Goliath and the Dragon (1960)
"La vendetta di Ercole" (original title)

A warrior returning home to his country must battle giant bats, three-headed dogs and a vicious dragon to save his wife, and his people, from the machinations of an evil ruler.

Director:

Vittorio Cottafavi

Writers:

Marcello Baldi (screenplay), Marcello Baldi (story),

Stars:

Mark Forest, Broderick Crawford, Gaby André

Cast

Credited cast:
Mark Forest	...	Ercole (Goliath)
Broderick Crawford	...	Re Eurito / King Eurystheus
Gaby André	...	Ismene
Philippe Hersent	...	Androclo
Leonora Ruffo	...	Dejanira
Giancarlo Sbragia	...	Tindaro
Wandisa Guida	...	Alcinoe
Sandro Moretti	...	Illo
Federica Ranchi	...	Thea
Carla Calò	...	La Sibilla
Ugo Sasso	...	Timocleo di Medar
Claudio Undari	...	Polimorfeo
Grazia Collodi
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roberto Ceccacci	...	(as Roberto Checcacci)
Graziella Cori

Storyline

A warrior returning home to his country must battle giant bats, three-headed dogs and a vicious dragon to save his wife, and his people, from the machinations of an evil ruler.

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Plot Keywords:

dragon | giant bat | warrior | dog | poisoned drink | 

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Taglines:

The mightiest adventure of them all!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

November 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hercules' Revenge

Company Credits

Production Co:

Achille Piazzi Produzioni Cinematografica, Comptoir Français du Film Production (CFFP), Produzione Gianni Fuchs

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally titled "Hercule's Revenge", but since Universal owned the rights to Hercules at the time, the title was changed and the name of the main character was changed to Goliath.

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Goofs

In the beginning of the film, when Goliath climbs down into the cave, a thin rope can be seen tied to him.

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Quotes

Ercole: Collapse like my shattered dreams!
[as he pulls down columns supporting a building]

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Connections

Featured in Extra Weird (2003)

User Reviews

Colorful muscle-man epic with the robust Mark Forest and well directed by Vittorio Cottafavi

This myth -opera Peplum deals about Hercules ,he finishes the seven works going to inferno in the center of earth, a hell plenty of craters,volcano,yellow fume and red foggy with gaudy colors and groundbreaking atmosphere.There battles against can Cerbero with various heads spitting fire and a flying monster likable to a large bat(creatures made by Carlo Rambaldi: ET).Later takes place a palace intrigue with a tyrant named Euristeo(a scarface Broderick Crawford)attempting to rule over the city of Tebas and our hero unhesitatingly goes into action and must use his strength to save his wife and son of a cruel torture with elephants,plus he confronts Zeus represented by a great sculpture.Here Hercules is married with Deianira(Leonora Ruffo) and with a rebel and angry son(Moretti)facing his father,but he's impeded on relationship with Thea and even he's tied a tree by Hercules.Finally takes place an exciting final confrontation into a snakes pit.

This motion picture is an enjoyable sword and sandals story ,being correctly directed by Vittorio Cottafavi(1914-1998),he was a complete artist,painter and Peplum expert,but he directed:Conquest of Atlantida,Legions of Cleopatra,Mesallina and rebellion of gladiators.

This muscle-man epic displays action,adventures,mythology,bizarre and luxurious scenarios and is quite amusing.The movie has not mythological accuracy neither expectation historic.Stunningly cheap special effects like the shots and close-ups of a giant bear that's a man suited struggling against Hercules.Besides appear usual Eurotrash babes like Wandisa Guisa and Leonora Ruffo and a habitual Spaghetti Western,Robert Hundar as a centaur.Mark Forest is good and strong as the mythical hunk who finds several dangerous risks while attempting defeat his enemies and fighting monsters and numerous odds.Forest played the hero in great number of movies was randomly assigned the identity of Hercules,Goliath,Samsom for US version.Bouncing and robust Forest was a muscle-man who allegedly left the Gladiators genre for the Opera and he currently teaches in the L.A. zone.He was one along with the biggest chests like are Gordon Scott,Alan Steel,Reg Park,Ed Fury,Dan Vadis,whom to seek fortune acting absurdly mythological figure but nobody topped Steve Reeves in popularity.