Colossus and the Headhunters
(1963)
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Colossus and the Headhunters
(1963)
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Kirk Morris | ... | |
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Laura Brown | ... |
Queen Amoa
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Demeter Bitenc | ... |
Ariel
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Frank Leroy | ... |
Kermes
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Alfredo Zammi | ... |
Tirol
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Corinne Capri | ... |
Moana
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Luigi Esposito | ... |
Arros
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Nello Pazzafini | ... |
Guna
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Alessio Pregara | ... |
King Olibana
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Ines Holder | ... |
Asmyn
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Letizia Stephan | ... |
Islander
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Maciste rescues Ario, the son King Sandor, and his people from their land in a volcanic island that blows-up and they sail to the Land and Urias in a long and dangerous voyage. They are captured by the Urias but when the Queen Amoha meets Maciste, she tells that the traitor Kermis has joined the tribe of Head Hunters and slaughtered her people, but the warrior Taro has saved them from the annihilation; however, her father King Olibauna was missing in action. She asks Maciste to help her against the Head Hunters, but Maciste tells that he is protecting the tribe of Ario. When the Urias are attacked by the Head Hunters, Maciste decides to help Queen Amoha. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Having seen TRIUMPH OF THE SON OF HERCULES first, I can categorically say that, aside from the really stupid title, COLOSSUS AND THE HEADHUNTERS was an improvement over its sequel. More entertaining with some good production values. The scenes at the crypt were excellent and effective. When they're on the raft and the island sinks, we see a shot of the exploding island from the raft, which is realistic looking.
The film starts slowly: talk, talk, talk. But once the action gets going, it gets better. People are massacred and women are kidnapped and "carried away". Ah, kids movies of the 1960s. To add more goofiness to the action, the music is often totally incongruous. At times, it's whimsical and upbeat even if what's going on is not.
Kirk Morris, aka Adriano Bellini, looks buff and healthy but he's a very bad actor. Thankfully, his talents were strictly focused on his physique. The one good thing about Morris is that, with his curly hair and all, he really looks Mediterranean, unlike most actors playing these kind of heroes in Sword & Sandal films. As bad at acting as Morris is, everyone in this film is on his level of bad acting, so he really doesn't stand out in this case. A school play as more convincing acting than this.
The film is also a colossal display of beefcake. There are three different "tribes" here. The people from the raft, the civilized people and the headhunters. The director obviously enjoyed cramming as many barely dressed men on screen as humanly possible.
Lastly, the best moment in the whole film is the dance by Maona(?) during the marriage ceremony. It has to be seen to be believed. Seriously, if you watch this movie, watch it just for this scene. The woman gives the most memorable "dance" in the history of cinema.
Is this worth watching? If you're not a fan of Peplums, no. Only Sword & Sandal completists like me should bother watching something like this and even then...but as bad as it is, I've seen much worse Peplums than this.