acting. He appeared in too many movies to list here. Just to give you an idea, according to IMDb, he worked as a stuntman in 173 productions and 134 as an actor (which was often with his stunt work). Dude was in demand because he was so amazing in his stunt work. He's listed under some titles even though I can't find him in the movie itself which is why making a complete overview of his career is impossible. For instance, Giovanni is listed for HERCULES UNCHAINED (1959) but Reeves' stuntman was actually Alan Steel, who acts in the movie. I'll just highlight his most famous titles. 

He's also  listed under the Heroes & Beefcake permanent page. R.I.P..

Giovanni as a stunt man, presumably to Steve Reeves, in THE GIANT OF MARATHON (1959). Below: Giovanni with Steve and director Jacques Tourneur.

Giovanni with Steve Reeves in MORGAN THE PIRATE (1960)

Giovanni stands-in for Steve Reeves with Edy Vessel on the set of THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD (1961)

Giovanni is the second Goliath, fighting with Goliath (Gordon Scott) in the climax of GOLIATH AND THE VAMPIRES (1961). Rumours said it was Steve but Steve didn't do these elaborate stunts because of an injury. I posted about this on the blog back in 2012, the first one to speculate about Giovanni being the second Goliath.

Giovanni appears in a brief moment at the beginning of DUEL OF THE TITANS (1962) along with Virna Lisi.

Giovanni in THE SON OF SPARTACUS (1962) with Gianna Maria Canale and Ombretta Colli. Giovanni was also the stuntman/body double to Steve Reeves in action scenes like the one below from SON OF SPARTACUS.

Giovanni acted along with Steve Reeves (and Genevieve Grad) in SANDOKAN THE GREAT (1963). You can see the size difference between the two men.

In HERCULES AND THE BLACK PIRATE (1964), Giovanni has a small role. He fights, for amusement, with Alan Steel (below). Both actors were stuntmen/body doubles to Steve Reeves.

 

Giovanni was the stuntman/body double to Mark Forest in THE LION OF THEBES (1964). His work in this movie is exceptional. His body type, though, was different than Mark's. 

Giovanni was part of the supporting cast in REVENGE OF THE GLADIATORS (1964) starring Mickey Hargitay and Jose Greci.

Giovanni would finally get a lead role in HERCULES THE AVENGER (1965) playing Antaeus who pretends to be Hercules. The fight between Antaeus and Hercules (below with Reg Park) is a stand-out. In fact, he's a stand-out throughout this movie. With Gia Sandri.

I could go on but that's enough. Giovanni continued stunt work and acting well into the 1980s. 

Giovanni in IRONMASTER (1983) with Sam Pasco. He was still in great shape.

Then & Now: Giovanni in IRONMASTER; A recent photo before he passed away.