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It seems that Artus Films got a hold of better prints than the first time they tried to get HERCULES (1958) and HERCULES UNCHAINED (1959) released a couple of years ago. These prints are from the UK. So a French distributor will release Blu-rays of these films in French and not English from prints from the British Film Institute?
Here’s a screenshot of the information at a movies forum.
Artus Films has a couple of interesting titles:
PERSEUS THE INVINCIBLE starring Richard Harrison.
This release is a bit odd: it has the Spanish version, which is different from the Italian one, in HD but the Italian one is on regular DVD. So two versions of the same movie, the Spanish one in HD and the original Italian one in regular DVD resolution.
Hopefully, the original Italian version will be released in HD as well.
PERSEUS THE INVINCIBLE at Artus Films
THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF GUERRIN MESCHINO directed by Pietro Francisci.
This is a rare film from the director of HERCULES (1958). I have one low resolution copy of this so the combo Blu-ray and DVD will be most welcome. Francisci movies are a must.
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF GUERRIN MESCHINO at Artus Films.
Both releases have extensive booklets. I can’t wait to check them out.
It also has a DVD of TIGER OF THE SEVEN SEAS but there’s a newly released Blu-ray of this title so I won’t be buying it for now. The Blu-ray is the one I want.
This is the final version of the cover for issue No 2 of BY THE GODS! magazine. It should be ready soon.
There are more projects for 2024 so keep your eyes peeled and visit the blog often for updates!
I’m currently working on issue #2 of BY THE GODS! magazine. I wanted the issue to be available before Christmas but for now, it’s unlikely for a couple of reasons, the main one being shipping. It takes at least 2 weeks for Magcloud to print and ship the magazine and with the massive Christmas rush of packages being shipped in time before December 24, the magazines will be caught in the jam and will most likely be late. So, issue #2 should be available on the first or second week of January.
Here’s a sneak preview of the cover. There might be some last minute changes to it but that’s what I’m working on for the time being.
I like the gold and red look but I really like the black and red look of the first issue. Anyway, I have so time to figure it out.
In the meantime, for those who didn’t buy the first issue, you can purchase it at Magcloud with the link below. 20% discount with the code: HOLIDAYS20. Valid until December 11.
https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2574706
You can get the new BY THE GODS! magazine at MagCloud.
Go to this link: https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2574706
A few things about this:
For now, subscriptions are not available. MagCloud doesn’t offer subscriptions. So the best way to know if there’s a new issue available is to visit this blog or PEPLUM TV on a regular basis.
You can preview the contents of the magazine but personally I would suggest not to. As to keep the element of surprise.
Shipping and handling: MagCloud are the ones who decide how much it will cost to ship to your address.
There’s currently a discount going on until Oct. 8. It’s 15% off the regular price. The code is OCT15. I don’t know if you need to have an account at MagCloud for the discount to work but personally I would create an account regardless as they’ll send emails with discounts that range from 10% to 25%.
Digital copies, or PDFs, will become available in the future, once a good number of editions have been published.
MagCloud is not affiliated with online sellers such as Amazon, which is a bummer. Eventually, I would like the magazine to be available at Amazon but for now the only place you can purchase it is at MagCloud.
You can also donate via the donate button above right, to support the continuation of the blog and this new project.
Enjoy!
SIGN OF THE GLADIATOR (1959), or SIGN OF ROME, is available in English on this German DVD. The only legit DVD release in English of that movie. It’s heavily cut (over 10 minutes of scenes cut…) but it’s in English. The intro credits are in Italian. Not the English intro credits of the US release with SIGN OF THE GLADIATOR, which is a shame. Anyway, for those looking out for an English copy of this movie starring Anita Ekberg (below), this DVD is it.
I already had this version, which had even more cuts. It was broadcast in the UK via MOVIES 4 MEN. The Italian intro credits was removed and SIGN OF THE GLADIATOR title was added to it which faded to black and went straight to the movie. Aside from this, it’s the same print as the German DVD.
The long delayed BY THE GODS! magazine was completed a few weeks ago and I got the first published edition. I examined the printed magazine, which is cool, to see if there were corrections to be made. Here’s a small preview.
Cover of the magazine.
Inside the magazine.
I found a couple of minor errors in the magazine and I’ve corrected them. I’m waiting for a few things to sort out. Once everything is done, the magazine will be available, hopefully in September. The magazine is a print on demand type. There will be a printed version and a digital version. I’m sorting out everything before it goes live.
Anyway, more on this in the near future!
I received the three German Blu-rays last Friday. I got to look at them for a while and I’m pleased with all of them. The BDs are:
Steve Reeves (or Giovanni Cianfriglia…) in THE SON OF SPARTACUS (1962)
Fausto Tozzi and Christine Kaufmann in a familiar setting in CONSTANTINE AND THE CROSS (1961)
Massimo Serata in THE GOLDEN FALCON (1955)
The best of the three is THE SON OF SPARTACUS since it includes the English audio. A definite plus but the image is also excellent. The other two are missing the English dubs and the image quality is good but a bit murky. The super widescreen of THE GOLDEN FALCON is impressive. I wish all these BDs had the English audio but alas it’s often something too hard to ask for.
I’ll have more detailed overviews of each release soon.
The remarkable thing about Luciano Marin’s career in PEPLUM movies is the number of PEPLUM actors he worked with.
Here’s just a short example:
Luciano starred along Steve Reeves in GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS. With Giulia Rubini.
Luciano worked on THE TARTARS with Victor Mature
Then Luciano co-starred as the son of Hercules (Reg Park) in HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN
Then the Italian actor was in COLOSSUS OF THE STONE AGE with Reg Lewis.
And Luciano also starred with Alan Steel in SAMSON AND THE MIGHTY CHALLENGE.
There are other movies but just this list is quite amazing. What a lucky dude!
SON OF SAMSON Blu-ray release by KINO LORBER is now available for pre-order at Amazon. This is great news.
The BD is still available for pre-order in Canada but there’s still two months left so I’ll wait and see.
Below is the official artwork of the release. Looks great.
This Blu-ray release is a complete opposite of the KL attempted release of the ill-fated GOLIATH AND THE VAMPIRES.