Son of Samson (1960)

Maciste travels to Egypt, where he leads a revolt against an evil queen.

Director:

Carlo Campogalliani

Writers:

Oreste Biancoli (story and screenplay), Ennio De Concini (story and screenplay)

Stars:

Mark Forest, Chelo Alonso, Vira Silenti

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Mark Forest	...	Maciste (as Mark Forrest)
Chelo Alonso	...	Queen Smedes
Vira Silenti	...	Tekaet
Angelo Zanolli	...	Pharaoh Kenamun
Federica Ranchi	...	Nofret
Carlo Tamberlani	...	Pharaoh Armiteo I
Nino Musco	...	Senneka the Camel Driver
Zvonimir Rogoz	...	Grand Visir
Ignazio Dolce	...	Tradesman
Andrea Fantasia	...	Blacksmith
Petar Dobric	...	High Priest

Storyline

During the Persian rule over Egypt (circa 525-480 B.C.), the young prince Kenamon uses to wander about, and mixing with the poor people. Once, he finds himself in a life threatening situation, and is saved by a strong man, Maciste. In another occasion, he sees a beautiful girl, Nofret, and falls in love with her. He talks with his father the Pharaoh Amirteo I, about being much impressed with the hunger and miserable living conditions of the people. His father decides to raise an army against the Persians, but his beautiful but cunning wife Smedes, godmother of Kenamon and allied of the Persian Gran Visir, kills him before he acts. Once on the throne of Pharaoh, Kenamon is drugged with a substance prepared by Smedes, and loses his will-power. Meanwhile, Nofret is about to be sold as slave. Maciste becomes the leader of the people's revolt, and is acclaimed at the the local games. Maciste gets Nofret free, manages not to fall under Smedes' love filters, and gathers and leads a ...

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Plot Keywords:

persian | pharaoh | egypt | guard | slave | 

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Taglines:

It's beyond belief!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Italy France Yugoslavia

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

24 November 1960 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Maciste in the Valley of the Kings

Filming Locations:

Interstudio, Rome, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Panda Societa per L'Industria Cinematografica,Compagnie Industrielle et Commerciale Cinématographique (CICC),Gallus Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa #33422 of November 19, 1960.

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Quotes

Queen Smedes: Feed him to the crocodiles.

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Connections

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 7 (2002)

User Reviews

Better than average Peplum thanks to robust Mark Forest and expert filmmaker Carlo Campogalliani

Mythological epic with a magnificent he-man as is Mark Forest and set in Under Egypt whose center is ¨Sais¨ while High Egypt the capitol is ¨Tanis¨ . The setting is the 11th century BC ancient Egypt , when the country is dominated by Persian occupiers who have enslaved the people . At the beginning appears some impressive images with slaves buried until neck and serpents surrounding and other frames with persons burn on poles . Pharaoh Armiteo I (Carlo Tamberlani) is planning a rebellion against Persians . But his gorgeous wife Smedes (Chelo Alonso) aware and kill him . The young prince Kenamus (Zanolli) becomes the new successor , but he is deceived and spelled by means of a potion who turns into slave to Smedes . The bouncing Maciste helps the youngster Kenamun and reunites an army of rebels to take on the Smedes troops . Our protagonist unhesitatingly goes into action and must use his strength to save the successor from villain Smedes and against the pharaoh's former counselor . Then Maciste becomes inextricably involved in a war between usurpers under the command the Egyptian troops against an army of helpless rebels . Along the way Maciste or Hercules or Goliath frees slaves , moves rocks and fights a lion and Crocs .

French/Italian co-production with haunting scenarios , wonderful outdoors and rousing production design . This is a good spaghetti , myth-opera with action , love , battles and luxurious landscapes . The movie has not mythological accuracy neither expecting historical . Breathtaking scenes when is elevated an Egyptian column and overwhelming final battle with surprisingly gory scenes . As usual ,the beautiful Cuban dancer/actress plays an erotic dancing with veil included before Maciste that was censored in Spain . In the picture turns up Peplum ordinaries as Vira Silenti , the veteran Carlo Tamberlani and Andrea Fantasia who along with his brother Franco Fantasia worked much as maestros of weapons in this genre . Interesting screenplay by Ennio De Concini , a prolific writer who wrote a lot of Spaghetti , Gialli and Peplum . This spectacular Sword and Sandal movie displays a colorful and glimmer cinematography by Riccardo Pallotini , filmed on location in Egypt including the pyramids and temples of Hatsetsup , Karnak , Luxor , among others . Atmospheric and evocative musical score by Carlo Innocenzi . The motion picture is well directed by Carlo Campogalliani who made many tales of this kind . He along with Vittorio Cottafavi and Giorgio Ferroni continued to realize films in the historical-spectacular style , at which he developed a considerable skill and mastery .

Mark Forest , in his first film, is perfect as the mythical hero who encounters many dangerous situations while trying to save a pharaoh of numerous odds . Forest who played the mythic Maciste in great number of movies was randomly assigned the identity of Hercules , Goliath , Samson or Aron for U.S. viewing . Bouncing and strong Forest was the second American actor bodybuilder , after Steve Reeves , to be recruited by Italian producers to star in Peplum films . The muscle-man Forest left allegedly the sword and sandals genre for the Opera . He used the amount of money he made acting as hero and gladiator films in Italy to study Opera , he currently teaches in the Los Angeles zone . He was one along with Ed Fury , Dan Vadis,Brad Harris , Alan Steel , Reg Park , Gordon Scott whom to seek fortune acting absurdly as muscle mythological figures but nobody topped Steve Reeves in popularity . He only starred Peplum such as : 1964 Hércules against sons of sun , 1964 Lion of Tebas , 1964 Maciste Nell'inferno Gengis Khan , 1964 Maciste, Gladiatore Sparta , 1963 Maciste Contro i Mongoli ,1963 Maciste, l'Eroe più Grande del Mondo ,1962 Maciste, Gladiatore più forte Mondo , 1961 Maciste, the Son of Hercules , 1960 La Venganza De Ercole . Rating : Above average muscle-men fodder and better than most muscles operas-spaghetti,thanks to Mark Forest and by Peplum specialist as is the director Carlo Campogalliani .