Hercules (1958)

The muscular Hercules performs his Labors, sails with the Argonauts, and romances the fair Iole.

Director:

Pietro Francisci

Writers:

Apollonios Rhodios (poem) (as Appollonius of Rhodes), Pietro Francisci (adaptation)

Stars:

Steve Reeves, Sylva Koscina, Fabrizio Mioni

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Reeves	...	Hercules
Sylva Koscina	...	Iole, Daugher of Pelias
Fabrizio Mioni	...	Jason
Ivo Garrani	...	Pelias, King of Iolcus
Gianna Maria Canale	...	Antea, Queen of the Amazons
Arturo Dominici	...	Eurysteus
Mimmo Palmara	...	Iphitus, Son of Pelias
Lidia Alfonsi	...	The Sybil (as Lydia Alfonsi)
Gabriele Antonini	...	Ulysses
Aldo Fiorelli	...	Argos
Andrea Fantasia	...	Laertes
Luciana Paluzzi	...	Iole's Maid (as Luciana Paoluzzi)
Afro Poli	...	Chironi
Gian Paolo Rosmino	...	Aesculapius (as G.P. Rosmino)
Willi Colombini	...	Pollux (as Willy Colombini)

Storyline

In this melange of characters and events from separate mythological stories, Hercules, demigod and superman, arrives in the ancient Greek kingdom of Iolcus to tutor Iphitus, son of king Pelias; immediately on arrival, he falls in love with the king's delectable, briefly clad daughter Iole. Before he can win her, he must succeed in a series of quests, in the course of which he teams up with Jason, true heir of Iolcus, whom he accompanies on the famous voyage of the Argonauts.

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Plot Keywords:

greece | psychotronic film | feats of strength | bare chested male | roman mythology | 

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Taglines:

Cast of 1,000's

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

Italy Spain

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

22 July 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hercules

Filming Locations:

Titanus Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Embassy Pictures, Galatea Film, O.S.C.A.R.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min 98 min (Retromedia DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Fono Roma-Westrex System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1962, Embassy Pictures reissued "Hercules" on a double feature with Attila (1954) with the tag line "The Mightiest Men In All The World! The Mightiest Show In All the World!"

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Goofs

Obvious stunt double for Iole when Hercules rescues her from the runaway chariot at the beginning of the movie.

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Quotes

Iole, Daugher of Pelias: What's the matter? Why do you sit and stare at me like that?
Ercole: I don't know. So few women come this way.
Iole, Daugher of Pelias: And so?
Ercole: As long as your here, I might as well. I never saw a girl more beautiful.

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Alternate Versions

Has been available in the U.S. in three different versions.

• (98 minutes) This has the poorest dubbing job. The Italian "fine" appears at the end.
• (103 minutes) This version restores some footage and contains a superior dubbing job. The Italian "fine" as replaced with "The End."
• (104 minutes) This version contains yet a third dubbing job. The main title was replaced with an animated title showing a starfield and the constellation Hercules. The bulk of the original credit sequence was moved to the end of the film. During this movie's first release in the United States in 1959, the material issued by Embassy and Warner Brothers (who handled the physical distribution) listed the running time as 107 minutes. This is still listed as the running time by most sources. The 107 minute version is believed to be the original uncut and uncensored Italian version which probably showed more flesh than was permitted on U.S. screens at the time.

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Connections

Edited into Hercules Recycled (1994)

User Reviews

The original and best Hercules-Steve Reeves!

It's hard to believe that this movie is now 43 years old. Certainly this is a classic and a must see for all diehard Herc fans.

The movie starts off with a runaway chariot carrying a damsel in distress, Jole, princess and future bride of Hercules (played by the beautiful Sylvia Koscina) next we see and hear a tree being uprooted and the next scene we see Hercules carrying the tree and throws it in front of the chariot stopping the horses. The exhausted Jole faints in the arms of Hercules.

In the next scene, we see Hercules make his first pass at the beautiful Jole by offering her first take on the meal that he had hunted and then feared burned while rescuing Jole. She obliges and Hercules says; "I'll take my first bite right where your lips have touched." Jole stunned by her rescuer makes some unkind comments to Hercules at which point Hercules says; "I'm too hungry to help it."

We see Hercules perform the Labors of Hercules, defeat the Cretan Bull, the Nemian Lion and help Jason find the Golden Fleece and then coming to Jason and his Argonauts rescue as they are being defeated by the evil king. We see Hercules pull chains from the wall and then use them as a weapon to defeat the Kings army first by taking out the evil adversaries one by one and then by wrapping the chains around two pillars supporting the Temple and pulling the Temple down, killing the remainder of the Kings men.

Overall, a good, fun movie. To the critics of this movie, no you won't find a great plot or academy award acting but I am reminded of comments made by the great Kirk Douglas, that people come to movies to be entertained and have fun and not necessarily just to see the movies with the best plot and greatest acting.

Hercules went on to become the biggest box office hit of its time and Reeves went on to become the highest paid actor and box office champion (tied with Sophie Loren) in his time.

This movie started it all. For bodybuilding fans, this is the closest you will ever get to seeing Reeves anywhere even close to top physique shape. The slimmed down Reeves became even slimmer and slimmer as his movie career continued

I would also recommend Last Days of Pompeii and The White Warrior. Son of Spartacus (a sequel to Spartacus starring Kirk Douglas) and Duel of the Titans are also interesting Reeves movies.

In 1977, NBC showed Hercules on network television as the Monday movie of the week followed by Hercules Unchained as the NBC Sunday movie of the week, 20 years after their release in theatres. Reeves movies have become classics and well worth your time to watch, even now 43 years later. Steve Reeves was the first and the best.