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[[File:Maciste-MarkForest.jpg|thumb|200px|This poster from a 1961 [[Maciste]] film illustrates many people's expectations from films of this genre.]] |
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[[File:Maciste-MarkForest.jpg|thumb|200px|This poster from a 1961 [[Maciste]] film illustrates many people's expectations from films of this genre.]] |
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[[File:Bartolomeo Pagano - Maciste.JPG|frame|Bartolomeo Pagano as Maciste.]] |
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[[File:Bartolomeo Pagano - Maciste.JPG|frame|Bartolomeo Pagano as Maciste.]] |
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The [[Peplum]] (or '''pepla''' plural), also known as '''Sword-and-Sandal''', is a genre of largely Italian-made Historical or Biblical Epics that dominated the Italian film industry from 1957 to 1965, eventually being replaced in 1965 by the "[[Spaghetti Western]]". The pepla attempted to emulate, or compete with, the big budget Hollywood Historical Epics of the time, such as ''[[Spartacus (film)|Spartacus]]'', ''[[Samson and Delilah (1949 film)|Samson and Delilah]]'' and ''[[The Ten Commandments (1956 film)|The Ten Commandments]]'', just as the Spaghetti westerns were imitations of the Hollywood Western. |
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The [[Peplum]] (or '''pepla''' plural), also known as '''Sword-and-Sandal''', is a genre of largely Italian-made Historical or Biblical Epics that dominated the Italian film industry from 1957 to 1965, eventually being replaced in 1965 by the "[[Spaghetti Western]]". The pepla attempted to emulate, or compete with, the big budget Hollywood Historical Epics of the time, such as ''[[Spartacus (film)|Spartacus]]'', ''[[Samson and Delilah (1949 film)|Samson and Delilah]]'' and ''[[The Ten Commandments (1956 film)|The Ten Commandments]]'', just as the Spaghetti westerns were low-budget imitations of the Hollywood Western. The terms "peplum" (referring to the togas or robes which the ancient Romans wore) and "sword-and-sandal" were used in a condescending way by film critics. The peplum genre does not include Hollywood or British films such as "[[Clash of the Titans]]" or "[[King of Kings (1961 film)|King of Kings]]" (just as the "Spaghetti Western" genre obviously does not include Hollywood westerns such as "[[High Noon]]" or "[[The Outlaw Josey Wales]]"). Italian director [[Vittorio Cottafavi]] called the genre "Neo-Mythology" <ref>p.14 M. Winkler, Martin ''Troy: from Homer's Iliad to Hollywood Epic'' Wiley-Blackwell, 2007</ref>. |
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The terms "peplum" (referring to the togas or robes which the ancient Romans wore) and "sword-and-sandal" were used in a condescending way by film critics. Italian director [[Vittorio Cottafavi]] called the genre "Neo-Mythology" <ref>p.14 M. Winkler, Martin ''Troy: from Homer's Iliad to Hollywood Epic'' Wiley-Blackwell, 2007</ref>. |
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==Background== |
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==Background== |
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While Hollywood filmmakers, such as D. W. Griffith with his 1916 "Intolerance", peopled their historical epics with dramatic conflicts and realistic protagonists, the Peplum merely took a real [[historical]] or Biblical event and used it as a backdrop for a simplistic (albeit engrossing), comic book-like heroic adventure. The pepla are a specific class of Italian [[Adventure film|adventure]] or fantasy films that have subjects set in [[Bible|biblical]], [[medieval]] or [[classical antiquity]], often with contrived plots based very loosely on [[mythology]], [[Legend|legendary]] [[Greco-Roman]] history, or the contemporary cultures of the time, ([[Ancient Egypt|Egyptians]], [[Assyria]]ns, [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscans]], [[Minoan civilization|Minoans]], etc.). |
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Italy had produced pepla through the decades. |
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While Hollywood filmmakers, such as D. W. Griffith with his 1916 ''[[Intolerance (film)|Intolerance]]'', peopled their historical epics with dramatic conflicts and realistic protagonists, many of the Peplum merely took a real [[historical]] or Biblical event and used it as a backdrop for a simplistic (albeit engrossing), comic book-like heroic adventure. The pepla are a specific class of Italian [[Adventure film|adventure]] or fantasy films that have subjects set in [[Bible|biblical]], [[medieval]] or [[classical antiquity]], often with contrived plots based very loosely on [[mythology]], [[Legend|legendary]] [[Greco-Roman]] history, or the contemporary cultures of the time, ([[Ancient Egypt|Egyptians]], [[Assyria]]ns, [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscans]], [[Minoan civilization|Minoans]], etc.). |
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Most of the pepla featured a supernaturally strong muscleman type as the protagonist, such as [[Hercules]], [[Samson]], [[Goliath]], or Italy's own popular folk hero [[Maciste]]. These supermen often rescued captive princesses from tyrannical despots and fought mythological creatures. Not all of the films were fantasy-based however. Many of these films featured actual historical personalities (such as [[Julius Caesar]], [[Cleopatra]], [[Hannibal]], etc.), although great liberties were taken with the storylines. [[Gladiators]], pirates, [[Vikings]], and [[slaves]] rebelling against tyrannical [[Monarch|kings]] were also popular subjects. |
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Most of the pepla featured a supernaturally strong muscleman type as the protagonist, such as [[Hercules]], [[Samson]], [[Goliath]], or Italy's own popular folk hero [[Maciste]]. These supermen often rescued captive princesses from tyrannical despots and fought mythological creatures. Not all of the films were fantasy-based however. Many of these films featured actual historical personalities (such as [[Julius Caesar]], [[Cleopatra]], [[Hannibal]], etc.), although great liberties were taken with the storylines. [[Gladiators]], pirates, [[Vikings]], and [[slaves]] rebelling against tyrannical [[Monarch|kings]] were also popular subjects. |
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==Silent films== |
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The [[1914 in film|1914]] Italian silent film ''[[Cabiria]]'' was one of the first sword-and-sandal films to make use of a massively muscled character, [[Maciste]] (played by actor [[Bartolomeo Pagano]]) who served in this film as the hero's loyal sidekick. Maciste became the public's favorite character in the film however, and Pagano was called back to reprise the role. The Maciste character appeared in at least two dozen Italian silent films from 1915 to 1926, all of which featured a protagonist named Maciste although the films were set in many different time periods and geographical locations. When the peplum genre became popular again in 1957 due to the release of Steve Reeves' ''Hercules'', Italian filmmakers resurrected the 1920's Maciste character in a brand new 1960's sound film series (1960-1964), followed by Ursus, Samson, Goliath and various other mighty-muscled heroes. |
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The [[1914 in film|1914]] Italian silent film ''[[Cabiria]]'' was one of the first sword-and-sandal films to make use of a massively muscled character, [[Maciste]] (played by actor [[Bartolomeo Pagano]]) who served in this film as the hero's loyal sidekick. Maciste became the public's favorite character in the film however, and Pagano was called back to reprise the role. The Maciste character appeared in at least two dozen Italian silent films from 1915 to 1926, all of which featured a protagonist named Maciste although the films were set in many different time periods and geographical locations. When the peplum genre became popular again in 1957 due to the release of Steve Reeves' HERCULES, Italian filmmakers resurrected the 1920's Maciste character in a brand new 1960's sound film series (1960-1964), followed by Ursus, Samson, Goliath and various other mighty-muscled heroes. |
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Although Italy had always produced pepla through the decades (such as 1954's classic "Ulysses"), the peplum mania really began with the 1957 release of ''[[Hercules (1958 film)|Hercules]]'', starring [[United States|American]] [[bodybuilding|bodybuilder]] [[Steve Reeves]]. This spawned the [[1959 in film|1959]] sequel ''[[Hercules Unchained]]'', and literally dozens of low-budget imitations followed, starring similar bodybuilder stars such as [[Reg Park]], [[Gordon Scott]], [[Mark Forest]], [[Brad Harris]], [[Dan Vadis]], and Alan Steel. European audiences tended to prefer an Anglo-American in the lead, and Italian bodybuilders would adopt English pseudonyms for the screen ([[Sergio Ciani]] became Alan Steel, for example). |
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==The Maciste silent film series (1914–1927)== |
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*''Cabiria'' (1914) introduced the Maciste character |
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*''Maciste'' (1915) aka "Marvelous Maciste" |
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*''Maciste bersagliere'' ("Maciste the Ranger", 1916) |
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*''Maciste alpino'' ("Maciste The Warrior", 1916) |
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*''Maciste atleta'' ("Maciste the Athlete", 1917) |
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*''Maciste medium'' ("Maciste the Clairvoyant", 1917) |
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*''Maciste poliziotto'' ("Maciste the Detective", 1917) |
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*''Maciste turista'' ("Maciste the Tourist", 1917) |
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*''Maciste sonnambulo'' ("Maciste the Sleepwalker", 1918) |
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*''La Rivincita di Maciste'' ("Maciste's Revenge", 1919) |
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*''Il Testamento di Maciste'' ("Maciste's Will", 1919) |
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*''Il Viaggio di Maciste'' ("Maciste's Journey", 1919) |
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*''Maciste I'' ("Maciste the First", 1919) |
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*''Maciste contro la morte'' ("Maciste Vs Death", 1919) |
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*''Maciste innamorato'' ("Maciste in Love", 1919) |
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*''Maciste in vacanza'' ("Maciste on Vacation", 1920) |
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*''Maciste salvato dalle acque'' ("Maciste, Rescued from the Waters", 1920) |
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*''Maciste e la figlia del re della Plata'' ("Maciste and the Silver King's Daughter", 1922) |
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*''Maciste und die Japanerin'' ("Maciste and the Japanese", 1922) |
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*''Maciste contro Maciste'' ("Maciste Vs Maciste", 1923) |
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*''Maciste und die chinesische truhe'' ("Maciste and the Chinese Trunk", 1923) |
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*''Maciste e il nipote di America'' ("Maciste's American Nephew", 1924) |
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*''Maciste imperatore'' ("Maciste the Emperor", 1924) |
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*''Maciste contro lo sceicco'' ("Maciste Vs the Sheik", 1925) |
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*''Maciste all'inferno'' ("Maciste in Hell", 1926) |
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*''Maciste nella gabbia dei leoni'' ("Maciste in the Lions' Den", 1926) |
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*''il Gigante delle Dolemite'' ("The Giant From the Dolomite", 1927) |
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==Sound film era== |
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The Italian film industry released several historical films such as the large scale ''[[Scipione l'africano]]'' (1937). |
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In 1949, the postwar Italian film industry remade ''Fabiola'' that had been filmed as a silent film in 1913 and 1918. The film was released in the United Kingdom and United States in 1951 in an edited and Engish dubbed version. |
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==1950s== |
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During the 1950s a series of popular historical films shot in Italy were released. |
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In 1950 [[MGM]] producer [[Sam Zimbalist]] cleverly used the lower production costs, use of frozen funds and the expertise of the Italian film industry to shoot the popular large scale epic ''[[Quo Vadis (1951 film)|Quo Vadis]]'' in Rome. In addition to its fictional account linking the [[Great Fire of Rome]], the [[Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire]] and Emperor [[Nero]] the film featured a mighty strongman named [[Ursus (film character)|Ursus]]. |
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[[Riccardo Freda]]'s ''[[Sins of Rome]]'' AKA ''Spartacus'' was filmed in 1953 and released by [[RKO]] in an edited version dubbed into English the following year. Unlike ''Quo Vadis'' there were no American actors or production crew. |
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The Jack Palance film ''[[Attila (1954 film)|Attila]]'' (directed by [[Pietro Francisci]] in 1954), the Kirk Douglas epic ''[[Ulysses (1955 film)|Ulysses]]'' (directed by [[Mario Camerini]] and an uncredited [[Mario Bava]] in 1954) and ''[[Helen of Troy (film)|Helen of Troy]]'' (directed by [[Robert Wise]] with [[Serio Leone]] as an uncredited [[second unit director]] in 1955) were the first of the big peplum films of the 1950's. |
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As a follow up to ''Attila'' Francisci sought to make a film about Hercules but searched without success for a physcially convicing but experienced actor. His daughter spotted [[United States|American]] [[bodybuilding|bodybuilder]] [[Steve Reeves]] in the film ''[[Athena (film)|Athena]]'' and production started. <ref>An Interview with Steve Reeves'' from ''The Perfect Vision Magazine'' Volume 6 Issue #22 July 1994</ref> |
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The genre's instantaneous growth began with the 1957 release of ''[[Hercules (1958 film)|Hercules]]'', an Italian and French [[international co-production]]. starring Reeves that was hyped by Joseph E. Levine's massive publicty campaign. This spawned the [[1959 in film|1959]] sequel ''[[Hercules Unchained]]'', [[Paramount Pictures]] re-release of [[Cecil B. DeMille]]'s ''[[Samson and Delilah (1949 film)|Samson and Delilah]]'' and literally dozens of imitations followed. These starred similar bodybuilder stars such as [[Reg Park]], [[Gordon Scott]], [[Mark Forest]], [[Brad Harris]], [[Dan Vadis]], and Alan Steel. European audiences tended to prefer an Anglo-American in the lead, and Italian bodybuilders would adopt English pseudonyms for the screen ([[Sergio Ciani]] became Alan Steel, for example). |
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In the formulaic plots common to many of the films, two women vied for the affection of the bodybuilder hero: the good love interest (a [[damsel in distress]] needing rescue), and an evil queen who served as a [[femme fatale]]. The films often featured an ambitious ruler who would ascend the throne by murdering whoever stood in his way, and often it was only the muscular hero who could stop him. Most of the films involved an impending clash between two warring populations, one civilized and the other evilly barbaric, thus many pepla begin with an opening scene of a peaceful, defenseless village being razed to the ground by a wild barbarian horde. For their musical content, most films contained a well-choreographed belly-dancing scene or some colorful ballet, meant to underline the [[paganism|pagan]] [[decadence]] of the villains. The contrived plots, poorly [[overdub]]bed [[dialogue]], novice acting skills of the bodybuilder leads, and primitive [[special effects]] that were often inadequate to depict the [[legendary creature]]s on screen all conspire to give these films a certain [[camp (style)|camp]] appeal now. |
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In the formulaic plots common to many of the films, two women vied for the affection of the bodybuilder hero: the good love interest (a [[damsel in distress]] needing rescue), and an evil queen who served as a [[femme fatale]]. The films often featured an ambitious ruler who would ascend the throne by murdering whoever stood in his way, and often it was only the muscular hero who could stop him. Most of the films involved an impending clash between two warring populations, one civilized and the other evilly barbaric, thus many pepla begin with an opening scene of a peaceful, defenseless village being razed to the ground by a wild barbarian horde. For their musical content, most films contained a well-choreographed belly-dancing scene or some colorful ballet, meant to underline the [[paganism|pagan]] [[decadence]] of the villains. The contrived plots, poorly [[overdub]]bed [[dialogue]], novice acting skills of the bodybuilder leads, and primitive [[special effects]] that were often inadequate to depict the [[legendary creature]]s on screen all conspire to give these films a certain [[camp (style)|camp]] appeal now. |
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To be sure, however, many of the films enjoyed widespread popularity among very general audiences, and had production values that were typical for popular films of the day. Although many of the bigger budget pepla were released theatrically in the USA, fourteen of them were released directly to [[Embassy Pictures]] [[television]] in a syndicated TV package called ''[[The Sons of Hercules]]''. The movies were turned into a [[Film series|series]] of sorts by splicing on the same opening title song and newly-designed narration that desperately attempted to link whoever the hero of the film was to the Hercules Mythos, as few American viewers had a familiarity with Italian film heroes such as Maciste or Ursus, etc. These films ran on Saturday afternoons and late nights in the 1960s. Often ridiculed for their low budgets and bad English dubbing, several of these films have been subjects of the ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' treatment. |
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To be sure, however, many of the films enjoyed widespread popularity among very general audiences, and had production values that were typical for popular films of the day. Although many of the bigger budget pepla were released theatrically in the USA, fourteen of them were released directly to [[American International Pictures]] [[television]] in a syndicated TV package called ''[[The Sons of Hercules]]''. The movies were turned into a [[Film series|series]] of sorts by splicing on the same opening title song and newly-designed narration that desperately attempted to link whoever the hero of the film was to the Hercules Mythos, as few American viewers had a familiarity with Italian film heroes such as Maciste or Ursus, etc. These films ran on Saturday afternoons in the 1960s. Often ridiculed for their low budgets and bad English dubbing, several of these films have been subjects of the ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' treatment. |
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==Hercules series (1957–1965)== |
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==Hercules series (1957–1965)== |
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A series of 19 Italian Hercules movies were made in the late 50's and early 60's. The films were all sequels to the fantastically successful Steve Reeves peplum "Hercules" (1957). The actors who played Hercules in these films were [[Steve Reeves]], [[Gordon Scott]], Kirk Morris, [[Mickey Hargitay]], [[Mark Forest]], [[Alan Steel]], [[Dan Vadis]], [[Brad Harris]], [[Reg Park]], [[Peter Lupus]] (billed as [[Rock Stevens]]) and Michael Lane. The films are listed below by their American release titles, and the titles in parentheses are the original Italian titles with English translation. (Dates shown are actual production dates, not theatrical release dates.) |
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A series of 19 Italian Hercules movies were made in the late 50's and early 60's. The films were all sequels to the fantastically successful Steve Reeves peplum "Hercules" (1957). The actors who played Hercules in these films were [[Steve Reeves]], [[Gordon Scott]], Kirk Morris, [[Mickey Hargitay]], [[Mark Forest]], [[Alan Steel]], [[Dan Vadis]], [[Brad Harris]], [[Reg Park]], [[Peter Lupus]] (billed as [[Rock Stevens]]) and Michael Lane. The films are listed below by their American release titles, and the titles in parentheses are the original Italian titles with English translation. (Dates shown are actual production dates, not theatrical release dates.) |
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*''Hercules Against the Sons of the Sun'' (''Ercole contro i figli del sole'', 1964) |
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*''Hercules Against the Sons of the Sun'' (''Ercole contro i figli del sole'', 1964) |
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*''Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon'' (''Ercole contro i tiranni di Babilonia'', 1964) |
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*''Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon'' (''Ercole contro i tiranni di Babilonia'', 1964) |
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*''[[Samson and His Mighty Challenge]]'' (''Ercole, Sansone, Maciste e Ursus: gli invincibili''/ ''Hercules, Samson, Maciste and Ursus: The Invincibles'', 1964) (a.k.a. ''Combate dei Gigantes'' or ''Le Grand Defi'') |
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*''Samson and the Mighty Challenge'' (''Ercole, Sansone, Maciste e Ursus: gli invincibili''/ ''Hercules, Samson, Maciste and Ursus: The Invincibles'', 1964) (a.k.a. ''Combate dei Gigantes'' or ''Le Grand Defi'') |
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*''Hercules and the Princess of Troy'' (No Italian title, 1965)(a.k.a. ''Hercules vs. the Sea Monster'') This U.S./ Italian co-production was made as a pilot for a Charles Band-produced TV series that never materialized & it was later distributed as a feature film. |
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*''Hercules and the Princess of Troy'' (No Italian title, 1965)(a.k.a. ''Hercules vs. the Sea Monster'') This U.S./ Italian co-production was made as a pilot for a Charles Band-produced TV series that never materialized & it was later distributed as a feature film. |
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*''Hercules, the Avenger'' (''Sfida dei giganti''/''Challenge of the Giants'', 1965) This film was composed mostly of stock footage from the two 1961 Reg Park Hercules films. |
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*''Hercules, the Avenger'' (''Sfida dei giganti''/''Challenge of the Giants'', 1965) This film was composed mostly of stock footage from the two 1961 Reg Park Hercules films. |
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* ''Hercules and the Masked Rider'' was actually a retitled Goliath movie. (See "Goliath" section below) |
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* ''Hercules and the Masked Rider'' was actually a retitled Goliath movie. (See "Goliath" section below) |
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None of these films in their original Italian versions involved the Hercules character in any way. Likewise, most of the ''Sons of Hercules'' movies shown on American TV in the 1960s had nothing to do with Hercules in their original Italian incarnations. (See also "THE THREE STOOGES MEET HERCULES" (1962) an American-made genre parody starring peplum star Samson Burke as Hercules.) |
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None of these films in their original Italian versions involved the Hercules character in any way. Likewise, most of the ''Sons of Hercules'' movies shown on American TV in the 1960s had nothing to do with Hercules in their original Italian incarnations. (See also "THE THREE STOOGES MEET HERCULES" (1962) an American-made genre parody starring peplum star Samson Burke as Hercules.) |
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==Maciste series (1960–1965)== |
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==Maciste series (1960–1965)== |
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{{main|Maciste}} |
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{{main|Maciste}} |
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There were a total of 25 Maciste films from the 1960s peplum craze (not counting the two dozen silent Maciste films made in Italy pre-1930). When the two Steve Reeves ''Hercules'' films were so successful, Italian producers decided to revive the old silent film character of Maciste in a new series of sound movies. The first title listed for each film is the film's original Italian title along with its English translation, while the U.S. release title follows in parentheses. (Note how many times Maciste's name in the Italian title is altered to an entirely different name in the American title): |
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There were a total of 25 Maciste films from the 1960s peplum craze (not counting the two dozen silent Maciste films made in Italy pre-1930). When the 2 Steve Reeves HERCULES films were so successful, Italian producers decided to revive the old silent film character of Maciste in a new series of sound movies. The first title listed for each film is the film's original Italian title along with its English translation, while the U.S. release title follows in parentheses. (Note how many times Maciste's name in the Italian title is altered to an entirely different name in the American title): |
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* ''Maciste nella valle dei re''/''Maciste in the Valley of the Kings'' (''Son of Samson'', 1960) starring Mark Forest |
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* ''Maciste nella valle dei re''/''Maciste in the Valley of the Kings'' (''Son of Samson'', 1960) starring Mark Forest |
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* ''Maciste all'inferno''/''Maciste in Hell'' (''The Witch's Curse'', 1962) starring Kirk Morris |
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* ''Maciste all'inferno''/''Maciste in Hell'' (''The Witch's Curse'', 1962) starring Kirk Morris |
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* ''Il trionfo di Maciste''/''The Triumph of Maciste'' (''Triumph of the Son of Hercules'', 1962) starring Kirk Morris |
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* ''Il trionfo di Maciste''/''The Triumph of Maciste'' (''Triumph of the Son of Hercules'', 1962) starring Kirk Morris |
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* ''[[Maciste contro i mostri]]''/''Maciste vs. the Monsters'' (''[[Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hercules]]'', 1962) starring Reg Lewis |
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* ''Maciste contro i mostri''/''Maciste vs. the Monsters'' (''Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hercules'', 1962) starring Reg Lewis |
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* ''Totò contro Maciste'' (''Totò vs Maciste'', 1962) starring Samson Burke; this was a comedy/satire (part of the Italian "Toto" film series) and was never distributed in the USA; it is apparently not available in English |
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* ''Totò contro Maciste'' (''Totò vs Maciste'', 1962) starring Samson Burke; this was a comedy/satire (part of the Italian "Toto" film series) and was never distributed in the USA; it is apparently not available in English |
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* ''Maciste, il gladiatore piu forte del mondo''/''Maciste, the World's Strongest Gladiator'' (''Colossus of the Arena'', 1962) starring Mark Forest |
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* ''Maciste, il gladiatore piu forte del mondo''/''Maciste, the World's Strongest Gladiator'' (''Colossus of the Arena'', 1962) starring Mark Forest |
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* ''Maciste il Vendicatore dei Mayas''/''Maciste, Avenger of the Mayans'' (No American title, 1965) (Note* This Maciste film was made up almost entirely of re-edited stock footage from 2 older Maciste films, ''Maciste contro i mostri'' and ''Maciste contro i cacciatori di teste'', so Maciste switches from Kirk Morris to Reg Lewis in various scenes; this movie is very scarce since it was never distributed in the USA and is not available in English.) |
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* ''Maciste il Vendicatore dei Mayas''/''Maciste, Avenger of the Mayans'' (No American title, 1965) (Note* This Maciste film was made up almost entirely of re-edited stock footage from 2 older Maciste films, ''Maciste contro i mostri'' and ''Maciste contro i cacciatori di teste'', so Maciste switches from Kirk Morris to Reg Lewis in various scenes; this movie is very scarce since it was never distributed in the USA and is not available in English.) |
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Sidenote - In 1973, the bizarre Spanish cult film director Jesus Franco knocked off two low-budget Maciste films which were an odd mix of fantasy, adventure and eroticism. The films were called ''The Erotic Exploits of Maciste in Atlantis'' and ''Maciste vs The Amazon Queen'' (both starring Val Davis as Maciste). The films had almost identical casts, and appear to have been shot and edited simultaneously. These two (apparently lost) films were not connected in any way with the 1960's Italian Maciste series. |
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Sidenote - In 1973, the bizarre Spanish cult film director Jesus Franco knocked off two low-budget Maciste films which were an odd mix of fantasy, adventure and eroticism. The films were called ''The Erotic Exploits of Maciste in Atlantis'' and ''Maciste vs The Amazon Queen'' (both starring Val Davis as Maciste). The films had almost identical casts, and appear to have been shot and edited simultaneously. These two (apparently lost) films were not connected in any way with the 1960's Italian Maciste series. |
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==Ursus series (1961–1964)== |
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==Ursus series (1961–1964)== |
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{{main|Ursus (film character)}} |
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{{main|Ursus (film character)}} |
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* ''Ursus, Son of Hercules'' (''Ursus'') 1961, starring Ed Fury (a.k.a. ''Mighty Ursus'' in England) |
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* ''Ursus, Son of Hercules'' (''Ursus'') 1961, starring Ed Fury (a.k.a. ''Mighty Ursus'' in England) |
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* ''Mole Men vs the Son of Hercules'' (''Maciste, The Strongest Man in the World'') 1962, starring Mark Forest |
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* ''Mole Men vs the Son of Hercules'' (''Maciste, The Strongest Man in the World'') 1962, starring Mark Forest |
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* ''[[Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hercules]]'' (''Maciste vs the Monsters'') 1962, starring Reg Lewis |
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* ''Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hercules'' (''Maciste vs the Monsters'') 1962, starring Reg Lewis |
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* ''Venus Against the Son of Hercules'' (''Mars, God Of War'') 1962, starring Roger Browne |
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* ''Venus Against the Son of Hercules'' (''Mars, God Of War'') 1962, starring Roger Browne |
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* ''Triumph of the Son of Hercules'' (''The Triumph of Maciste'') 1962, starring Kirk Morriso |
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* ''Triumph of the Son of Hercules'' (''The Triumph of Maciste'') 1962, starring Kirk Morriso |
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* ''Son of Hercules in the Land of Darkness'' (''Hercules The Invincible'') 1964, starring Dan Vadis |
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* ''Son of Hercules in the Land of Darkness'' (''Hercules The Invincible'') 1964, starring Dan Vadis |
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* ''The Devil of the Desert vs the Son of Hercules'' (''Anthar the Invincible'') 1964, (aka "The Slave Merchants" or "Soraya, Queen of the Desert") starring Kirk Morris, directed by Antonio Margheriti |
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* ''The Devil of the Desert vs the Son of Hercules'' (''Anthar the Invincible'') 1964, (aka "The Slave Merchants" or "Soraya, Queen of the Desert") starring Kirk Morris, directed by Antonio Margheriti |
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==Italian gladiator movies, 1948–1965== |
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==Italian gladiator movies, 1948–1965== |
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Inspired by the success of ''[[Spartacus (1960 film)|Spartacus]]'', there were a number of Italian peplums that heavily emphasized the gladiatorial arena in their plots, with it becoming almost a peplum sub-genre in itself; One group of supermen known as "The Ten Gladiators" appeared in a trilogy, all three films starring Dan Vadis in the lead role. |
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Inspired by the success of ''[[Spartacus (1960 film)|Spartacus]]'', there were a number of Italian peplums that heavily emphasized the gladiatorial arena in their plots, with it becoming almost a peplum sub-genre in itself; One group of supermen known as "The Ten Gladiators" appeared in a trilogy, all three films starring Dan Vadis in the lead role. |
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* ''Seven Rebel Gladiators'' (1965) a.k.a. ''Seven Against All'', starring Roger Browne |
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* ''Seven Rebel Gladiators'' (1965) a.k.a. ''Seven Against All'', starring Roger Browne |
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* ''Seven Slaves Against the World'' (1965) a.k.a. ''Seven Slaves Against Rome'', a.k.a. ''The Strongest Slaves in the World'', starring Roger Browne & Gordon Mitchell |
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* ''Seven Slaves Against the World'' (1965) a.k.a. ''Seven Slaves Against Rome'', a.k.a. ''The Strongest Slaves in the World'', starring Roger Browne & Gordon Mitchell |
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==Steve Reeves Pepla (in chronological order of production)== |
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==Steve Reeves Pepla (in chronological order of production)== |
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* See Main Page [[Steve Reeves]] |
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* See Main Page [[Steve Reeves]] |
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* ''[[Hercules Unchained]]'' (1959) (''Hercules and the Queen of Lydia'') |
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* ''[[Hercules Unchained]]'' (1959) (''Hercules and the Queen of Lydia'') |
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* ''[[The Giant of Marathon]]'' (1959) (''The Battle of Marathon'') |
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* ''[[The Giant of Marathon]]'' (1959) (''The Battle of Marathon'') |
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* ''[[Goliath and the Barbarians]]'' (1959) (''Terror of the Barbarians'') |
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* ''Goliath and the Barbarians'' (1959) (''Terror of the Barbarians'') |
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* ''[[The Last Days of Pompeii]]'' (1959) (''The Last Days of Pompeii'') |
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* ''[[The Last Days of Pompeii]]'' (1959) (''The Last Days of Pompeii'') |
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* ''[[The White Warrior]]'' (1959) (''Hadji Murad, The White Devil'') directed by [[Riccardo Freda]] |
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* ''The White Warrior'' (1959) (''Hadji Murad, The White Devil'') directed by [[Riccardo Freda]] |
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* ''[[Morgan, the Pirate]]'' (1960) (''Morgan, the Pirate'') |
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* ''[[Morgan, the Pirate]]'' (1960) (''Morgan, the Pirate'') |
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* ''The Thief of Baghdad'' (1961) (''The Thief of Baghdad'') |
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* ''The Thief of Baghdad'' (1961) (''The Thief of Baghdad'') |
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* ''The Trojan Horse'' (1961) (''The Trojan War'') |
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* ''The Trojan Horse'' (1961) (''The Trojan War'') |
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* ''[[Duel of the Titans]]'' (1961) (''Romulus And Remus'') |
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* ''Duel of the Titans'' (1961) (''Romulus And Remus'') |
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* ''The Slave'' (1962) (''Son of [[Spartacus]]'') |
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* ''The Slave'' (1962) (''Son of [[Spartacus]]'') |
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* ''[[The Avenger (1962 film)|The Avenger]]'' (1962) (''The Legend Of Aeneas'') a.k.a. ''The Last Glory of Troy'' (sequel to "The Trojan Horse" (1961)) |
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* ''The Avenger'' (1962) (''The Legend Of Aeneas'') a.k.a. ''The Last Glory of Troy'' (sequel to "The Trojan Horse" (1961)) |
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* ''[[Sandokan the Great]]'' (1964) (''Sandokan, the Tiger of Mompracem'') directed by [[Umberto Lenzi]] |
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* ''[[Sandokan the Great]]'' (1964) (''Sandokan, the Tiger of Mompracem'') directed by [[Umberto Lenzi]] |
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* ''The Pirates of Malaysia'' (1964) (''The Pirates of Malaysia'') directed by Umberto Lenzi, a.k.a. ''Pirates of the Seven Seas'' (sequel to "Sandokan the Great") |
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* ''The Pirates of Malaysia'' (1964) (''The Pirates of Malaysia'') directed by Umberto Lenzi, a.k.a. ''Pirates of the Seven Seas'' (sequel to "Sandokan the Great") |
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==Other (non-series) Italian pepla == |
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There were many 1960's Italian pepla that did not feature a major superhero (such as Hercules, Maciste or Samson), and as such they fall into a sort of miscellaneous category. (They do however feature well-known characters such as Ali Baba, Julius Caesar, Ulysses, Cleopatra, The Three Musketeers, Theseus, Perseus, Achilles, Robin Hood, [[Sandokan]], El Cid, etc.). Although the Kirk Douglas epic ''Ulysses'' (1954) was the first of the big peplum films of the 1950's, it was Steve Reeves' "Hercules" (1957) that sparked the genre's instantaneous growth. |
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===Other (non-series) Italian pepla=== |
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There were many 1960's Italian pepla that did not feature a major superhero (such as Hercules, Maciste or Samson), and as such they fall into a sort of miscellaneous category. Many were of the '''''Capa e spada''''' ([[swashbuckler]]) variety, though they often feature well-known characters such as Ali Baba, Julius Caesar, Ulysses, Cleopatra, The Three Musketeers, Theseus, Perseus, Achilles, Robin Hood, [[Sandokan]], El Cid, etc. |
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==Greek Mythology== |
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''[[The Avenger (1962 film)|The Avenger]]'' (1962) <br> |
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''[[Il Colosso di Rodi|The Colossus of Rhodes]]'' (1960) directed by Sergio Leone <br> |
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''[[Conqueror of Atlantis]]'' (1965) starring Kirk Morris <br> |
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''[[Damon and Pythias (film)|Damon and Pythias]] ''(1962) Guy Williams <br> |
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''[[The Fury of Achilles]]'' (1962) Gordon Mitchell <br> |
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''[[Giants of Thessaly]]'' (1960) directed by Riccardo Freda <br> |
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''[[Helen of Troy (film)|Helen of Troy]]'' directed by Robert Wise <br> |
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''[[The Lion of Thebes]]'' (1964) a.k.a. ''Helen of Troy'', Mark Forest <br> |
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''[[Mars, God of War]]'' (1962) a.k.a. ''Venus Against the Son of Hercules'' <br> |
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''[[The Minotaur (1960 film)|The Minotaur]]'' (1961) a.k.a. ''Theseus Against the Minotaur''<br> |
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''[[My Son, The Hero]]'' (1961) a.k.a. ''Arrivano i Titani'', a.k.a. ''The Titans'' <br> |
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''[[The Odyssey (film)|The Odyessy]]'' (1968) Cyclops segment directed by Mario Bava; Samson Burke played Polyphemus the Cyclops <br> |
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''[[Perseus the Invincible]]'' (1962) a.k.a. ''Medusa Vs. the Son of Hercules'' <br> |
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''[[Seven from Thebes]]'' (1964) André Lawrence <br> |
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''[[Ulysses (1955 film)|Ulysses]]'' (1954) starring Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn <br> |
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''[[Vulcan, Son of Jupiter]]'' (1960) Gordon Mitchell |
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==Vikings== |
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Here is a list of the best-known titles: |
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With the popularity of the 1958 film ''[[The Vikings (1958 film)|The Vikings]]'', the American television series ''[[Tales of the Vikings]]'' (filmed in Germany) and interest in the archeolgical studies of [[Vinland]], Italy made some Viking films. |
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''[[Erik the Conqueror]]'' (1961) a.k.a. Gli Invasori/ The Invaders, directed by Mario Bava, starring Cameron Mitchell <br> |
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''[[Last of the Vikings]]'' (1961) starring Cameron Mitchell & Broderick Crawford <br> |
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''[[The Tartars]]'' (1962) Victor Mature <br> |
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''[[Knives of the Avenger]]'' (1966) Cameron Mitchell <br> |
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==Biblical== |
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''[[David and Goliath (1960 film)|David and Goliath]]'' (1960) Orson Welles <br> |
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''[[Herod the Great]]'' (1958) Edmund Purdom <br> |
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''[[Jacob, the Man Who Fought with God]]'' (1964) Giorgio Cerioni <br> |
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''[[The Old Testament (1962 film)|The Old Testament]]'' (1962) Brad Harris <br> |
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''[[Pontius Pilate (1962 film)|Pontius Pilate]]'' (1962) Jean Marais <br> |
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''[[The Queen of Sheba]]'' (1952) Leonora Ruffo <br> |
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''[[Samson and Gideon]]'' (1965) Fernando Rey <br> |
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''[[Saul and David]]'' (1963) Gianni Garko <br> |
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''[[The Sword and the Cross]]'' (1958) a.k.a. ''Mary Magdalene'' Gianna Maria Canale |
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==Ancient Rome== |
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''[[Alone Against Rome]]'' (1962) Lang Jeffries <br> |
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''[[Brennus, Enemy of Rome]]'' (1964) a.k.a. ''Battle of the Valiant'', starring Gordon Mitchell <br> |
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''[[The Burning of Rome]]'' (1963) a.k.a. ''The Magnificent Adventurer'' Brett Halsey <br> |
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''[[Caesar Against the Pirates]]'' (1962) Gordon Mitchell <br> |
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''[[Caesar, the Conquerer]]'' (1963) starring Cameron Mitchell, Rik Battaglia <br> |
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''[[Carthage in Flames]]'' (1960) starring Pierre Brasseur, Anne Heywood, José Suárez <br> |
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''[[The Centurion (1961 film)|The Centurion]]'' (1962) a.k.a. ''The Conqueror of Corinth'' <br> |
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''[[Constantine and the Cross]]'' (1960) a.k.a. Constantine the Great, starring Cornel Wilde <br> |
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''[[Coriolanus, Hero Without a Country]]'' (1963) Gordon Scott <br> |
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''[[Duel of Champions]]'' (1961) a.k.a. ''[[Horatio and Curiazi]]'', Alan Ladd <br> |
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''[[Duel of the Titans]]'' (1962) Steve Reeves and Gordon Scott <br> |
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''[[The Destruction of Herculaneum]]'' (1962) Brad Harris <br> |
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''[[Fabiola (film)|Fabiola]]'' (1948) a.k.a. ''The Fighting Gladiator'' <br> |
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''[[Fire Over Rome]]'' (1963) Carl Möhner <br> |
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''[[Giants of Rome]]'' (1963) directed by Antonio Margheriti, starring Richard Harrison <br> |
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''[[Gladiator of Rome]]'' (1962) Gordon Scott <br> |
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''[[Gold for the Caesars]]'' (1963) Jeffrey Hunter <br> |
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''[[Hannibal (1959 film)|Hannibal]]'' (1959) Victor Mature <br> |
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''[[Hero of Rome]]'' (1964) a.k.a. ''The Colossus of Rome'', Gordon Scott <br> |
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''[[The Last Days of Pompeii (1959 film)|The Last Days of Pompeii]]'' (1959) Steve Reeves <br> |
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''[[Revak the Rebel]]'' (1962) Jack Palance <br> |
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''[[Revenge of the Barbarians]]'' (1960) Anthony Steele <br> |
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''[[Revolt of the Slaves]]'' (1961) Rhonda Fleming, Lang Jeffries <br> |
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''[[Revolt of the Praetorians]]'' (1965) a.k.a. The Invincible Warriors, starring Richard Harrison <br> |
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''[[Rome Against Rome]]'' (1963) a.k.a. War of the Zombies <br> |
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''[[Romulus and the Sabines]]'' (1961) Roger Moore <br> |
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''[[The Pagans|The Sack of Rome]]'' (1960) a.k.a. The Barbarians, a.k.a. The Pagans <br> |
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''[[Quo Vadis (1951 film)|Quo Vadis]]'' (1950) Robert Taylor assistant director Sergio Leone<br> |
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''[[The Secret Seven (1965 film)|The Secret Seven]]'' (1965) a.k.a. The Invincible Seven <br> |
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''[[The Sign of Rome]]'' (1959) Anita Ekberg <br> |
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''[[Sins of Rome]]'' (1952) a.k.a. Spartacus, directed by Riccardo Freda <br> |
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''[[The Slave of Rome]]'' (1960) starring Guy Madison |
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==Ancient Egyptian== |
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* ''Adventurer of Tortuga'' (1965) starring Guy Madison |
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With the interest in the Elizabeth Taylor ''[[Cleopatra (1963 film)|Cleopatra]]'' film shot in Rome, several Italian films sought to ride its wave of publicity. 20th Century Fox bought the rights for two of them to keep them out of release<ref>p.173 Hatchuel, Sarah ''Shakespeare and the Cleopatra/Caesar Intertext: Sequel, Conflation, Remake'' Rowman & Littlefield, 16/07/2011</ref> |
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* ''Ali Baba and the Sacred Crown'' (1962) a.k.a. ''The Seven Tasks of Ali Baba'', starring Richard Lloyd |
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* ''Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens'' (1963) a.k.a. ''Sinbad Vs. The Seven Saracens'', starring Gordon Mitchell |
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''[[Cleopatra's Daughter]]'' (1960) starring Debra Paget <br> |
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* ''Anthar, The Invincible'' (1964) a.k.a. ''Devil of the Desert vs the Son of Hercules'', starring Kirk Morris, directed by Antonio Margheriti |
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''[[La donna dei faraoni]]'' (1960) with John Drew Barrymore<br> |
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''[[Legions of the Nile]]'' (1959) starring Linda Cristal <br> |
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* ''Attack of the Moors'' (1959) a.k.a. ''The Kings of France'' |
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''[[A Queen for Caesar]]'' (1962) Pascale Petit <br> |
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* ''Attack of the Normans'' (1962) a.k.a. ''The Normans'', starring Cameron Mitchell |
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* ''Avenger of the Seven Seas'' (1961) starring Richard Harrison |
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''[[Nefertiti, regina del Nilo|Queen of the Nile]]'' (1961) a.k.a. ''Nefertiti''; Jeanne Crain, Vincent Price<br> |
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* ''The Black Archer'' (1959) |
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* ''The Black Devil'' (1957) starring Gerard Landry |
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==Babylon== |
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* ''The Black Duke'' (1963) Cameron Mitchell |
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* ''Ali Baba and the Sacred Crown'' (1962) a.k.a. ''The Seven Tasks of Ali Baba'', starring Richard Lloyd |
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* ''The Black Lancers'' (1962) starring Mel Ferrer |
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* ''Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens'' (1963) a.k.a. ''Sinbad Vs. The Seven Saracens'', starring Gordon Mitchell |
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* ''Brennus, Enemy of Rome'' (1964) a.k.a. ''Battle of the Valiant'', starring Gordon Mitchell |
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* ''The Burning of Rome'' (1963) a.k.a. ''The Magnificent Adventurer'' |
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* ''Anthar, The Invincible'' (1964) a.k.a. ''Devil of the Desert vs the Son of Hercules'', starring Kirk Morris, directed by Antonio Margheriti |
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* ''Caesar, the Conquerer'' (1963) starring Cameron Mitchell, Rik Battaglia |
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* ''Hero of Babylon'' (1963) a.k.a. ''The Beast of Babylon Vs. the Son of Hercules'', Gordon Scott |
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* ''Captain Falcon'' (1958) starring Lex Barker |
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* ''Kindar, the Invulnerable'' (1965) Mark Forest |
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* ''Captain Phantom'' (1953) |
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* ''Captains of Adventure'' (1961) a.k.a. ''Rampage of Evil'', starring Paul Muller & Gerard Landry |
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* ''Caroline and the Rebels'' (1962) starring Bridget Bardot |
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* ''The Castillian'' (1963) starring Cesar Romero |
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* ''Catherine of Russia'' (1963) directed by Umberto Lenzi |
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* ''Cavalier In the Devil’s Castle'' (1959) |
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* ''The Centurion'' (1962) a.k.a. ''The Conqueror of Corinth'' |
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* ''Charge of the Black Lancers'' (1962) Mel Ferrer |
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* ''Cleopatra's Daughter'' (1960) starring Debra Paget |
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* ''[[Il Colosso di Rodi|The Colossus of Rhodes]]'' (1960) directed By Sergio Leone |
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* ''Conqueror of Atlantis'' (1965) starring Kirk Morris |
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* ''Conqueror of the Orient'' (1961) starring Rik Battaglia |
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* ''Constantine and the Cross'' (1960) a.k.a. ''Constantine the Great'', starring Cornel Wilde |
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* ''Coriolanus, Hero Without a Country'' (1963) Gordon Scott |
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* ''Damon and Pythias'' (1962) Guy Williams |
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* ''David and Goliath'' (1960) Orson Welles |
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* ''Defeat of the Barbarians'' (1962) a.k.a. ''King Manfred'' |
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* ''Desert Warrior'' (1957) a.k.a. ''The Desert Lovers'', Ricardo Montalban |
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* ''The Devil's Cavaliers'' (1959) |
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* ''Duel of the Champions'' (1961) a.k.a. ''Horatio and Curiazi'', Alan Ladd |
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* ''Erik the Conqueror'' (1961) a.k.a. ''Gli Invasori/ The Invaders'', directed by Mario Bava, starring Cameron Mitchell |
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* ''Esther and the King'' (1961) Joan Collins, Richard Egan |
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* ''Executioner of Venice, The'' (1963) Lex Barker, Guy Madison |
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* ''Fabiola'' (1948) a.k.a. ''The Fighting Gladiator'' |
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* ''Falcon of the Desert'' (1965) a.k.a. ''The Magnificent Challenge'', starring Kirk Morris |
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* ''The Fighting Musketeers'' (1961) |
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* ''Fire Over Rome'' (1963) |
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* ''The Fury of Achilles'' (1962) Gordon Mitchell |
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* ''The Giant of Metropolis'' (1962) Gordon Mitchell (this unusual peplum had a science fiction theme instead of fantasy) |
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* ''Giant of the Evil Island'' (1965) a.k.a. ''Mystery of the Cursed Island'', Peter Lupus |
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* ''Giants of Rome'' (1963) directed by Antonio Margheriti, starring Richard Harrison |
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* ''The Giants of Thessaly'' (1960) directed by Riccardo Freda |
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* ''Gold for the Caesars'' (1963) Jeffrey Hunter |
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* ''Golgotha'' (1935) a.k.a. ''Behold The Man'' (made in France) |
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* ''Hawk of the Caribbean'' (1963) a.k.a. ''The Caribbean Hawk'' |
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* ''The Head of a Tyrant'' (1959) |
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* ''Hero of Babylon'' (1963) a.k.a. ''The Beast of Babylon Vs. the Son of Hercules'', Gordon Scott |
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* ''Hero of Rome'' (1964) a.k.a. ''The Colossus of Rome'', Gordon Scott |
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* ''Herod, the Great'' (1958) |
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* ''The Huns'' (1960) a.k.a. ''Queen of the Tartars'' |
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* ''Kindar, the Invulnerable'' (1965) Mark Forest |
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* ''The Knight of a Hundred Faces'' (1960) a.k.a. ''The Silver Knight'', starring Lex Barker |
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* ''Knight Without a Country'' (1959) a.k.a. ''The Faceless Rider'' |
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* ''Knives of the Avenger'' (1967) a.k.a. ''Viking Massacre'', directed by Mario Bava |
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* ''Last of the Vikings'' (1961) starring Cameron Mitchell & Broderick Crawford |
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* ''The Lion of St. Mark'' (1964) Gordon Scott |
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* ''The Lion of Thebes'' (1964) a.k.a. ''Helen of Troy'', Mark Forest |
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* ''The Loves of Salammbo'' (1959) |
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* ''The Magnificent Gladiator'' (1962) Mark Forest |
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* ''Mars, God of War'' (1962) a.k.a. ''Venus Against the Son of Hercules'' |
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* ''The Masked Man Against the Pirates'' (1965) |
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* ''Mask of the Musketeers'' (1963) a.k.a. ''Zorro and the Three Musketeers'', starring Gordon Scott |
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* ''The Minotaur'' (1961) a.k.a. ''Theseus Against the Minotaur'' |
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* ''The Mongols'' (1961) directed by Riccardo Freda, starring Jack Palance |
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* ''My Son, The Hero'' (1961) a.k.a. ''Arrivano i Titani'', a.k.a. ''The Titans'' |
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* ''Night of the Great Attack'' (1961) a.k.a. ''Revenge of the Borgias'' |
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* ''The Odyssey'' (1968) Cyclops segment directed by Mario Bava; Samson Burke played Polyphemus the Cyclops |
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* ''Perseus the Invincible'' (1962) a.k.a. ''Medusa Vs. the Son of Hercules'' |
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* ''Pia of Ptolomey'' (1962) |
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* ''The Pirate and the Slave Girl'' (1959) Lex Barker |
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* ''The Pirate of the Black Hawk'' (1958) |
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* ''Pirate of the Half Moon'' (1957) |
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* ''Pirates of the Coast'' (1960) Lex Barker |
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* ''The Prince With the Red Mask'' (1955) a.k.a. ''The Red Eagle'' |
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* ''A Queen For Caesar'' (1962) |
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* ''The Queen of Sheba'' (1953) directed by Pietro Francisci (who later directed ''Hercules'') |
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* ''Queen of the Amazons'' (1960) a.k.a. ''Colossus and the Amazon Queen'' |
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* ''Queen of the Nile'' (1961) a.k.a. ''Nefertiti'', Vincent Price |
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* ''Queen of the Pirates'' (1961) |
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* ''Rage of the Buccaneers'' (1961) a.k.a. ''Gordon, The Black Pirate'', starring Vincent Price |
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* ''The Red Cloak'' (1955) Bruce Cabot |
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* ''Revenge of Ivanhoe'' (1965) Rik Battaglia |
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* ''Revenge of the Black Eagle'' (1951) directed by Riccardo Freda |
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* ''Revenge of the Conquered'' (1961) a.k.a. ''Drakut the Avenger'' |
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* ''Revenge of the Gladiators'' (1961) starring Mickey Hargitay |
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* ''Revenge of the Musketeers'' (1963) a.k.a. ''Dartagnan vs the Three Musketeers'', starring Fernando Lamas |
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* ''Revolt of the Barbarians''(1964) directed by Guido Malatesta |
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* ''Revolt of the Mercenaries'' (1961) |
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* ''Revolt of the Pretorians'' (1965) a.k.a. ''The Invincible Warriors'', starring Richard Harrison |
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* ''Revolt of the Seven'' (1964) a.k.a. ''The Spartan Gladiator'', starring Helga Line |
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* ''Robin Hood and the Pirates'' (1960) Lex Barker |
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* ''Roland, the Mighty'' (1956) directed by Pietro Francisci |
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* ''Rome Against Rome'' (1963) a.k.a. ''War of the Zombies'' |
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* ''Rome 1585'' (1961) Debra Paget |
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* ''Romulus and the Sabines'' (1961) Roger Moore |
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* ''The Rover'' (1967) a.k.a ''The Adventurer'', starring Anthony Quinn |
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* ''The Sack of Rome'' (1960) a.k.a. ''The Barbarians'', a.k.a. ''The Pagans'' |
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* ''Sandokan Fights Back'' (1964) a.k.a. ''Sandokan To the Rescue'', a.k.a. ''The Revenge of Sandokan'' |
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* ''Sandokan Vs The Leopard of Sarawak'' (1964) a.k.a. ''Throne of Vengeance'' |
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* ''The Saracens'' (1965) a.k.a. ''The Devil's Pirate'', a.k.a. ''The Flag of Death'', starring Richard Harrison |
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* ''The Secret Mark of D'artagnan'' (1962) |
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* ''The Secret Seven'' (1965) a.k.a. ''The Invincible Seven'' |
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* ''79 A.D., the Destruction of Herculaneum'' (1962) Brad Harris |
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* ''Seven From Thebes'' (1964) |
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* ''Seven Rebel Gladiators'' (1965) a.k.a. ''Seven Against All'', starring Roger Browne |
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* ''Shadow of Zorro, The'' (1962) |
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* ''The Siege of Syracuse'' (1962) Tina Louise |
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* ''Sins of Rome'' (1952) a.k.a. ''Spartacus'', directed by Riccardo Freda |
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* ''The Slave of Rome'' (1960) starring Guy Madison |
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* ''Son of Captain Blood'' (1962) |
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* ''Son of the Red Corsair'' (1959) a.k.a. ''Son of the Red Pirate'', Lex Barker |
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* ''Son of the Sheik'' (1961) a.k.a. ''Kerim, Son of the Sheik'', starring Gordon Scott |
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* ''Suleiman the Conqueror'' (1961) |
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* ''The Sword and the Cross'' (1958) a.k.a. ''Mary Magdalene'' |
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* ''The Sword of Damascus'' (1964) a.k.a. ''The Thief of Damascus'' |
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* ''The Sword of El Cid'' (1962) a.k.a. ''The Daughters of El Cid'' |
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* ''The Sword of Rebellion'' (1964) a.k.a. ''The Rebel of Castelmonte'' |
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* ''Sword of the Conqueror'' (1961) Jack Palance |
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* ''The Sword of Zorro'' (1963) |
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* ''Sword Without A Country'' (1960) a.k.a. ''Sword Without a Flag'' |
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* ''Taur, the Mighty'' (1963) a.k.a. ''Tor the Warrior'', starring Joe Robinson |
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* ''Temple of the White Elephant'' (1965) a.k.a. ''Sandok, the Maciste of the Jungle'' (not a Maciste film however, in spite of the title) |
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* ''Terror of the Red Mask'' (1960) Lex Barker |
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* ''Terror of the Steppes'' (1964) a.k.a. ''The Mighty Khan'', Kirk Morris |
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* ''Tharus, Son of Attila'' (1962) a.k.a. ''Colossus and the Huns'', Ricardo Montalban |
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* ''Thor and the Amazon Women'' (1963) Joe Robinson |
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* ''Tiger of the Seven Seas'' (1963) |
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* ''Triumph of Robin Hood'' (1962) starring Samson Burke, directed by Umberto Lenzi |
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* ''Two Gladiators'' (1964) a.k.a. ''Fight or Die'', starring Richard Harrison |
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* ''Ulysses'' (1954) starring Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn |
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* ''Vulcan, Son of Jupiter'' (1960) Gordon Mitchell |
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* ''The War Goddess'' (1973) a.k.a. ''The Bare-Breasted Warriors'', directed by Terence Young |
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* ''War Gods of Babylon'' (1962) aka ''The Seventh Thunderbolt'' |
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* ''War Gods of Babylon'' (1962) aka ''The Seventh Thunderbolt'' |
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* ''Zorikan the Barbarian'' (1964) Dan Vadis |
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* ''Zorro in the Court of Spain'' (1962) a.k.a. ''The Masked Conqueror'' |
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==Sword-and-sandal films from the 1980's== |
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==Sword-and-sandal films from the 1980's== |
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After the peplum gave way to the [[Spaghetti Western]] and [[Eurospy]] films in 1965, the genre lay dormant for close to 20 years. Then in 1982, the box-office success of [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]'s ''[[Conan the Barbarian (1982 film)|Conan the Barbarian]]'' spurred a second renaissance of [[sword and sorcery]] Italian pepla in the five years immediately following. Most notable among them were the four "Ator" films, starring Miles O'Keefe in the lead role. |
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After the peplum gave way to the [[Spaghetti Western]] and imitation [[James Bond]] films in 1965, the genre lay dormant for close to 20 years. Then in 1982, the box-office success of [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]'s ''[[Conan the Barbarian (1982 film)|Conan the Barbarian]]'' spurred a second renaissance of Italian pepla in the five years immediately following. Most notable among them were the four "Ator" films, starring Miles O'Keefe in the lead role. |
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Most of these films were of lower quality due to painfully reduced budgets (focusing more on barbarians than Romans, so as to avoid the need for expensive sets) and the filmmakers tried to compensate for their shortcomings with the addition of some graphic gore and nudity. Many of these 1980's entries were helmed by noted Italian horror film directors, and many featured [[Lou Ferrigno]] or [[Sabrina Siani]] . Here is a list of the 1980s peplums: |
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Most of these films were of lower quality due to painfully reduced budgets (focusing more on barbarians than Romans, so as to avoid the need for expensive sets) and the filmmakers tried to compensate for their shortcomings with the addition of some graphic gore and nudity. Many of these 1980's entries were helmed by noted Italian horror film directors, and many featured [[Lou Ferrigno]] or [[Sabrina Siani]] . Here is a list of the 1980s peplums: |
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* ''Sinbad of the Seven Seas'' (1988) starring Lou Ferrigno, directed by Luigi Cozzi |
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* ''Sinbad of the Seven Seas'' (1988) starring Lou Ferrigno, directed by Luigi Cozzi |
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* ''Throne of Fire'' (1983) starring Sabrina Siani, directed by Franco Prosperi |
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* ''Throne of Fire'' (1983) starring Sabrina Siani, directed by Franco Prosperi |
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==The Maciste silent film series (1914–1927)== |
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*''Cabiria'' (1914) introduced the Maciste character |
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==Notes== |
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*''Maciste'' (1915) aka "Marvelous Maciste" |
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{{reflist}} |
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*''Maciste bersagliere'' ("Maciste the Ranger", 1916) |
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*''Maciste alpino'' ("Maciste The Warrior", 1916) |
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*''Maciste atleta'' ("Maciste the Athlete", 1917) |
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*''Maciste medium'' ("Maciste the Clairvoyant", 1917) |
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*''Maciste poliziotto'' ("Maciste the Detective", 1917) |
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*''Maciste turista'' ("Maciste the Tourist", 1917) |
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*''Maciste sonnambulo'' ("Maciste the Sleepwalker", 1918) |
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*''La Rivincita di Maciste'' ("Maciste's Revenge", 1919) |
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*''Il Testamento di Maciste'' ("Maciste's Will", 1919) |
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*''Il Viaggio di Maciste'' ("Maciste's Journey", 1919) |
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*''Maciste I'' ("Maciste the First", 1919) |
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*''Maciste contro la morte'' ("Maciste Vs Death", 1919) |
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*''Maciste innamorato'' ("Maciste in Love", 1919) |
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*''Maciste in vacanza'' ("Maciste on Vacation", 1920) |
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*''Maciste salvato dalle acque'' ("Maciste, Rescued from the Waters", 1920) |
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*''Maciste e la figlia del re della Plata'' ("Maciste and the Silver King's Daughter", 1922) |
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*''Maciste und die Japanerin'' ("Maciste and the Japanese", 1922) |
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*''Maciste contro Maciste'' ("Maciste Vs Maciste", 1923) |
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*''Maciste und die chinesische truhe'' ("Maciste and the Chinese Trunk", 1923) |
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*''Maciste e il nipote di America'' ("Maciste's American Nephew", 1924) |
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*''Maciste imperatore'' ("Maciste the Emperor", 1924) |
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*''Maciste contro lo sceicco'' ("Maciste Vs the Sheik", 1925) |
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*''Maciste all'inferno'' ("Maciste in Hell", 1926) |
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*''Maciste nella gabbia dei leoni'' ("Maciste in the Lions' Den", 1926) |
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*''il Gigante delle Dolemite'' ("The Giant From the Dolomite", 1927) |
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==Bibliography== |
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==Bibliography== |
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*Richard Dyer: "The White Man's Muscles" in R. Dyer: ''White'': London: Routledge: 1997: ISBN 0-4150-9537-9 |
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*Richard Dyer: "The White Man's Muscles" in R. Dyer: ''White'': London: Routledge: 1997: ISBN 0-4150-9537-9 |
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*Irmbert Schenk: "The Cinematic Support to Nationalist(ic) Mythology: The Italian Peplum 1910-1930" in Natascha Gentz and Stefan Kramer (eds) ''Globalization, Cultural Identities and Media Representations:'' Albany: State University of New York Press: 2006: ISBN 0-7914-6684-1 |
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*Irmbert Schenk: "The Cinematic Support to Nationalist(ic) Mythology: The Italian Peplum 1910-1930" in Natascha Gentz and Stefan Kramer (eds) ''Globalization, Cultural Identities and Media Representations:'' Albany: State University of New York Press: 2006: ISBN 0-7914-6684-1 |
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*Stephen Flacassier: "Muscles, Myths and Movies": Rabbit's Garage: 1994 : ISBN 0-9641643-0-2 |
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*Stephen Flacassier: "Muscles, Myths and Movies": Rabbit's Garage: 1994 : ISBN 0-9641643-0-2 |
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==Notes== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.peplums.info PEPLVM - Images de l'Antiquité, par Michel Eloy] (in French) |
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*[http://www.peplums.info PEPLVM - Images de l'Antiquité, par Michel Eloy] (in French) |
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*http://www.santoandfriends.com (filmography of Mexican muscleman films) |
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*http://www.santoandfriends.com (filmography of Mexican muscleman films) |
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{{CinemaofItaly}} |
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{{CinemaofItaly}} |
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[[Category:Film genres]] |
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[[Category:Film genres]] |
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[[Category:Historical fiction]] |
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[[Category:Peplum films| ]] |
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[[Category:Peplum films| ]] |
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[[Category:Historical fiction]] |
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[[de:Sandalenfilm]] |
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[[de:Sandalenfilm]] |
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[[es:Péplum]] |
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[[es:Péplum]] |
