Le fatiche di Ercole (1958)

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

Director:

Pietro Francisci

Writers:

Apollonios Rhodios (poem), Pietro Francisci (adaptation),

Stars:

Steve Reeves, Sylva Koscina, Fabrizio Mioni

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 (as G.P. Rosmino)
Willi Colombini	...	Pollux

Storyline

In this melange of characters and events from separate mythological stories, Hercules, demigod and superman, arrives in the ancient Greek kingdom of Iolcus to tutor Iphitus, son of king Pelias; immediately on arrival, he falls in love with the king's delectable, briefly clad daughter Iole. Before he can win her, he must succeed in a series of quests, in the course of which he teams up with Jason, true heir of Iolcus, whom he accompanies on the famous voyage of the Argonauts.

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Plot Keywords:

hercules | argonaut | hand to hand combat | greek mythology | combat | 

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Taglines:

See the heroic Hercules rip down the Age of Orgy's lavish palace of lustful pleasure! See the seductive Amazons lure men to voluptuous revels and violent deaths!

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

Italy Spain

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

22 July 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hercules

Filming Locations:

Titanus Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Embassy Pictures Corporation, Galatea Film, O.S.C.A.R.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "Cretan Bull" in this film is actually being played by a European Bison.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Ulysses: That's very good, a fine jump. But next time, try to end up on your feet.
Ercole: I wanted you to notice me. I want to be like you, Hercules.
Ulysses: And you will, my boy, because you have a strong will.

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Connections

Edited into Hercules Recycled (1994)

User Reviews

Steve Reeves - The Great One

This is actually two stories in one: the first is about Hercules trying to find his niche in the world as a rugged adventurer and champion of the oppressed, the 2nd is about Jason and the Argonauts and Herc looking for the Golden Fleece.

Longer and slower than some of the successors and with quite possibly less fight scenes, these are still the best due to the respect and attention given to the characters. Reeves, looking like a pumped up Jonathan Frakes, is probably still the best of the lot, though we only got to see him fight lions, tigers, bulls, monkey people and Primo Carnera as opposed to monsters, but maybe it was better this way. Made things more serious and real world like.

So in other words, don't count this one out!