79 A.D. (1962)
"Anno 79: La distruzione di Ercolano" (original title)

Intrigue at the Roman Emperor's court prior to its destruction by Vesuvius.

Director:

Gianfranco Parolini

Writers:

Helmut Harun (dialogue), Gianfranco Parolini (screenplay),

Stars:

Brad Harris, Mara Lane, Susan Paget

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brad Harris	...	Marcus Tiberius
Mara Lane	...	Diomira
Susan Paget	...	Livia
Jany Clair	...	Myrta
Jacques Berthier	...	Tercius
Philippe Hersent	...	Titus Flavius
Carlo Tamberlani	...	Furius
Ivy Stewart	...	Claudia
Isarco Ravaioli	...	Licinius
Djordje Nenadovic	...	Sansom
Niksa Stefanini	...	Valerius (as Nicola Stefanini)
Vladimir Leib	...	Lepidus
Giuseppe Mattei	...	Drago (as Pino Mattei)
Ignazio Dolce
Arnaldo Martelli	...	Saurus (as Ray Martino)

Storyline

In 79 AD the Roman city of Herculaneum was destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius. The film spends a lot of time and money, with numerous extras, on the political intrigues at the court of the emperor Titus Flavius, but the actual eruption is underplayed.

---

Plot Keywords:

emperor | herculaneum | ancient rome | 1st century | rebellion | 

---

Genres:

Drama | History

---

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

23 December 1962 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Destruction of Herculaneum

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinematografica Associati (CI.AS.), Comptoir Français du Film Production (CFFP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

Standard Peplum by Gianfranco Parolini plenty of combats , thrills , and eruptions

Acceptable and middle-budgeted Peplum with the corpulent Brad Harris as the tribune Marco Tiberio. The starring of this ¨Sword and Sandals movie¨ is Marco, a Roman official, niece of emperor Tito (from the dynasty Flavia along with Vespasiano and Tito) , returning to his house from barbarians wars and trying to clean up the doomed town of Herculano . Harris plays a newcomer to Herculano and he helps the Christians led by the preacher Nemesio who are pursued by the evil ruler named Tilteo (Jacques Berthier) who govern tyrannically the city. Marco is helped by a veteran soldier (Carlo Tamberlani) and a giant slave-gladiator named Samson . Tilteo wants to coup détat against emperor Tito (Philippe Hersent) , and prepares an attack at an aquatic circus where takes place a spectacular combat with Crocs included . Meanwhile Marco saves the damsel in distress(Susan Paget)and fall for each other . The Christians are accused of killings and Marco seeks justice. Marco is accused as traitor is condemned to death warrant in crucifixion. But the eruption of volcano threatens noblemen, slaves and Christians alike.

Brad Harris was a hunk man who made lots of roman epic films also called ¨Musclemen movies¨. Luck's Harris changed when an Italian producer persuaded him to go overseas to star lots of swords and sandals film . Brad was an American bouncing who emigrated Italy and created a true star-system based on pumped-up heroes. He along with Steve Reeves paved the way for others actors to seek their fame and fortune in Italy playing bouncing adventurers . Other stars by the time on this type of movies are Mark Forest, Gordon Mitchell, Dan Vadis ,Rock Stevens and 'Gordon Scott' who made him more important competence. Nobody, nevertheless, topped Steve Reeves in popularity. Brad Harris as Glaucus, a soldier who woo avenge, is solid, though uninspired, in the lead role as an honest officer caught up in the momentous deeds prior to eruption . Brad Harris who began to do stunt work, in the late 50s he traveled to Europe and he soon found himself working in Musclemen epics (Sansone,Goliath against the giants,Fury of Hercules) and he eventually moved into Spaghetti Western and spies . The film is a French/Italian co-production that were largely shot during the 60s in Italy. The film bears remarkable resemblance to ¨ Last days of Pompeii ¨ including the explosive spotlight when ground shaking and the town blows its top, this film was terminated by Leone because director Mario Bonnard suddenly died, though the great Sergio appears uncredited . ¨Destruction of Herculano¨ takes images and stock shots and the screenplay looks exactly like ¨Last days in Pompeii¨. This historic epic about Roman time and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius really bears no relation whatsover to Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton's novel and much of the dialog is of the wooden variety . Mediocre performances though the acting honors go to Jacques Berthier as nasty ruler .

The film is middling directed by Gianfranco Parolini or Frank Kramer. He began directing Musclemen epics as ¨Rocha¨, ¨The Macabeos¨ with Brad Harris and ¨The ten gladiators¨ with Dan Davis and Gianni Rizzo , Parolini's usual actor. After that he continued with ¨commissioner X¨ series with Tony Kendall , fantastic with ¨three supermen¨ and warlike movie as ¨5 per l'Inferno¨ with Gianni Garco (Sartana) and Nick Jordan. His first Western was ¨Johnny West¨ and later on , he directed the ¨Sabata trilogy¨ . It's followed by ¨ Return of Sabata¨ with similar artistic and technician team and ¨Indio Black ¨ .