Musings!

Alan Steel in HERCULES AGAINST ROME (1964) 

If someone asked me to show an image that sums up the PEPLUM genre, this one would be a good choice. It's a fun, rock's sock'em movie in with Alan is in top form and he's clearly enjoying himself. A lot of people will wonder: How can Hercules be against Rome when Hercules predates Rome? It is explained in the movie and, in a way, it's part of the never-ending Cinematic Confusion that's part of the genre. A strong man can be called Hercules without being the actual son of Jupiter (Zeus).  Steel is my second favourite actor, with Steve Reeves being the first. His actual name is Sergio Ciani but I rarely use it because I like reflecting the information/publicity of the times these movies were released. It's a cool name.

15% off ends tomorrow - BY THE GODS! issue 5

BY THE GODS! issue 5 is now available to purchase

15% OFF UNTIL TOMORROW - SEPTEMBER 25

It's all about Swashbucklers, pirates, heroes in breeches! The subject is huge so there's a lot of stuff to cover. There are two categories: Land Adventures and Seven Seas Adventures. I wrote that there are two movies that influenced each individual category. 

Click on the link below.

https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/3388773

Above: As seen on PINTEREST

Issue 4  

DISASTER HITS!

https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/3205057


Issue 3

TROJAN TALES

https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2963938


Issue 2

PEPLUM MOVIES PRIMER

https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2740217


Issue 1 

WHAT MADE HERCULES A HIT?

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

Behind-the-Scenes

Richard Harrison on the set of PERSEUS THE INVINCIBLE (1963) with girlfriend. Richard died last Friday. I'll have a full rundown of his career tomorrow or next week, time permitting. Sad. I liked him. 

Clip of the week: HERCULES AGAINST THE MONGOLS (1963)

Hercules (Mark Forest Maciste in the original version) against three fierce Mongols, played by Ken Clark, Nadir Moretti and Howard Ross. With José Greci and Maria Grazia Spina. Fun movie!

New PEPLUM Imagery

THE SON OF ROME

MEN OF PULP

HD Alert!

Gina Lollobrigida and Gérard Philipe in FANFAN LA TULIPE (1952) 

I got an HD copy of this fun movie. It's in colour and 4:3 aspect ratio in HD. My previous copy was not as impressive as this one. I wonder if it has a filter ala HERCULES Blu-ray filter? The scenes with Gina seem to have one. Maybe it was originally shot this way. Anyway, a great addition to the collection. 

List of PEPLUM movies in HD!

Same location, different films!

Same location seen in different films: Laghetto dell'EUR. Filmed when the artificial lake was emptied. The first film, from my record, that used it was THE QUEEN OF SHEBA. The director, Pietro Francisci, would use the same location for his other film, HERCULES (1958). 


THE QUEEN OF SHEBA (1952)

Starring Gino Leurini

HERCULES (1958)

Starring Steve Reeves, Mimmo Palmara, Sylva Koscina and Gabriele Antonini

 

HANNIBAL (1959)

Extras in these screenshots

THE GIANT OF MARATHON (1959)

Extras in these screenshots.

Musings!

Rik Battaglia and Joan Collins in ESTHER AND THE KING (1960) 

This movie is unique in the PEPLUM universe. It went into production just as a writers strike was looming and eventually occurred in Hollywood. The production moved to Italy and it suddenly became the final film we all know. Do I like it? Yes. There's a lot of stuff in it that's excellent. On the same hand, there's some stuff that fells rushed. Or not planned out. The production is good but not great. The move to Italy might have affected it. One things for sure, the cast changed radically, certainly the Italian cast like Rik. I doubt Rik was cast if the movie had stayed in Hollywood. So, the movie became a typical Italian one, which I have no issues with but I wonder how different it would have been if it hadn't moved due to the strike. Also, the film doesn't feel like a Raoul Walsh one. I love some of his other films, like THE REVOLT OF MAMIE STOVER (1956), which is seriously overlooked. That movie also stars Richard Egan, who plays the King in ESTHER. And the love story between Rik and Joan, and how things evolve when Esther ends up with the King (Egan). It's a bit on the superficial side. But even with these issues, I like it a lot. It just feels different or off at times. 

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Turkish poster of ROBIN HOOD AND THE PIRATES (1960) 

Nice, colourful artwork. 

Image of the week!

Delilah (Hedy Lamar) drops some potion in a cup of wine to be given to Samson in order to incapacitate him in SAMSON AND DELILAH (1949)

Lobby Cards Set: MISSIONE SABBIE ROVENTI (1966)

Lobby cards set of MISSION SABBIE ROVENTI starring Helga Liné and Howard Ross. This is a very rare movie. I've been trying to get a hold of it for decades. I finally got not one but two prints. This lobby cards set looks great and it is well presented. My only complaint is there is no close up of Howard Ross. But thumbs up! The movie was never translate into English so the title is MISSION SCORCHING SANDS or MISSION HOT SANDS.

Musings!

Ator (Miles O'Keeffe) is about to partake of a drink offered by Indun (Laura Gemser) in ATOR - THE FIGHTING EAGLE (1982)

I wonder what happens after this?

Seriously, this is one of the most popular PEPLUM clichés there is. Of course, Ator becomes weak and defenceless so Indun can partake of him. I'm thinking of adding a PEPLUM cliché page starting in the next BY THE GODS! magazine. This one would be right there at the top. People dismiss these ATOR movies but I like them. They follow every PEPLUM tropes and clichés known to man. I enjoy them even if I realize they're not the greatest cinematic achievements. They're entertaining and that's what matters. Miles fits the bill in terms of action star. And it's fun to watch Laura in in movie other than the adult stuff she mostly starred. Directed by Joe D'Amato. 

Behind-the-Scenes

Kit Harington on the set of POMPEII (2014)

BY THE GODS! issue 5 now available

BY THE GODS! issue 5 is now available to purchase

It's all about Swashbucklers, pirates, heroes in breeches! The subject is huge so there's a lot of stuff to cover. There are two categories: Land Adventures and Seven Seas Adventures. I wrote that there are two movies that influenced each individual category. 

Click on the link below.

https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/3388773

Above: As seen on PINTEREST

Issue 4  

DISASTER HITS!

https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/3205057


Issue 3

TROJAN TALES

https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2963938


Issue 2

PEPLUM MOVIES PRIMER

https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2740217


Issue 1 

WHAT MADE HERCULES A HIT?

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

Clip of the week: COLOSSUS AND THE HEADHUNTERS (1963)

Maciste, archeologist! With Kirk Morris and Demeter Bitenc in COLOSSUS AND THE HEADHUNTERS. Nice scene!

87k views on X (as seen Thursday afternoon)!

Funnies!

Paul Wynter and Mark Forest in MACISTE - THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD (1962)

HD Alert!

Lisa Gastoni and Jerome Courtland in QUEEN OF THE SEAS (1961) 

A pristine print for this fun Swashbuckler from Italy and directed by Umberto Lenzi. Streaming in Europe. Aside from some transition scenes, and Jerome's bad hair day, there are no issues to report here. The one who provided this version also added the English audio to it. The movie is in the latest issue of BY THE GODS! magazine under 'Female Trouble.'

Updated the page 'List of PEPLUM movies in HD' 

Germano Longo and Lisa Gastoni

Cristal clear image.

Then & Now: Michèlle Mercier

Michèlle Mercier in WOMEN OF DEVIL'S ISLAND (1962); A recent photo of the actress

Musings!

Rosanna Schiaffino is a bad babe in THE LONG SHIPS (1964) 

This movie is an oddity in the PEPLUM genre. Produced by Columbia Picture with a predominantly Hollywood cast, except for Rosanna. It was released relatively late, in 1964, just as the genre was petering out. It was directed by the legendary cinematographer Jack Cardiff, who didn't direct that many films. And he agreed to do a boisterous PEPLUM movie? This is the closest Hollywood has ever come to making an all out PEPLUM movie, along with ATLANTIS THE LOST CONTINENT (1961). Personally, I like it but I don't find the story, about the bell, compelling enough. By the one hour mark, my mind is drifting away. I don't mind Richard Widmark but a Viking hero he is not. Sydney Poitier was, by then, an established actor and as good as he is, he seems above it (like Widmark). The only one that seems to get it is Rosanna. Her role in this movie is essentially the same role she played in her very first film, ROLAND THE MIGHTY (1956). She was great in that and she's the best thing in this movie. Her expression here sums it up. She seems like she's the only one having fun. I wrote about ROLAND THE MIGHTY in the latest issue of BY THE GODS! magazine. THE LONG SHIPS is a mix of Vikings and Arabian adventure. Cardiff was the cinematographer on THE VKINGS (1958), the Kirk Douglas movie. Widmark sorta resembles Kirk. Did I already write that it's very over-the-top boisterous? 

PEPLUM Movie Poster

Italian poster of THE LONG SHIPS (1964) 

The portraits are very good but they made Richard Widmark look a bit too scraggly. 

Image of the week!

Aeneas (Steve Reeves) meets Achilles (Arturo Dominici) at the funeral of Patroclus in THE TROJAN HORSE (1961)

PEPLUM Movie Quotes

THE REVENGE OF IVANHOE (1965) starring Rik Van Nutter (Ivanhoe) and Gilda Lousek (Rowena)

Rowena: Softly, I beg you. There's a guard outside.

Ivanhoe: Yes, I know there is. That's why I came through the window.

Musings!

Atlas (Gordon Mitchell; Maciste in the original) helps with moving a huge barrel in ATLAS IN THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS (1961)

I love this movie and I love Feats of Strength but this scene sorta begs the question: how did they get those huge barrels on the cart in the first place if they need a strong man like Atlas to help with moving them around? If Atlas hadn't shown up how would they get down from the cart? Anyway, let's not think too much about it. Just enjoy the fun entertainment, and yes, this movie is entertaining.

Behind-the-Scenes

Jeffrey Hunter visits Debra Paget as she practices her dance number for their movie PRINCESS OF THE NILE (1954)

Clip of the week: THE LAST ROMAN (1968)

Welcome to Rome, where lions roam free...in THE LAST ROMAN (1968). With Robert Hoffmann and Ingrid Boulting.