by Anthony O’Connor
Worth: Discs: 2 The Film: 3.5/5 The Extras: 3.5/5 Overall: 7/10
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Reg Park, Ettore Manni, Laura Altan, Fay Spain, Christopher Lee, Leonora Ruffo, George Ardisson, Marisa Belli
Intro:
… old fashioned, corny and at times absolutely delightful.
The Films:
There exists in the human condition some fundamental and undeniable desire, a core deep primal yearning, to watch a good-hearted giant wallop the absolute curry out of evildoers. The latest example is, of course, Prime Video’s wildly successful Lee Child adaptation, Reacher, in which an enormous slab of justice-seeking beef punches and kicks his way to glory. However, long before Alan Ritchson wore the mantle, the character of Hercules did most of the heavy lifting, literally and figuratively.
Most of you will likely remember Kevin Sorbo’s take on the character in the mid ‘90s (not to mention the superior Xena: Warrior Princess spin-off), but long before that, Herc shook the world thanks to the Italians. See, our pasta-spruiking friends would often ape popular movie trends and after the success of films like Spartacus and The Ten Commandments, Italy got into the act of making so-called peplum (named after the robes they wore, basically sword-and-sandal) flicks.
Today’s review involves a brand spanking new double feature available now on blu-ray thanks to the heroic giants at Imprint Films. The peplum flicks in question are Hercules and the Captive Women (1961) and Hercules in the Haunted World (1961).
So, let’s have a natter about them.
Hercules and the Captive Women (1961), dir: Vittorio Cottafavi
Hercules and the Captive Women tells the story of Hercules (Reg Park) heading to Atlantis with King Androcles of Thebes (Ettore Manni) on a mission to Greece. On the way, they run into trouble and Herc is forced to save a young woman, Ismene (Laura Altan), from a shape shifting beastie made of styrofoam and pipe cleaners. This act of kindness unleashes hell, however, and our shirtless hero ends up facing off against the evil Queen Antinea (Fay Spain) of Atlantis.
This flick actually has a pretty dodgy reputation and your humble scribe was not looking forward to it. However, in reality, this is a pretty good time. Sure, the pace is a little sluggish in the first half, but it’s a gorgeous film, much of it shot in beautifully idyllic locations and Park is an oddly agreeable protagonist. For a professional body builder, the dude has chops. It’s always predictable, and a bit goofy, but it has that appealing midday matinee movie quality, the kind of movie you watched on the telly on a rainy Sunday arvo. Also, it’s hard not to love a film that contains the dialogue, “The blood of Uranus can never be destroyed.” Heh.
However, the second half of this double feature is the real jewel in the crown.
Hercules in the Haunted World (1961), dir: Mario Bava
What’s that? Mario Bava? Doing a peplum film?! Yes, indeed, the Danger: Diabolik, Black Sunday and A Bay of Blood director knocked out a few of these flicks, with Haunted World absolutely the best of the lot. The story revolves around Hercules (Reg Park again) who returns from his adventures to find that his misso, Princess Deianira (Leonora Ruffo), has lost her damn mind due to some magical shenanigans that most likely involve the creepy King Lico (Christopher Lee). Turns out the only way to save the Princess is to nip down to Hades to retrieve a magical MacGuffin. But can he save the day before Deianira goes permanently berko? And what will that dodgy old Lico have to say about it all?
Although its plot is pretty threadbare, Haunted World makes up for a slender narrative with Bava’s gloriously surreal, visual chutzpah. Despite working with reused sets from the previous flick and a perilously small budget, Bava knocks out a feast for the eyes with creepy monsters, striking locations and a genuine sense of style unique to the Italian maestro. Park is once again a charmer and Lee is clearly having a hoot as the villain of the piece. George Ardisson is also great as Theseus, although thanks to his styling, we’re never quite sure how old he’s meant to be. Ida Galli is also gorgeous and striking as Meiazotide, but we’ll get back to her in a sec.
Silly, gorgeous, absolutely charming, Hercules and the Haunted World is a wonderfully vibrant, occasionally legit creepy adventure for the big hunky lad.
Both films are presented nicely on blu-ray, although Haunted World is the clear looker of the pair.
The Extras:
A fairly decent, if not exactly Herculean, pile of extras here.
Hercules and the Captive Women features a great little audio commentary from Mario Bava expert Troy Howarth and film historian Eugenio Ercolani, the 100-minute version of the film (which doesn’t need the extra footage, frankly) and an interesting little featurette about the peplum genre, Hercules and the Conquest of Cinema.
Hercules in the Haunted World also features an audio commentary, this time with Troy Howarth flying solo. There’s Theseus at the Center of the Earth – an interview with actor Giorgio Ardisson and film historian Fabio Melelli, different trailers and title sequences for the various territories.
However, best of the bunch is Myosotis – a decent-sized interview with actress Ida Galli, who speaks at length about her early acting roles, how much of an inclusive gentleman and collaborator Mario Bava was on set, and her fond memories during that period of Italian cinema. Ida, well into her 80s at the time of the interview, is bright eyed, passionate and radiant, clearly relishing getting to chat about this time in her life, and her enthusiasm is genuinely infectious.
Both films come bundled in a solid hardbox, although the art displayed feels like it could have taken a leaf out of Bava’s book and got a little bolder with the colours.
The Verdict:
Look, obviously two Italian Hercules films from the 1960s aren’t going to be everyone’s bag. However, for those of us who grew up with these kinds of movies playing on the telly, sitting in a sunny TV room and gapemouthed in worship at the magical visions on screen, it will be like a fond, nostalgic holiday.
Hercules and the Captive Women and Hercules in the Haunted World are old fashioned, corny and at times absolutely delightful. Come for the Atlantean adventure but stay for Mario Bava’s bold and colourful addition to the formula. Just don’t forget to oil up those pecs and pop on that short movie-watching tunic.
