Hercules (film)

Hercules
Theatrical poster
aka	Le fatiche di Ercole
Year	1958
Directed by	Pietro Francisci
Produced by	Federico Teti
Written by	Ennio De Concini Pietro Francisci Gaio Frattini Apollonius of Rhodes (The Argonauts)
Music by	Enzo Masetti
Studio	Titanus Studios
Cast	Steve Reeves Sylva Koscina Fabrizio Mioni
Run time	107 minutes
Riffed in	Episode #502

For the episode, see MST3K 502 - Hercules.

Hercules is a 1958 fantasy film starring Steve Reeves as the titular Roman hero. It is a seminal film, kicking off the sword-and-sandal genre and making Reeves an International star.

Plot

Hercules arrives in the kingdom of Iolcus and falls in love with Iole, the daughter of King Pelias. Hercules must solve the mystery of who killed Iole's uncle, while also trying to teach Iole's brother Iphitus how to behave like a man.

Hercules endures several of his famous trials, including defeating the Cretan Bull and fighting the famed Nemean lion (which kills Iphitus). Later, Hercules joins Iole's cousin Jason and his seafaring Argonauts in a quest for the Golden Fleece.

Hercules learns that Iole's father was involved in the conspiracy to kill her uncle and the proof is written in blood on the Golden Fleece. Jason then claims his place as rightful king of Iolcus, and Hercules and Iole leave together.

Cast

• Steve Reeves - Hercules
• Sylva Koscina - Iole
• Fabrizio Mioni - Jason
• Ivo Garrani - Pelias
• Mimmo Palmara - Iphitus

Notes

• Hercules was distributed in America by Joseph E. Levine. With Hercules, Levine created a process known as "saturation booking", the practice of distributing a film in as many theaters in the country as possible, with huge TV, radio, and newspaper ad campaigns. Levine's strategy was successful, and resulted in an influx of foreign-made sword-and-sandal films and costume dramas.
• In the traditional mythological story of Hercules' romance with Iole, Hercules wins Iole's hand in an archery contest, but her father refuses to let her go away with the demigod, so Hercules kills him. Later, in a fit of Hera-induced madness, Hercules kills Iole's brother Iphituis by throwing him from the city walls. The Oracle at Delphi later tells Hercules that he must be sold into slavery in order to rid himself of his periodic madness. Hercules is sold to Queen Omphale (as seen in Hercules Unchained) and serves her for 1-3 years. Then he returns to Iole and takes her as his wife.
• The following year, a sequel, Hercules Unchained, was produced by much the same cast and crew. It had been used in a previous episode, #408.

MST3K Connections

• Director and story writer Pietro Francisci was also director and story writer for Hercules Unchained.
• Writer Ennio De Concini was also writer for Hercules Unchained.
• Steve Reeves would portray Hercules again in Hercules Unchained.
• Sylva Koscina would portray Iole again in Hercules Unchained.
• Fabrizio Mioni would portray Jason again in Hercules Unchained.
• Ivo Garrani also portrayed the King of Megalia in Hercules and the Captive Women.
• Actor and stunt double Mimmo Palmara also portrayed Polinices in Hercules Unchained, Astor in Hercules and the Captive Women, and Kurt in Argoman the Fantastic Superman.
• Lidia Alfonsi (Sybil) also portrayed Megara in The Loves of Hercules.
• Gabriele Antonini would portray Ulysses again in Hercules Unchained.
• Aldo Fiorelli would portray Argos again in Hercules Unchained.
• Andrea Fantasia would portray Laertes again in Hercules Unchained.
• Luciana Paluzzi (Iole's maid) also portrayed Dr. Lisa Benson in The Green Slime.
• Gino Mattera would portray Orpheus again in Hercules Unchained.
• Aldo Pini would portray Tifi again in Hercules Unchained.
• Composer Enzo Masetti was also composer for Hercules Unchained.
• Cinematographer, lighting technician, visual effects technician, and special effects director Mario Bava was also co-director, cinematographer, lighting technician, and special effects director for Hercules Unchained, visual effects technician for Hercules and the Captive Women, and director, writer, and cinematographer for Diabolik.
• Editor Mario Serandrei was also editor for Hercules Unchained.
• Art director and set decorator Flavio Mogherini was also architect for Hercules Unchained and art director and model effects for Diabolik.
• Costume designer Giulio Coltellacci was also costume designer for Diabolik.
• Assistant set designer Gianni D'Aloisio was also assistant architect for Hercules Unchained.
• Sound technician Giulio Tagliacozzo was also sound technician for Hercules Unchained.
• Stuntman Giovanni Cianfriglia was also a stuntman in Hercules Unchained, Escape 2000 (in which he also portrayed a rebel and a disinfector), and The Pumaman.
• Stuntman Nazzareno Zamperla was also a stuntman in Hercules Unchained and a tavern brawler in Hercules and the Captive Women.
• Gaffer Antonio Rinaldi was also gaffer for Hercules Unchained, as well as cinematographer and camera operator for Diabolik.
• Musical director Carlo Savina was also musical director for Hercules Unchained.
• Production secretary Sparaco Conversi was also production secretary for Hercules Unchained.
• Executive director Ferruccio De Martino was also executive producer for Hercules Unchained.
• Production assistant Massimo De Rita was also production assistant for Hercules Unchained and writer for The Pumaman.
• American version presenter Joseph E. Levine was also executive producer for Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and presenter for the American version of Hercules Unchained as well as Village of the Giants.
• Master of arms Enzo Musumeci Greco was also fencing master for Hercules Unchained and The Loves of Hercules, as well as master of arms and a stuntman for Argoman the Fantastic Superman.

Critical Response

• Leonard Maltin wrote: "Two-and-a-half stars ... This Italian import became a surprise U.S. hit and served as the prototype of all cloak-and-sandal pictures to come."