Peter Lupus (under the name Rock Stevens) plays the titular strongman in this sword-and-sandal picture, originally titled Ercole contro i tiranni di Babilonia. The plot involves his efforts to free the Queen of the Hellenes (Anna Maria Polani) and others who have been enslaved by the wicked ruler of Babylon (Livio Lorenzen), brother of the …
Read the full post →“<em>Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon</em> (1964)”
Less-than-exciting adventure starring Rory Calhoun as a hard-living and hard-loving con man who goes hunting for a lost tomb in Egypt (hence the original title: La muchacha del Nilo). Calhoun’s character is intended as a lovable rogue, but he’s just not that appealing, although compared with his competition he’s likeable enough. Not particularly recommended. Otto …
Read the full post →“<em>The Emerald of Artatama</em> (1969)”
Hercules (Reg Park) rescues a princess (Laura Efrikian) left to be prey for a monster but then must protect her further from her wicked mother, the queen of Atlantis (Fay Spain). Not the most thrilling of adventures for the Greek hero, but reasonably entertaining nonetheless. Original title: Ercole alla conquista di Atlantide. Mildly recommended. Otto …
Read the full post →“<em>Hercules and the Captive Women</em> (1961)”
Special effects by Ray Harryhausen are the highlight of this epic tale of Jason’s quest to Colchis to find the Golden Fleece, but it proves an exciting adventure film as well. To rid himself of the rightful heir to the throne, the usurper Pelias (Douglas Wilmer) sets the young Jason (Todd Armstrong) an impossible task: …
Read the full post →“<em>Jason and the Argonauts</em> (Columbia, 1963)”
Jungle movies get the Carry On treatment, with Sid James as a boozing safari guide and hunter who can’t seem to hit anything but one of his bearers; Terry Scott as Ugh, a Tarzan-like individual who finds his “June” in Jacki Piper, the companion to Lady Evelyn Bagley (Joan Sims), who has come on safari …
Read the full post →“<em>Carry On Up the Jungle</em> (1970)”
Captain Carroll (Frank Hall Crane) is just asking for trouble when, desperate for ship’s officers, he hires Woolf Barstow (Noah Beery) as first mate despite his very bad reputation — a reputation that is soon shown to be well-deserved, as Barstow is soon slowly poisoning the captain and plotting both the takeover of the ship …
Effective adaptation of Alistair MacLean’s suspense novel features a young and athletic Anthony Hopkins in the lead role as a British agent investigating just what happened to a ship that has recently disappeared — along with several others previously. The changes made from the book are reasonable, and the end result is a well-paced thriller …
In this dull adventure movie, a scientific expedition in search of the remnants of Atlantis encounter monstrous creatures and cavemen on an unexplored island. There’s a rather tedious romantic subplot involving one of the scientists and one of the cavepeople, too. Not recommended. Otto thinks you should avoid this movie. Movie 367 for 2021.
Low-budget South Seas adventure, as a pilot (John David Horsley) attempting a round-the-world flight crashes, with his dog (Flash), on an island dominated by the wicked owner of the local trading post (Noah Beery). Also on the island are a missionary (Henry B. Walthall) and his daughter (Marceline Day), whom the trader desires. Drama and …
A man who wears a black mask that covers his whole head — making him appear headless in some views — battles a secret society whose members where monks’ robes and skull masks, and which murders those in the area who try to sell their ranches. At the same time, a justice of the peace …
