Hercules Unchained

Infobox Film
name = Hercules Unchained


caption = Original theatrical poster
director = Pietro Francisci
producer = Bruno Vailati
Ferruccio De Martino
writer = Ennio De Concini
Pietro Francisci
starring = Steve Reeves
Sylva Koscina
Sylvia Lopez
music = Enzo Masetti
cinematography = Mario Bava
editing = Mario Serandrei
distributor = Warner Bros. (USA)
released = 14 February 1959 (Italy)
13 July 1960 (USA)
runtime = 105 min.
country = Italy
awards =
language = Italian
budget =
preceded_by = "Hercules"
followed_by =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0052782

"Hercules Unchained" (1959) is a Lux-Galatea and Lux De France epic-fantasy feature film starring Steve Reeves and Sylva Koscina in a story about two warring brothers and Hercules' tribulations in the court of Queen Omphale. The film is the sequel to the Reeves vehicle "Hercules" (1958) and marks Reeves' last appearance as Hercules. The film's screenplay -- loosely based upon various Greek myths and dramas -- was written by Ennio De Concini and Pietro Francisci with Francisci directing and Bruno Vailati and Ferruccio De Martino producing the film. "Hercules Unchained" has been broadcast on American television, and is available in both VHS and DVD formats. The film's Italian title is "Ercole e la regina di Lidia" "(Hercules and the Queen of Lydia)".

ource material

The plot draws character names from a mishmash of various Greek legends and plays, notably "The Seven Against Thebes" by Aeschylus and "Oedipus at Colonus" by Sophocles. The tale of Hercules and Queen Omphale is taken from myth. Hercules' line "I wove the threads [of my memory] together" is the film's sole reference to his task of spinning thread and weaving with Omphale's attendants in the myth. The film widely deviates from the source material, haphazardly mixing events and featuring characterizations varying from those depicted in the sources.

Plot and cast

While travelling, Hercules (Steve Reeves) is asked to intervene in a quarrel between two brothers Eteocles and Polynices (Sergio Fantoni and Mimmo Palmara) over who should rule Thebes. Before he can complete this task, Hercules drinks from a magic spring, loses his memory and becomes the captive of Queen Omphale of Lydia (Sylvia Lopez). While young Ulysses (Gabriel Antonini) tries to help him regain his memory, Hercules' wife, Iole (Sylva Koscina), finds herself in danger from the ruler of Thebes. Hercules slays three tigers in succession and rescues his wife. Cast includes Fulvio Carrara as Castor, Willi Colombini as Pollux, Primo Carnera as the giant Antaeus, Gino Mattera as Orpheus, Cesare Fantoni as King Oedipus, and Carlo D'Angelo as High Priest Creon.

Reception

Howard Thompson wrote in the "New York Times" of 14 July 1960, "The absurdities of Mr. Reeves' derring-do odyssey are loosely tied to the ground with some vague historical footnotes. And the only thing even remotely akin to acting is Mr. Reeves' expression of fixed intelligence, aside from those grunting, superhuman onslaughts against the enemy...Taken good-naturedly—and how else?—the picture is harmless, simple-minded fun. And what Mr. Reeves doesn't tear apart he pulls down, as in the final, bombastic battle scene, when three towers hit the dust. Anyone who has seen Mr. Reeves in action before should know exactly what to expect again." [ [http://movies2.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?title1=&title2=Hercules+Unchained+%28Movie%29&reviewer=HOWARD+THOMPSON.&v_id=22198&pdate=19600714 "New York Times" Review] Retrieved 31 August 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.archive.org/details/Hercules_Unchained "Hercules Unchained"] at the Internet Archive