clanciai
This appears to be Sergio Leone's first film, and as such it is interesting enough. He made a few films like this in the beginning, another was "The Colossus of Rhodes" which was even worse, and already here you find all the worst sides of the director, the sadistic penchant for meaningless cruelty, the crude characterizations and as much brutal violence as possible. The plot is completely changed from the famous novel of Bulwer-Lytton's, there is no mention of christianity in the novel, while here it is used to make another sort of "Quo Vadis?" Nothing wrong with that, the plot is actually quite interesting and well thought out, but it's the character of Julia that ruins the film - she is utterly unconvincing. Fernando Rey as Arbaces the scheming villain is good enough, and Steve Reeves has not yet developed into the dummy he was to turn into by too much muscular performances. He was no Charlton Heston, and his mere presence in a film ensures its second hand qualities. The film was given a generous budget, though, which was used more than well. The epic apocalyptic scenes of the volcano eruption and the overwhelming catastrophe of the downfall of the city are rendered in great detail and very convincing. For Sergio Leone, it was not bad for a start.
Jithin K Mohan
Sergio Leone's uncredited debut is nowhere near the masterpieces he churned out starting from A Fistful of Dollars. His credited debut Colossus of Rhodes is a much better Sword and Sandal film. The production design, very good looking men and women and the widescreen cinematography are the good things in here. The bland acting(?) by most of the actors, ludicrous plot etc makes it uninteresting for the most part. Including a bit of homosexuality is commendable for the time period. Even though most of the film is not very good there are moments that entertains and makes it a little memorable.
screenman
It's 1959, and the season of badly-dubbed spaghetti-easterns. As the title suggests, this wasn't a Hollywood epic.Steve Reeves briefly cornered the action-man market in the way that Stallone and Arnie did more recently. Here he plays a legionary who has come home to Pompeii. It's 79AD so that's not a very positive career-move. There's all kinds of trouble brewing in the old town, featuring a gang of nocturnal murderers, and hapless Christians who are always good for a stoning. But the real trouble - as we all know - is brewing underground.Reeves had an excellent physique that is shown to maximum effect here. With one blow of his forearm he smashes a stout table in two. You don't want to upset him. Most of the movie fusses about the partisan squabbles and the murderous clique and keeps us waiting for what we know is going to happen.For a small budget movie the volcano effects and town destruction are not too bad, really. But it's still rather an anti-climax. This is really an advertisement for Mr Reeves and his mighty sinews as much as the power of Vesuvius. If you're a fan of well-figured young men, you'll definitely enjoy this, otherwise...It's about on a par with the longer, but similarly plotted and paced though better-dubbed 'Sodom & Gomorrah'. Don't wait up to watch either; you could have more convincing dreams.
ma-cortes
Freely based on the Edward Bulwer-Lytton novel , whose story had previously had several cinematic renditions . Set in the shadows of Mt. Vesuvius just before its known eruption , the starring of this ¨Sword and Sandals movie¨ results to be Glauco (Steve Reeves), a Roman official , friend of emperor Tito , returning to his house from Palestine and trying to clean up the doomed town of Pompeii in this new adaptation of the 1935 classic (by Ernet B Schoedsack with Preston Foster and Basil Rathbone). Upon arriving, however, he finds out that his daddy has been killed by a band of black-hooded looting cutthroats . Steve plays a newcomer to Pompeya and he helps the Christians who are pursued by the evil rulers (Guillermo Marin, Fernando Rey) who govern tyrannically Pompeii . The good guys are Steve Reeves, Christine Kaufmann , Angel Aranda and the bad guys are Fernando Rey , Guillermo Marin , among others . Then , Glaucus vows vendetta against the murderers . Meanwhile , he saves the damsel in distress (Christine Kaufmann, Tony Curtis wife) of a runaway horse and discovers a twisted conspiracy . As Christians are accused of killings and Glauco seeks justice . But the eruption of Vesuvius threatens noblemen , slaves and Christians alike. Here Steve Reeves plays as Glaucus, a Roman legionnaire, going back to his home from far-off wars ; Steve was a hunk man who made lots of roman epic films also called ¨Musclemen movies¨. Luck's Reeves changed when Italian director Pietro Francisci persuaded him to go overseas to star ¨Hercules¨ and sequel ¨Hercules and queen of Lydia also titled Hercules unchained ¨, and later on, he followed with ¨Goliath and the Barbarians, The giant of Marathon, The Trojan horse, The son of Spartacus and The Avenger¨ among them . Steve was an American bouncing who emigrated Italy and created a true star-system based on pumped-up heroes. He paved the way for others actors to seek their fame and fortune in Italy playing bouncing adventurers . Other stars by the time on this type of movies are Mark Forest, Gordon Mitchell , Rock Stevens , Dan Vadis , Brad Harris and 'Gordon Scott' who made him more important competence. Nobody, nevertheless, topped Steve in popularity. Steve Reeves as Glaucus, a soldier who woos avenge , is solid, though uninspired, in the lead role as an honest legionnaire caught up in the momentous deeds prior to eruption but acting honors go to Fernando Rey as a nasty high priest . This historic epic about Roman time and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius really holds no relation whatsover to Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton's novel and much of the dialog is of the wooden variety .This exiting film turns out to be a Spanish/ West Germay/Italian co-production that were largely shot during the 60s in Spain and Italy . Sergio Leone made his credited directorial debut when the original director fell ill with this epic sword and sandal film starring American hunk actor Steve Reeves . Leone's dynamic framing of the Pompeii's earthquake at the center of the film combined with the frenetic action scenes set on top of it made sure the Saturday matinée crowd stayed glued to their seats for the film's excessive running time . This Spaghetti/Paella Peplum bears remarkable resemblance to ¨The Colossus of Rhodes ¨(1961) by Leone , in fact many of the same cast and crew members would be hired for Sergio Leone's this first credited directorial effort . And including the explosive spotlight when ground shaking and the town blows its top, besides ,repeating several players as Mimmo Palmara, Antonio Casas, Angel Aranda, Carlo Tamberlani as leader of Christians , technicians , producers, same cameraman : Antonio L. Ballesteros , musician : Angelo Frascesco Lavagnino , screenwriters such as Sergio Corbucci, Duccio Tessari, Ennio De Concini, assistant direction by Jorge Grau and second unit director by Leone who terminated the movie because director Mario Bonnard suddenly died , though the great Sergio appears uncredited. It was reportedly during the production of this film in which took part famous Italian filmmakers as Sergio Leone, Sergio Corbucci and Duccio Tessari were introduced to the deserts of Spain such as Almeria , this would inspire their use of these locations for the genre that would be known as "Spaghetti Westerns" . Rating : Entertaining and passable Muscleman movie . The picture will appeal to Steve Reeves fans . Well worth watching .
