Hercules in the Haunted World (1961)

Hercules must journey in Hades itself to retrieve the magic stone that will free his love from the powers of darkness.

Director:

Mario Bava

Writers:

Sandro Continenza (story and screenplay) (as Alessandro Continenza), Mario Bava (story and screenplay)

Stars:

Reg Park, Christopher Lee, Leonora Ruffo

Cast

Cast overview:
Reg Park	...	Hercules
Christopher Lee	...	Lico
Leonora Ruffo	...	Princess Deianira
George Ardisson	...	Theseus (as Giorgio Ardisson)
Marisa Belli	...	Aretheuse
Evelyn Stewart	...	Persephone (as Ida Galli)
Franco Giacobini	...	Telemachus
Mino Doro	...	Keros
Rosalba Neri	...	Helena (credit only)
Ely Drago	...	Jocasta (as Ely Dracò)
Gaia Germani	...	Medea
Raf Baldassarre	...	Mercenary
Elisabetta Pavan	...	Tamar
Aldo Pedinotti	...	Sunis (as Aldo Padinotti)
Claudio Marzulli

Storyline

Upon his return from battle in the previous film, the great warrior Hercules learns that his lover, Daianara, has lost her senses. Acording of the oracle Medea, Dianara's only hope is the Stone of Forgetfulness which lies deep in the realm of Hades. Hercules, with two companions, Theseus and Telemachus, embarks on a dangerous quest for the stone, while he is unaware that Dianara's guardian, King Lico, is the one responsible for her condition and plots to have the girl for himself as his bride upon her revival.

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Plot Keywords:

bare chested male bondage | muscleman | greece | ancient greece | hercules character | 

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Taglines:

Superhuman Strength Versus Supernatural Evil!!

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy West Germany

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

April 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hercules in the Haunted World

Filming Locations:

Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

SpA Cinematografica, Omnia Deutsche Film Export

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min (Blu-ray)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hercules in the Haunted World was released in Italy in November 16, 1961. It received a theatrical release in the United States in April 1964. Christopher Lee's voice was dubbed by another actor for the English-language version of the film. In the Italian version, Lee dubs his own voice.

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Goofs

Near the beginning of the film Thesus tosses his lover (Dania?) in to a river to keep her safe from their attackers. But moments later, after Hercules rescues them, she is completely dry and not a hair out of place.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Medea: This is Italia, a kingdom city of ancient Greece in an age of myth and legend. It is a time when Olympian gods and demigods rule over the elements of nature and control the destinies of men.

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Connections

Referenced in The Graham Norton Show: Arnold Schwarzenegger/Ronnie Corbett/Miranda Hart/Usher (2012)

User Reviews

It is the best Hercules film.

Fantoma has done an incredible job of bringing this film to light and I look forward to their Kenneth Anger compilation that is supposed to be coming out this summer.

I have read on and off over the years that this Hercules film by Mario Bava was supposedly the best one of all and after finally getting a copy, sat down to watch it and was truly knocked out by the visuals. I've never really been interested in the Herc. series, I've tried watching a few of them but they are soooo boring! Mario Bava lovingly designed this film and it has all of his special touches.

Fantastic set pieces are shown during the treks through Hades and a very creepy atmosphere that goes beyond smoke and mirrors draws you in. Film obsessives who appreciate interesting cinematography and lighting will definitely want to own a copy of this. I understand why in various genre film magazines, articles, etc. this film has been rated as the better of the Hercules films.

Without ruining it for anyone, I'd like to mention some of the most beautiful scenes include the visits Hercules makes to The Oracle, just breathtaking in its composition, lighting, and framing and when the zombies rise to battle Hercules (Truly Creepy! and these Zombies run! which surprised me especially since the film was made in the early sixties.) My advice to viewers is to watch the film in Italian with English subtitles. The dialogue just sounds more intense and the film in English just sounds incredibly stiff and cheesy and really distracts you. This release by Fantoma is definitely worth having in your film library.