The Last Days of Pompeii (1959)
"Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei" (original title)

Based on the Edward Bulwer-Lytton novel. Set in the shadows of Mt. Vesuvius just before its famous eruption, the film begins with Glaucus, a Roman legionnaire, returning to his home from ... See full summary »

Director:

Mario Bonnard

Writers:

Edward George Bulwer-Lytton (novel), Sergio Corbucci,

Stars:

Steve Reeves, Christine Kaufmann, Fernando Rey

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Reeves	...	Glaucus
Christine Kaufmann	...	Ione (as Cristina Kaufmann)
Fernando Rey	...	Arbacès, high priest
Barbara Carroll	...	Nydia
Anne-Marie Baumann	...	Julia
Mimmo Palmara	...	Gallinus
Guillermo Marín	...	Ascanius
Carlo Tamberlani	...	Leader of the Christians
Mino Doro	...	Consul
Mario Berriatúa	...	Praetorian Guard
Mario Morales	...	Praetorian Guard
Ángel Ortiz	...	Praetorian Guard
Ignazio Dolce
Ángel Aranda	...	Antonius
Tony Richards

Storyline

Based on the Edward Bulwer-Lytton novel. Set in the shadows of Mt. Vesuvius just before its famous eruption, the film begins with Glaucus, a Roman legionnaire, returning to his home from far-off wars. Upon arriving, however, he discovers that his father has been murdered by a gang of black-hooded looting bandits. Glaucus vows revenge against the killers, but just how high up are those involved?

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Plot Keywords:

roman | pugilism | mount vesuvius | secret conspirator | fire and water | 

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Taglines:

VOLCANIC! Now the Screen is Swept by Scenes That Stagger the Imagination!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

Italy Spain West Germany

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

17 July 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Last Days of Pompeii

Filming Locations:

Pompeii, Naples, Campania, Italy

Box Office

Gross:

ESP 9,504 (Spain)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinematografica Associati (CI.AS.), Domiciana, Procusa

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During production, Steve Reeves suffered a major injury. A chariot he was driving struck a tree and he dislocated his shoulder. The injury never fully healed, putting an end to the more intense bodybuilding routines he had done for most of his life.

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Connections

Featured in Cheezy Fantasy Trailers (2006)

User Reviews

Last Days of Pompeii

This may have been the first film Steve (Mr. Hercules, himself) Reeves made after his enormously popular two Hercules films. Reeves certainly did not lose any of his granite carved physique before signing on to do this film. Story concerns Reeves as roman tribune who returns home to Pompeii after a sabattical in the roman legions. He discovers his father dead and seeks out to avenge his murder, all the while keeping the ruling class in Pompeii in worry that he may use his influence and go to Rome to emperor Tiberius. The christians are blamed for a load of murders in and around Pompeii, but in the background it is not the christians who are committing murders but a well organized band of roman traitors, who disguise as leaders during the day but murderers at night. One of the corrupt leaders is the lovely Anne Marie Bauman, who merrily rides along on a home made roman sled early in the film. Even the local church leader is part of the gang of henchmen...Reeves meets the daughter of the roman counsel and a relationship begins. Reeves is in love, but doubts the sincerity and truth of the lovely Christine Kaufman who is a self professed Christian and meets secretly with them at night in a cave. Reeves quickly discovers and learns the christians are not murderers and sets out to prove it...he then gets gang attacked by the roman traitors. Correct part of the film shows blind roman girl named Nydia who is also a Christian convert and is a maid to Kaufman. In the original novel about Pompeii there is a blind girl named Nydia. Soon Reeves fights off and kills band of traitors along with the help of his followers. Volcano then erupts and shows the total destruction of Pompeii....only Reeves and Kaufman are able to escape via a small boat.....very good special effects showing the destruction of Pompeii with Reeves running in the streets trying to find his love.... Check out scene with Reeves pulling chains out of prison walls and his set of massive biceps bulging. Reeves certainly had the body of a roman gladiator and then some...a body carved from granite. Of of Reeves best films.