Le fatiche di Ercole (1958)

Director:

Pietro Francisci

Writers:

Apollonios Rhodios (poem)
Pietro Francisci (adaptation)

Release Date:

22 July 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

See the seductive Amazons lure men to voluptuous revels and violent deaths! SEE the heroic Hercules rip down the Age of Orgy's lavish palace of lustful pleasure! SEE the Mightiest of Men fight the Mightiest of Beasts, the killer Cretan Bull! SEE Hercules fight off the savage love-starved Amazon women! SEE the seductive Amazons lure men to voluptuous revels and violent deaths! SEE the powerful Hercules crush the savage ape-men who guard the shrine of the Golden Fleece!

Plot:

The muscular Hercules performs his Labors, sails with the Argonauts, and romances the fair Iole.

Plot Keywords:

Hercules | Argonaut | Beautiful Woman | Mythology | B Movie

Cast

Steve Reeves	...	Ercole (Hercules)
Sylva Koscina	...	Iole, Daugher of Pelias
Fabrizio Mioni	...	Jason
Ivo Garrani	...	Pelias, King of Iolcus
Gianna Maria Canale	...	Antea, Queen of the Amazons
Arturo Dominici	...	Eurysteus
Mimmo Palmara	...	Iphitus, Son of Pelias
Lidia Alfonsi	...	The Sybil
Gabriele Antonini	...	Ulysses
Aldo Fiorelli	...	Argos
Andrea Fantasia	...	Laertes
Luciana Paluzzi	...	Iole's Maid (as Luciana Paoluzzi)
Afro Poli	...	Chironi
Gian Paolo Rosmino	...	Aesculapius, father of Jason (as G.P. Rosmino)
Willi Colombini	...	Pollux

Also Known As:

Hércules (Spain)
Hercules (USA)
Labors of Hercules (International: English title) (literal title)
Los viajes de Heracles (Spain)

Runtime:

104 min | USA:107 min | West Germany:90 min

Country:

Italy | Spain

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | UK:U (original rating) | West Germany:12 (nf) | Finland:K-12 | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Titanus Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Embassy Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

During the scene in which Hercules uses chains against enemy soldiers, director Pietro Francisci became annoyed with Steve Reeves because he felt that Reeves wasn't swinging the chains hard enough to be convincing. Reeves claimed that he didn't want to swing the wooden chains (painted to look like they were metal) too hard because he didn't want to hurt the actors. In response, Francisci shouted back "If they don't get hurt, they don't get paid!"

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Hercules offers Iole a chunk of roast beef, but Sylva Koscina's bite at the joint misses by inches. However, she still munches at the imaginary meat and then complains of being too full.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Saga of 'The Beastmaster' (2005) (V)

Not sure if anyone will read because of out-of-style Film

I had to leave some comment because this is the first movie I remember going to see.

After the movie I remember acting out the labors of Hercules in front of the movie-house with my friends after the show. This movie seemed to put an end to all cowboys and my other heroes Roy Rogers and Trigger. I was only 7 years old but it seems like yesterday.

This movie was very impressive since after 42 years I still admire Steve Reeves. I understand he is still living a very healthy life even now.