The Loves of Salammbo (1960)

During the 3rd century B.C. a horde of barbarians are hired by the Phoenian city of Carthage to fight against the Roman empire, but when the city's ruler is unable to fulfill the promised ... See full summary »

Director:

Sergio Grieco

Writers:

Mario Caiano, Gustave Flaubert (novel)

Stars:

Jeanne Valérie, Jacques Sernas, Edmund Purdom

Cast

Credited cast:
Jeanne Valérie	...	Salambò
Jacques Sernas	...	Mathos
Edmund Purdom	...	Narr Havas
Arnoldo Foà	...	Spendius
Riccardo Garrone	...	Hamilcar
Kamala Devi	...	Maiden
Charles Fawcett	...	Annone
Brunella Bovo	...	Neshma
Andrea Aureli	...	Kohamir
Raf Baldassarre	...	Capo Mercenario
Nando Tamberlani	...	Gran Sacerdote
Ivano Staccioli	...	Gell
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Antonio Basile
Pasquale Basile
Vittorio Duse

Storyline

During the 3rd century B.C. a horde of barbarians are hired by the Phoenian city of Carthage to fight against the Roman empire, but when the city's ruler is unable to fulfill the promised payment made to the mercenaries, they attack the African settlement, where Salammbô --the king's daughter and high priestess of goddess Tanit- tries to settle the matter when the Barbarian leader who has fallen for her steals the sacred veil of Carthage from the temple, without taking into account the evil schemes of a powerful member of the council of wise men.

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Plot Keywords:

peplum | based on novel | man wears a loincloth | barbarian | priestess | 

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Taglines:

The Mighty Spectacle of Forbidden Love!

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Did You Know?

Quotes

Salambò: Don't you see how much I hate you?
Narr Havas: The more you despise me, the more I desire you.

User Reviews

Jacques Sernas is an impressive barbarian peplum hero

Whoever would have thought that a novel by the author of "Madame Bovary" would be the basis for a barbarian peplum film? Nevertheless, Salammbo is just that. Mathos ( a muscular and handsome Sernas) brings his angry band of unpaid barbarian merceneries to the king of Carthage demanding their just recompense. While confronting the king, he meets Hamilcar's daughter, the princess Salammbo, virgin high priestess of the goddess Tanit and guardian of the sacred veil. The villainous chief advisor (Purdom) promises to send chests of gold if they will await far outside the city. When they are delivered, the chests are filled with stones under a top layer of gold. Furious, Mathos vows revenge which involves the beautiful Salammbo and the sacred veil. Few if any complete prints of this film have survived. The American release was severely cut. After viewing a more complete, but still not intact Italian print which included more excised action footage and a final duel between Sernas and Purdom while awaiting execution, I have to say that what would have been a reasonably good film has been butchered. If anyone has the complete version I hope they will have it restored and made available.

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

October 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Loves of Salammbo

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stella Film, Fides Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1