Behind-the-Scenes

Wandisa Guida on the set of VENGEANCE OF URSUS (1961)

Clip of the week: TRIUMPH OF THE TEN GLADIATORS (1964)

Emilio Messina vs his brother Roberto (bald). The rest of the big cast, too many to mention, brawl it out!
 

Funnies!

Peter Lupus in CHALLENGE OF THE GLADIATOR (1965)

HD Alert!

Mark Forest in MACISTE - THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD (1961) 

In HD! The print is stunning but not perfect. The image is crisp and it's at times simply beautiful. But it has a red tint to it which doesn't seem natural. More to do with some needed colour correction. This is not the first HD print from RAI with this colour issue. And like many PEPLUM movies in HD, there are many scenes which are very dark (see below). There's no reason why this film doesn't have a Blu-ray release. It's like watching the movie for the first time. In Italian only.

Moira Orfei, Enrico Glori and Gianni Garko (far left).

 

Can you see what's going on here?

Comparison: this scene with Mark Forest and Paul Wynter. It takes place at night since the Mole people can't be in daylight. The screenshot above is dark but it makes sense when compared to the DVD released (below). But you see more in the DVD than the HD version.

Different Titles

Today, it's DESERT WARRIOR (1957), starring Ricardo Montalban, Carmen Sevilla and others. There aren't many titles available but from those available, the titles are different. No Italian title for this Italian - Spanish production.

The English title. 

 

The German title which is THE SON OF SHEIK.

 

The Spanish title. Translation: THE DESERT LOVERS.

Here's the title I created for the Fan Dub that I did.

Ricardo Montalban and Carmen Sevilla in Egypt.

Musings!

Archimedes (Rossano Brazzi) and Diana (Tina Louise) fall in love in SIEGE OF SYRACUSE (1960)

Pietro Francisci directed this movie. It's his most epic one. Huge battles, story takes decades to unfold, etc. I really like it. There are aspects which work better than others. The look, the production, the big scenes are all top notch. The romance between the two leads is, like so many other PEPLUM movies, the weakest part. The romance seemed a bit forced. The melancolic aspects of the sweeping story are much more effective and poignant than the romanctic stuff. It seems the romance was use as means to a point.

I like Rossano. I learned through the many years covering the PEPLUM genre that few who like these movies are fans of his. He's a great actor. I don't understand the hate. And I like Tina Louise. She's such a larger than life beauty that's it's almost impossible not to admire. But the actress was known to be difficult and, oddly enough, she too a good number of people who dislike her (and prefer May Ann on Gilligan's Island). It's odd thing to watch romantic scenes of two people who are hated by people for no valid reason.

Anyway, the movie is still not available in English. It's definitely on top of my list of most wanted. The one terrible thing about the English version is the voice of Tina. Another woman dubbed her (as seen in the English trailer of the movie). In SAPPHO - THE VENUS OF LESBOS (1960), it was Tina's voice. Regardless, I still can't wait to view it in English.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

German poster of VENGEANCE OF URSUS (1961)

Simple and yet effective artwork. Ursus is now Hercules in Germany! 😂

Image of the week!

The walk of the cross of Jesus (Robert Powell) in JESUS OF NAZARETH (1977)

Have a Good Friday and Happy Easter to all!

At the movies...

The premiere of HERCULES at the Pilgrim theatre in Boston, 1959.

Musings!

Alan Steel in a new and yet old setting in SAMSON AND THE LOST TREASURE OF THE INCAS (1964)

One of those PEPLUM Westerns, which I've described in the second issue of BY THE GODS!, which mostly occurred when Italian film studios switched the setting for movies set in Antiquity to Westerns after the success of Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns. There aren't that many of them...less than ten but they exist.The movie is exactly like a PEPLUM movie, including colourful costumes, settings, etc. The one thing lacking in this movie are Feats of Strength but aside from that, it's obviously a PEPLUM movie. I like it but the action is at times a bit slow. Aside from a huge brawl in a tavern, it's missing that PEPLUM Rock 'Em Sock 'Em style. Alan Steel is in top form. In the previous scene, he's fully clothed but when the people end up in this ceremonial cavern, Steel is shirtless. No explanation as to why. Well, to entertain, of course. In one of the funniest aspects of this movie, they placed plastic cacti here and there in the usual Italian exterior locations seen in other PEPLUM movies.

Behind-the-Scenes

Steve Reeves and Sylva Koscina on the promotional tour for HERCULES (1958)

Clip of the week: WAR GODS OF BABYLON (1962)

Sardanapalus (Howard Duff) crowns his brother (Luciano Marin) King of Babylon after  passing a test in WAR GODS OF BABYLON (1962). With Jackie Lane and others.

New PEPLUM imagery

With a few prompts, new PEPLUM imagery by AI. 

From MEN OF PULP @ X 

ALONE AGAINST THE EMPIRE!

SPFX DEPT.

Scenes from CAPTAIN SINDBAD (1963)

The Hydra from this movie is difficult to gauge. It's not really believable and yet it's so elaborate and cool looking that it doesn't really matter if it doesn't look real. The entire movie, directed by Byron Haskin, who directed many classics, including THE WAR OF THE WORLD (1953), was used to working with special effects and the entire movie is filled with wildly erratic effects. The entire German - US production, a hit, is clearly shot in movie sets. The film has a fake studio-bound kitschy look and yet it's oddly visually interesting. This scene is definitely the highlight of the movie...well, after that crawling arm!  😂 

The myth of Sappho and Phaon

One of my favourite PEPLUM movies is SAPPHO - THE VENUS OF LESBOS (1960) which an action-packed adventure about...Sappho, the Greek poetess who is also famous for being a lesbian. It's one of the unlikeliest subjects for an action picture but thanks to Pietro Francisci's imagination and direction, it actually works.

Debate on her sexuality persists up to this day but it's pretty much well known that Sappho was attracted to women. But there are many things which point out to more, including the fact that she apparently had a daughter. People who watch the movie think it's totally ridiculous because of this point alone and claim it's trying to hide her true sexuality. It's a sad point which I believe is one of the reasons why this movie is completely neglected today. The movie does address her sexuality, but in a very subtle way, with Sappho's deep friendship with Actis.

But the movie is actually based on the myth of Phaon and Sappho, which is a thing. Most people don't know this myth. Many say that the story of Sappho falling for Phaon was created to erase her sexuality but even so that myth is quite famous. Painters have even made several paintings on the subject (see above; artist: Jacques Louis David). Director Pietro Francisci based his movie on this myth and not the 'Academic' real Sappho. There's a distinction. I hope the movie with be eventually released in HD, uncut, etc. And I hope people won't dismiss it just because of this important distinction. Anyway, I like the movie because it's so entertaining. That should be the only valid reason, really.

 

Above: Phaon (Kerwin Mathews) and Sappho (Tina Louise). Below: Sappho with her close friend Actis (Susy Andersen).

  

 

Musings!

Debra Paget dances up a storm in THE MERCENARIES (1961) 

Sorry about the fuzzy image. It's the best copy of this movie I have in my collection. I have about 5 or 6 different versions (spread out on one hard drive). Debra went from THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956) to small films in Europe. She was not the only one from THE TEN COMMANDMENTS to end in such a point in their careers. It seems the Cecil B DeMille movie didn't expand the careers of the actors except for Charlton Heston. It's odd because that movie was such a big hit and you'd think anyone from it would be in demand. I believe Paget is billed third behind Daniela Rocca and Yvonne Sanson. The movie was directed by Mario Bonnard, the director of THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII (1959), the Steve Reeves version in which he reportedly had to quit due to health reasons and Sergio Leone took over. He still directed movies after that health scare. Also known as ROME 1585.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Original Italian poster of VENGEANCE OF URSUS (1961) 

Nice poster but it's not very flattering image of Samson Burke.

Image of the week!

The Queen of Sheba (Gina Lollobrigida) arrives in Isreal and is greeted by King Solomon (Yul Brynner) in SOLOMON AND SHEBA (1959)

MUSCLES Inc.

A very young Arnold Schwarzenegger and Steve Reeves on the cover of Muscular Development (August 67)

Musings!

Jason (Roland Carey), Orpheus (Massimo Girotti) and the Argonauts in THE GIANTS OF THESSALY (1960)

There are some movies I feel I've covered every aspect about here on the blog. And I also feel there are some movies that I haven't really written a lot about because of No 1. Well, THE GIANTS OF THESSALY is one of them. I've written extensively about it, including a review. I love it. It's great but I feel I don't have much to add to the discussion. The one thing I'm waiting is a beautiful HD copy of it. I believe I'll have a lot more to write once a pristine print of this becomes available. For now, since it's not in HD anywhere, I'm like...I'm waiting here. We're the HD print? This is the second film on the Argonauts after HERCULES (1958).

For those who want to read the review I wrote decades ago (lol!), it's at Featured Films listed on the panel on the left side of the blog. Click here. I wrote it a long time ago and re-reading it, I stand by it even though I view it even better now (and could view it differently with an HD version...).

Behind-the-Scenes

Director Emimmo Salvi standing with actors, including two dressed as Lizard Men on the set of VULCAN - SON OF JUPITER (1962)

Clip of the week: COLOSSUS OF THE ARENA (1962)

Mark Forest VS Dan Vadis! 

Portraits

 Annie Gorassini as Venus in VULCAN - SON OF JUPITER (1962)

HD Alert!

The cast of COLOSSUS OF THE ARENA (1962): Center: Mark Forest. Front: Germano Longo, Vittorio Sanipoli. Back: Dan Vadis, Umberto Silvestri, Alfio Caltabiano.

There's a good number of PEPLUM movies in HD. Unfortunately, most of these prints are/were available from streaming services or were shown on TV. The majority of PEPLUM movies are not on Blu-ray for purchases. This makes things complicated when people ask me if such and such title is in HD. 

For example, this movie. It is available in a beautiful HD print but it's not on BD. It's easy for titles to get lost in the shuffle. So, I'm currently compiling all of HD prints and will publish them here, at a permanent page. I'm working on it. It's going to take some time but it should be ready soon enough. 

Same costume, different movies!

Delia D'Alberti in HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN (1964); Yvonne Furneaux in SLAVE QUEEN OF BABYLON (1963). Who wore it best? I think they both look great!

Musings!

Paulette Goddard as Jezebel in SINS OF JEZEBEL (1953) 

If there's a story from the Bible that needs to be made in a grand scale, it's the one about Jezebel and King Ahab. It's quite the story. This small production barely covers her story or the many interesting and diabolical aspects of it all. It's not bad but it's stilted and slow. It's like a Sunday School production. Everyone is too old as well. Jezebel was supposed to ba a young bride. Paulette was 43 when this was made. Ahab is shown as a very old man. The cast is mainly actors from Westerns.

In this scene, there's a mysterious shadow moving around the Baal statue when they are chanting (1950s a cappela-like) which comes from god knows where. Was it intentional? Was it something else altogether? Did Baal visit the set? No. A few seconds later, a dancer pops out from the flames. Still, the effect is spooky.

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Original Italian poster of THE MAGNIFICENT GLADIATOR (1964) 

Simple photo montage which invariably created some indirect odd image, with extra hand/limbs around Mark Forest. The lady on the poster is not Marilu Tolo so it should be Jolanda Modio. If it's Jolanda, that's a terrible photo. 

Image of the week!

Venus (Rosanna Schiaffino) and Mars (Jean Marais) visit their sleeping son, Romulus (Roger Moore) in ROMULUS AND THE SABINES (1961) (the best scene in the movie)

Actor Profile: Pietro Marascalchi

Continuing with profiling supporting actors of Italian/Euro PEPLUM films. This time the spotlight is on Pietro Marascalchi. You might not now his name but you definitely saw him in one of his many PEPLUM movies. He always played supporting roles, never leading. Originally, Pietro was a wrestler who participated in the 1960 Olympics. He became a professional wrestler and, as many other wrestlers at the time in Italy,  he eventually dabbled in PEPLUM movies. He didn't act a lot. Only 6 PEPLUM movies and half of those were cameos of sorts. But his role in SEVEN SLAVES AGAINST ROME (1964; above) was a stand-out, with his character's tumultuous relationship with the character played by Gordon Mitchell. The Japanese poster of this movie featured Pietro over all other more famous actors of that movie. And they were right. In my opinion he's the best thing in that movie. 

But his best role would be the one in HERCULES AGAINST MOLOCH (1963). Pietro plays Moloch. Even if his face is hidden with ugly masks, Pietro's commanding physique makes him stand-out, even compared to Gordon Scott who plays Hercules in that movie. The former Olympian died in 2019. I wished he had made more movies. His IMDb profile is incomplete.

 

Pietro's first role was in CONQUEST OF THE NORMANS (1962). He played Thor along with Genevieve Grad.

 

Pietro had a small cameo-like appearance, in a fighting scene in FURY OF ACHILLES (1962)

  

Pietro's best role was playing Moloch in HERCULES AGAINST MOLOCH (1963). Even if his face was covered, his presence still commanded attention. Below: the exciting fight between Moloch and Hercules (Gordon Scott). He will always be Moloch in my book.

 

Pietro's other stand-out role was in SEVEN SLAVES AGAINST ROME (1964) with Gordon Mitchell. Even though he's not the main star, he was the best thing in the movie. Gordon Mitchell's character fought constantly with Pietro's character, to the point of it being sadistic. Their fight in the arena (below) is pretty intense...well, as intense as any scene from a Michele Lupo film. He's not listed at IMDb for this movie.

The Japanese poster of SEVEN SLAVES AGAINST ROME featured Pietro over all the other actors.

Pietro with the cast of 'good guys'. 

Pietro's next film, REVENGE OF THE GLADIATORS (1964) also starred Gordon Mitchell and was directed by Michele Lupo. His role is prominent throughout the movie but the two men don't fight like the previous film.

HERCULES AND THE TYRANTS OF BABYLON (1964) was Pietro's last role in a PEPLUM movie. You see him here, with a host of other Italian actors too numerous to mention.

Since his IMDb listing is incomplete, it might be possible Pietro might be in another movie but it has to be one that I haven't seen because I haven't seen him in anything else.

Previous Actor profiles: 

Aldo Bufi Landi

Cristina Gaioni

Luciano Marin

Jacques Berthier

Aldo Pini

Ursula Davis

Philippe Hersent

Elena Zareschi

Benito Stefanelli

Claudio Scarchilli

Musings!

Ursus (Samson Burke) using a man as a weapon in VENGEANCE OF URSUS (1961)

Tuesday, I showed a terrible scene from MACISTE IN KING SOLOMON'S MINES with Reg Park using a dummy instead of a real man in a similar scene. This is the way to do it. The men on the ground were hit by the body of their fellow soldier and the one soldier is about to be hit. It works well. In fact the entire movie is one of my favourite of the overlooked PEPLUM movies. Physically, Samson Burke is fine and does these stunts pretty well even if his acting is pretty limited. But overall, everything about this production works. It's filled with action scenes and Feats of strengths that Ursus has to overcome. It's well filmed. The cast is good. The sets, the costumes, everything clicks...and yet it's not one of the titles people would bring up as a favourite PEPLUM movie. I've watched it many times and will watch again many more times. It's a quintessential PEPLUM title. 

Behind-the-Scenes

John Richardson gets his costume ready on the set of ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. (1966)