Romolo e Remo (1961)

Director:

Sergio Corbucci

Writers:

Adriano Bolzoni (dialogue)
Sergio Corbucci (dialogue) (story)

Release Date:

June 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

The Legendary Conflict of Mankind's Mightiest Mortals!

Plot:

Twin brothers revolt against tyranny in pre-Roman Italy and then come to a parting of the ways as they lead their people toward the founding of a new city. |

Plot Keywords:

Cheesecake | Sword And Sandal | Beautiful Woman | Slave | Ancient Rome

Cast

Steve Reeves	...	Romulus
Gordon Scott	...	Remus
Virna Lisi	...	Julia
Franco Volpi	...	Amulio
Laura Solari	...	Rea Silvia
Piero Lulli	...	Sulpicius
José Greci	...	Estia
Gianni Musi	...	Glori
Andrea Bosic	...	Faustolo
Enrico Glori	...	Priest
Franco Balducci	...	Acilio
Germano Longo	...	Scebro
Bruno Tocci	...	Soldier
Giuliano Dell'Ovo	...	Publio
Massimo Girotti	...	Tazio

Also Known As:

Duel of the Titans (USA)
Romulus et Remus (France)

Runtime:

Germany:95 min | Italy:108 min | Spain:108 min | USA:89 min | Netherlands:104 min (video version) | UK:88 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T

Company:

Ajace Produzioni Cinematografiche

Trivia:

Steve Reeves and Gordon Scott, playing twin brothers Romulus and Remus, may not have shared a birthday, but they were both born in the same year - 1926.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Wages of Sin (2003) (V)

Legendary Founders of Rome

One of these days, I hope, we'll see a serious re-evaluation of the so-called sword & sandal genre of historical/mythic epics produced in Italy in the 1950s and '60s. When seen in ideal circumstances—excellent prints in the original widescreen formats—the best examples of the genre are quite impressive. DUEL OF THE TITANS (ROMOLO E REMO) is one of the best, and it's magnificent.

This is not a muscleman fantasy with superhuman feats of strength, like HERCULES, but a serious retelling of the foundation myth of Rome. Various elements of the Romulus and Remus story are freely but intelligently reinterpreted, the sets and costumes have a convincing Iron Age look, and the larger-than-life characters of the legendary Twins are strongly portrayed by Gordon Scott and Steve Reeves. Both actors are at the peak of their considerable cinematic charisma. (Virna Lisi as Julia and Ornella Vanoni as the pants-wearing Tarpeia are also impressive!)

As I write (2006), the movie is virtually impossible to find except as a bootleg. It deserves a DVD release of a quality widescreen print.