Hercules and the Captive Women (1961)
"Ercole alla conquista di Atlantide" (original title)

Strong yet sleepy Hercules discovers that the Queen of Atlantis is plotting to take over the world with superhuman warriors.

Director:

Vittorio Cottafavi

Writers:

Vittorio Cottafavi, Sandro Continenza,

Stars:

Reg Park, Fay Spain, Ettore Manni

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Reg Park	...	Ercole (Hercules)
Fay Spain	...	Queen Antinea of Atlantis
Ettore Manni	...	Androclo, Re di Tebe
Luciano Marin	...	Illo
Laura Efrikian	...	Ismene, Antinea's Daughter (as Laura Altan)
Enrico Maria Salerno	...	Re di Megara
Ivo Garrani	...	Re di Megalia
Gian Maria Volonté	...	Re di Sparta
Mimmo Palmara	...	Astor, il Gran Visir
Mario Petri	...	Zenith, prete di Urano
Mino Doro	...	Oraclo
Salvatore Furnari	...	Timoteo, il nano
Alessandro Sperli	...	King with Mother
Mario Valdemarin	...	Gabor
Luciana Angiolillo	...	Deianira, Hercules' Wife

Storyline

The ever intrepid world-trotting hunk of a man Herc (Hercules to those who are not his friends) saves a beautiful maiden from the hands of an evil creature. She takes him to her home, Atlantis. Herc kicks some butt and saves her from her mother who wants to kill her and from some scary looking blond guys but unfortunately the rest of the inhabitants are destroyed. Do not worry because Herc escapes along with his son, the maiden and an annoying midget.

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Plot Keywords:

atlantis | hercules | midget | roman mythology | gorilla | 

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Taglines:

Half Woman! Half Stone!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

15 April 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hercules and the Captive Women

Company Credits

Production Co:

Comptoir Français du Film Production (CFFP), SpA Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is said to be the only "Hercules" movie filmed in 70mm.

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Goofs

Near the end of the film, Hercules swims away from the island to a boat, but when he climbs aboard he is completely dry.

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Quotes

Ismene: Today is dedicated to Uranus!

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Crazy Credits

For the U.S. version distributed by the Woolner Brothers under the title "Hercules and the Captive Women," director Vittorio Cottafavi's name is listed on screen as "Vittorio Cottafani."

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Connections

Featured in Cheezy Fantasy Trailers (2006)

User Reviews

Typical Italian sword and sandal kitch classic

The first time I saw this movie I was about 10. Then I liked it very much. It had everything I liked: ancient scenarios, a hero, a beautiful woman and an impossible adventure. When I saw the movie some years later I realised that after all it was not that big. The plot I liked so much 10 years ago seems quite childish now and the movie has that sort of lingering sensation which takes away most of the fun. Still I cannot say that I don't like it any longer - it reminds me of an age gone by and it is still capable of giving an hour and a half's time of fun, even though the viewer will not remember it for long. Watch out for some scenes taken from "Sodoma e Gomorra"!