The Giant of Marathon – Explosive Media/Plaion Pictures (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/France, 1959
Directors: Jacques Tourneur, Mario Bava
Writers: Ennio De Concini, Augusto Frassinetti, Bruno Vailati
Cast: Steve Reeves, Mylène Demongeot, Sergio Fantoni, Daniela Rocca, Philippe Hersent, Alberto Lupo, Daniele Vargas, Miranda Campa, Gianni Loti

Release Date: August 13th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 88 Minutes 14 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: FSK 12 (Germany)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD Mono German
Subtitles: Italian, German, English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: 19,99 EUR

"490 BC: Athens faces the threat of the Persian army, while powerful men within the city spin their own intrigues. The celebrated athlete Philippides becomes a beacon of hope for his people and must fight not only against external enemies but also against betrayal within his own ranks. At his side stand the beautiful Andromeda and the general Miltiades, while above it all hovers the impending collision at Marathon." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

The Giant of Marathon comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 39 GB

Feature: 21.7 GB

Though no information is provided about this transfer source, it is in great shape, and print debris has been cleaned up. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, the image looks crisp, black levels are strong, and compression is very good. That said, peplum is a genre that has not fared well transfer-wise; fortunately, this transfer is one of the stronger ones.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and a DTS-HD mono mix in German. For this review, I only listened to the Italian and English tracks. Quality-wise, these two tracks are comparable. They both sound clean, clear, and balanced. Also, range-wise, they sound robust when they should. Included are removable English and German subtitles. The English subtitles appear to be a direct translation of the Italian track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image with music from the film playing in the background (67 images—posters/lobby cards/stills), a US theatrical trailer (2 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a German version of The Giant of Marathon (84 minutes 33 seconds, 2.35:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD mono German, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Benedikt Wilken and Leonhard Elias Lemke in German, no subtitles, and reversible cover art.

Summary:

Jacques Tourneur co-directed The Giant of Marathon. Notable films he’s directed include Cat People, I Walked with a Zombie, The Leopard Man, Out of the Past, Nightfall, and Night of the Demon. Cinematographer Mario Bava was forced to finish The Giant of Marathon when Jacques Tourneur did not extend his ten-month contract with the production company.

The sacred god, led by a Greek soldier named Phillipides, is the only thing standing in the way of Persian invaders attacking Greece.

Although Peplums are most known for their fantastical elements and mythical characters, most of Steve Reeves' Peplums are based on historical events. For example, The Giant of Marathon derives its title from and is inspired by the historical event the Battle of Marathon. That said, Steve Reeves’ character Phillipides is based on a 5th-century-BC Athenian running courier who was a central figure in what became the marathon race.

While an impending Persian invasion looms throughout The Giant of Marathon, it is ultimately a story about power and betrayal of country. The opening setup quickly establishes Theocritus's treachery and lust for power. From there, the Greeks, who are outnumbered against the Persians, make an alliance with another enemy, the Spartans. All of these events set in motion an epic battle that culminates the film.

The main attraction is Steve Reeves (Hercules) in the role of Philipides. Where his roles to that point relied heavily on his physical attributes, Philipides is one of his most rounded characters. Another performance of note is Sergio Fantoni’s (Atom Age Vampire) portrayal of Theocritus. The female cast offers plenty of eye candy, with Mylène Demongeot (Fantômas) in the role of Andromeda and Daniela Rocca (Caltiki – The Immortal Monster) in the role of Charis, the two women vying for Philipides’ attention.

The first half of the film is exposition-heavy with only a few action-related moments. The latter half kicks off with the film's first of two big action set pieces, and the other is a surprise attack finale. While The Giant of Marathon feels more like a Jacques Tourneur film, Mario Bava’s influence is felt in the visuals, notably special effects and underwater sequences. Ultimately, The Giant of Marathon is a well-crafted Peplum that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.

The Giant of Marathon gets a strong audio/video presentation from Explosive Media/Plaion Pictures. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer