Jayne Loves Hercules

 

 (imdb)

THE LOVES OF HERCULES-1960-When Hercules (Mickey Hargitay) finds out his wife has been killed, he crashes the castle of Queen Deianira (Jayne Mansfield), the daughter of the king who ordered Mrs. Hercules's murder. After a bizarre ritual where Herc has to throw axes at the bound queen, they become friends. Later, Herc is accused of a killing and has to fight the three headed dragon, Hydra (bad effect). He's rescued by some Amazons whose queen turns men into trees. 

This movie, obviously inspired by HERCULES (1958), is the worst with the leads pretty pathetic and Mansfield in two roles, bad dubbing and terrible sfx. Filmed in Italy, (where it was a big hit) by director Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia who died in 1998 at the age of 103. It's said Mansfield would only accept the role if her bodybuilder husband Hargitay was cast as Hercules.

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Hunter

 

 (imdb)

THE GOLDEN ARROW-1962-Hassan (Tab Hunter with a dubbed in voice) leads a band that kidnaps Jamila (Rossana Podesta; in HORROR CASTLE by the same director the next year), a princess and holds her for ransom. At night, he takes the ransom and the princess and makes his getaway. He abandons her in a market and is promptly arrested. 3 genies help him escape because he is actually the real sultan of Damascus. 

With a flying carpet, fire monsters and a serious story that switches to comedy whenever the genies show up. Low budget Italian “sword & sandal” production directed by Antonio Margheriti.

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Roman Zombies

 

(IMDB)

WAR OF THE ZOMBIES-1964-In ancient times Rome is facing a Zombie problem. They send Gaius (Ettore Manni) to infiltrate the place evil wizard Aderbad (John Drew Barrymore) is raising dead enemies and find some stolen treasure. He falls for Rhama (Ida Galli), servant to Tullia (Susy Anderson) wife of the no good King Lutetus (Mino Doro) who's actually in cahoots with Aderbad who worships a one eyed goddess. Gaius follows Rhama (who's under Aderbad's control) to their temple and is captured. After he escapes the wizard sends a "zombie army" of dead centurions to defeat The Romans. They are more like ghosts. Just when it looks bad Gaius comes to the rescue. 

Low budget sword & sorcery supernatural tale from Italy suffers from bad editing and sfx. Director Giuseppe Vari later directed an Italian production based on Jack London's “The Sea Wolf” starring Chuck Connors. Two years later the always in trouble John Drew Barrymore played Christ in another Italian production PONTIUS PILATE.

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A Bull In A Maze

 

THE MINOTAUR, THE WILD BEAST OF CRETE-1960-The people of Crete sacrifice young women to the title monster who lives in a labyrinth. On her deathbed the Queen reveals to her husband the King and their daughter, Fedra (Rosanna Schiaffino), that she had another daughter Arianna, Fedra's twin who she hid in another city. Jealous Fedra orders her sister's death. Soldiers find her in a village but before they can act, Theseus (two time US Olympic gold medal decathlon winner Bob Mattias) and his pal Demetro (Rick Battaglia) show up and save her. After much hi-jinx, Arianna (also played by Schiaffino) winds up impersonating her sister and she and Theseus go to the labyrinth where The Minotaur (a man with the head of a bull) and Theseus have a fight. He burns out the creature's eyes and then hits it on the head with a rock. I felt sorry for the monster. 

Paul Muller (later in NIGHTMARE CASTLE) and Alberto Lupo (in ATOM AGE VAMPIRE the same year) are in it too. This Italian production was directed by Silvio Amadio.

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Life Before Gilligan

THE WARRIOR EMPRESS-1960-Around 600 BC Phaon (Kerwin Matthews) the leader of the people's revolution is wounded when the evil king's minions attack their rebel camp. He seeks sanctuary in the Temple of Aphrodite on the island of Lesbos. Shappo (pre-Gilligan's Island Ginger Tina Louise), a kind of priestess in training hides him in the basement. They fall in love despite Shappo's girlfriends' interference and the fact that she's engaged to another man (Riccardo Garrone who had a role in LA DOLCE VITA the same year). Meanwhile the girls make music and dance. There's some sword fights but it's mostly hokey talky love drama. 

Filmed in Italy, director Pietro Francisci had directed the international hits HERCULES and HERCULES UNCHAINED.  

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