Giant of Marathon (1959) La battaglia di Maratona (original title)

Director:

Jacques Tourneur
(more)

Writers:

Alberto Barsanti (story)
Ennio De Concini (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

25 May 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | War

Tagline:

Spectacle! Grandeur! Glory!

Plot:

A Greek soldier leads the fight against an invading Persian army.

Plot Keywords:

Persian | Army | Olympics | Peplum | Hand To Hand Combat

Cast

Steve Reeves	...	Phillipides
Mylène Demongeot	...	Andromeda, Creuso's daughter
Sergio Fantoni	...	Teocrito
Daniela Rocca	...	Karis
Philippe Hersent	...	Callimaco
Alberto Lupo	...	Milziade
Daniele Vargas	...	Dario, King of Persia
Miranda Campa	...	Andromeda's handmaid
Gianni Loti	...	Teucro
Anita Todesco	...	Andromeda's friend
Ivo Garrani	...	Creuso
Sergio Ciani	...	Euros
Franco Fantasia
Carlo Lombardi
Ignazio Balsamo
Gian Paolo Rosmino
Walter Grant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gérard Herter	...	Hippia (uncredited)
Rinaldo Zamperla	...	Gladiator (uncredited)

Directed by
Jacques Tourneur
Mario Bava		(uncredited) (completed film)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Alberto Barsanti		story
Ennio De Concini		writer
Augusto Frassinetti		writer
Raffaello Pacini		story
Bruno Vailati		writer

Produced by
Bruno Vailati	....	producer

Original Music by
Roberto Nicolosi

Cinematography by
Mario Bava

Film Editing by
Mario Serandrei

Production Design by
Aleksandar Milovic		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Marcello de Prato

Set Decoration by
Massimo Tavazzi

Costume Design by
Pier Luigi Pizzi

Makeup Department
Otello Fava	....	makeup artist
Mara Rocchetti	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Renato Angiolini	....	production manager
Ferruccio De Martino	....	production manager
Massimo De Rita	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Odoardo Fiory	....	assistant director
Ottavio Oppo	....	assistant director
Mario Bava	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Gianni D'Aloisio	....	assistant set designer

Sound Department
Louis Kieffer	....	sound engineer
Giulio Tagliacozzo	....	sound engineer

Special Effects by
Mario Bava	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Ubaldo Terzano	....	camera operator
Masino Manunza	....	cinematographer: underwater scenes (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marisa Crimi	....	costume supervisor
Armando Govoni	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Luigi Urbini	....	conductor (as Pierluigi Urbini)

Other crew
Barbara Fusch	....	direction secretary
Paolo Mercuri	....	production secretary
Enzo Musumeci Greco	....	fencing master
Ditta Pompei	....	footwear
Rancati	....	weapons
Ditta Rochetti	....	wigs by
Tani	....	weapons

Production Companies

• Galatea Film
• Lux Compagnie Cinématographique de France
• Societé Cinématographique Lyre
• Titanus

Distributors

• Lux Compagnie Cinématographique de France (1960) (France) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1960) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1960) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Peter Pan Industries (PPI) (2005) (USA) (DVD) (as "Gods of War")
• Reel Media International (2005) (USA) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2007) (USA) (all media)
• Retromedia Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Casa d'Arte di Firenze  costumes
• Digitmovies Alternative Entertainment  soundtrack
• Titanus  soundtrack

Also Known As:

"La battaglia di Maratona" - Italy (original title)
"The Giant Marathon" - Philippines (English title)

Runtime:

90 min | Italy:92 min (director's cut)

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Centralni Filmski Studio Kosutnjak, Belgrade, Serbia

Company:

Galatea Film

Trivia:

This became yet another film in which director of photography Mario Bava had to step in as director (uncredited). Galatea Film decided to finally reward Bava by giving him a chance to develop his own project which he would direct. This led to the production of Black Sunday (1960), which began Bava's career as a solo director.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Alexander the Great (1968) (TV)

Average peplum, but still more fun than "The 300"

Don't let the names of Jacques Tourneur and Mario Bava fool you into thinking this is anything more than it actually is. Outside of the occasionally atmospheric shot, this is largely an average sword and sandal adventure. However, it is a good amount of fun for fans of this genre. I always preferred the more fantastic entries in this genre (such as "The Conquerer of Atlantis" or "The Giant of Metropolis") to the more historical ones (don't expect any accuracy though). Still, this is a fun version of the legendary story of Sparta and is much better than the over bloated CGI-fest "The 300".

Steve Reeves was never a great actor, but these films didn't require him to be one. He just needed to stand around, looking muscular and handsome, and he fills that bill quite well. I'll admit to enjoying just about anything with the man, from the "Hercules" series to this. Mylène Demongeot is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful women ever to grace this kind of film, and if you've seen a good deal, you know thats saying a lot. This can be found for free online, so its defiantly worth the download. (6/10)