Category: Blog

THE GOLDEN ARROW Blu-ray

I got a copy of THE GOLDEN ARROW (1962) from the recently released Blu-ray edition and wow what a stunning transfer. The film looks like a million bucks. The film stars Tab Hunter and Rossana Podesta. The blog’s limitation do not do the screenshots justice. They’re almost perfect. Check out the detail in the ‘tent’ screenshot. One of the disappointing things in watching the old copies was how murky the image looked. Not anymore. Whether you like the movie or not (some people absolutely despise it!), it’s worth watching in this gorgeous transfer.


The black & White scenes are crisp and vivid.


Look at all the details!

Is there room for improvement? Yes, I’m waiting for the 4K version. Haha!

Here’s a comparison of the old version I had (actually, I had more than one version…) vs the Blu-ray print.

Guess the PEPLUM movie…

Can you guess which movie this is? It was re-titled as ‘BEAUTY OF THE BARBARIAN’ though it’s more known under its original title. This ‘edition’ was for a very obscure VHS release in the U.K. in the 1980s.

‘Man against woman’!

Artwork has very little to do with the actual movie. And it’s rated 18+. It makes it look like a porn movie of some sort, which is really not. There’s some nudity and tuff but it’s nothing like a porn movie.

Can you figure it out without doing a Google search?

The art is by Chris Achilleos…authorized or not.

New Blu-rays…

YOR – HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE (1983) starring Reb Brown and Corinne Cléry. Directed by Antonio Margheriti. Though this movie was released by Columbia Pictures this was an Italian production. They planned to do a TV mini-series. Remarkably enough, the Blu-ray is released by Mill Creek Entertainment, the company which made the 50 MOVIE PACK: WARRIORS, the first PEPLUM DVD set I ever bought.

ARABIAN ADVENTURE (1979) starring Christopher Lee. US release. I sorta like this movie but I love the super elaborate flying carpets chase scene. It’s mind bogglingly complex. The movie is worth watching for that one extensive scene alone.

Mythic Warriors: Guardians of the Legend

Mythic Warriors: Guardians of the Legend is a Canadian-made animated series that was based on Greek mythology. In the US, it was shown on CBS and lasted two seasons. Many episodes are on Youtube. It’s for kids but it’s still fun to watch.

Below is the Hercules and the Golden Apples episode.

 

 

Upcoming Blu-rays…

A new batch of Blu-rays will be released soon or early next year, most of them from KINO LORBER. They are all US releases.

GOLIATH & THE VAMPIRES (1961) starring Gordon Scott. The Blu-ray will be released as SAMSON VS THE VAMPIRES…why? I dunno. The prints currently available are mostly poor so a nice Blu-ray of this title is highly anticipated.

THE WAR LORD (1965) starring Charlton Heston. Excellent movie. Looking forward to this.

RASPUTIN – THE MAD MONK (1966). Maybe my favourite Christopher Lee / Hammer movie.

THE PERILS OF GWENDOLINE IN THE LAND OF THE YIK YAK (1984),  or just GWENDOLINE, starring Tawny Kitaen. Story starts in contemporary times and ends up in a lost civilization with female gladiators and a chariot race with women in lieu of horses. The second half is a must see for PEPLUM fans. For those who don’t know, boatload of female flesh and Brent Huff as the sole provider of male flesh. The emphasis is on nudity. Excellent soundtrack. Totally silly and yet entertaining. From the Just Jaeckin, director of EMMANUELLE (1974).

THE MAGIC SWORD (1962) starring Gary Lockwood. Classic film.

COBRA WOMAN (1944) starring Maria Montez, Sabu and Jon Hall. Can’t wait to see this!!! Love this movie! Incredible Technicolor.

THE WONDERS OF ALADDIN (1961) starring Donald O’Connor. This release will be interesting. I must say that I’m not a big fan of it but maybe the Blu-ray treatment will change my mind. There’s really good stuff in it but the story is lacking. I’m still happy for its BR release.

New batch of PEPLUM figurines

I came across a vast array of elaborate figurines of characters based on recent PEPLUM movies. TROY (2004), 300 (2006),  and 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (2014). There are even more figurines for other titles, such as HERCULES (2014).

Over $300 for some figurines.

Above and below: Figurine of Eric Bana as Hector from TROY (2004).

Above and below: Brad Pitt as Achilles from TROY (2004). Thank Zeus they didn’t use the blue costume.

Based on 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (2014)

Who’s going to buy these? Is there such a big demand?

Them blue costumes in TROY…

As a PEPLUM fan I come across many comments (from fans and non-fans) about the costumes men wear in those productions, including the tiny tunics heroes wore. Personally, I never had an issue with any of them…until TROY (2004)

Above and below: Brad Pitt, as Achilles, sporting some truly unflattering costumes.

Not to be outdone, Orlando Bloom (Paris) and Eric Bana (Hector) also wore some unflattering costumes. The one on Bloom doesn’t look as bad as the one on Bana, which makes him look like he’s got cleavage with the tank top style drooping on him. The costumes might be authentic to a certain extent but nope, they’re not good. Never came across such costumes in old PEPLUM movies.

THE LOVES OF HERCULES…monster show!

Halloween week at BY THE GODS!

The fun thing about PEPLUM movies are the many monsters and creatures that appear in them even if the movie itself is not considered a horror movie. Something like PERSEUS THE INVINCIBLE or MEDUSA VS THE SON OF HERCULES. Or even any Ray Harryhausen movie filled with animated monsters. THE LOVES OF HERCULES (1960) is another of such movie. It’s a veritable monster show.


Hercules (Mickey Hargitay) fights the Hydra


There’s this monster at the very end of the movie.

And these men turned into killer trees…with Jayne Mansfield in the clutches of killer branches.