The Thief of Baghdad – Colosseo-Film (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/France, 1961
Director: Arthur Lubin
Writers: Augusto Frassinetti, Filippo Sanjust, Bruno Vailati
Cast: Steve Reeves, Giorgia Moll, Arturo Dominici, Edy Vessel, Daniele Vargas, Antonio Battistella, Fanfulla, Giancarlo Zarfati, Gina Mascetti

Release Date: December 6th, 2019
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 3 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: FSK 6 (Germany)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD Mono German
Subtitles: Italian, German
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: 14,99 EUR

"Karim is a handsome thief who specializes in robbing the rich in Baghdad to give small gifts to the poor. With the help of disguise, wit and acrobatics, he invades the Sultan's palace at a festival, where he falls in love with Princess Amina. The power-hungry suitor for her hand, Prince Osman, tries to win her over with a magic potion, after which she falls into a deep sleep. A sorcerer sends Karim in search of the "blue rose" that Amina can resurrect. After battles against snake trees, an invisible giant, a beautiful witch and other adventures, he rides into the Temple of the "Blue Rose" on a flying horse..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

The Thief of Baghdad comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.5 GB

Feature: 21.1 GB

Though no information is provided about this transfer source, it is in great shape, and print debris has been cleaned up. Colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and compression is good. Also, there are a few minor instances where the quality of the source drops; these are transition shots.

Audio: 4.25/5 (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 English-language track. This track is in great shape; dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well represented. Included are removable German and Italian subtitles. It should be noted that when watching the English-language track, there is some dialog that is in Italian, and these moments come with removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (43 images - posters/lobby cards/stills), an interview with Steve Reeves stunt double Giovanni Cianfriglia (7 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable German subtitles), and reversible cover art.

Summary:

Directed by Arthur Lubin, who is most known for The Phantom of the Opera (1943) and directing six Francis the Talking Mule films. Notable collaborators on The Thief of Baghdad include cinematographer Tonino Delli Colli (Once Upon a Time in America), art director Flavio Mogherini (The Pyjama Girl Case), and composer Carlo Rustichelli (Blood and Black Lace).

The narrative revolves around Karim, a Robin Hood-like thief who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. One day he crosses paths with a princess while impersonating a prince, and when she falls in love with him, the real prince gives her a potion that puts her in a deep sleep. Her fate lies in the hands of the blue rose, which will reverse the potion's spell.

Though a film like The Thief of Baghdad falls into what is referred to as peplums, It is one of this genre's many subgenres of Italian-made films that feature mythical or biblical characters, and some are loosely based on Italian history. That said, a film like Thief of Bagdad falls into the Babylon/Middle East subgenre of peplum.

Over the course of ten years, Steve Reeves made sixteen films in Italy. And though all but two of these films fall into one of the many peplum subgenres, Most of his films cast him in the role of a hero who used his physical attributes. In a film like The Thief of Bagdad, it is one of the few times where he relies mostly on his acting since he has only a few moments where he uses his brawn. That said, performance-wise, he does a very good job capturing the essence of Karim’s mischievous behavior.

The Thief of Bagdad is an Arabian Nights-themed film that throws in some Ray Harryhausen-like special effects for good measure. The well-executed narrative is briskly paced, and though humor plays a role throughout, that is not to say that there is not ample action. The first fifty minutes are more lighthearted than the last forty minutes, in which the fantasy elements go into overdrive as Karim's quest for the blue rose takes him on a wondrous journey. Some things he would encounter include deadly trees that use their branches to kill, women who turn into stone, and a horse that flies. Ultimately, The Thief of Bagdad is a whimsical tale that does a fantastic job mixing action, fantasy, and humor.

The Thief of Baghdad gets a strong audio audio/video presentation from Colosseo-Film, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Romulus and Remus (Duel of the Titans) – Explosive Media/Koch Media (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/France, 1961
Director: Sergio Corbucci
Writers: Ennio De Concini, Luciano Martino, Franco Rossetti, Sergio Corbucci, Duccio Tessari, Sergio Leone, Adriano Bolzoni
Cast: Steve Reeves, Gordon Scott, Virna Lisi, Franco Volpi, Laura Solari, Piero Lulli, José Greci

Release Date: March 11th, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 108 Minutes 40 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: English, German
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: 13,99 EUR

"Romulus and Remus were thrown into the Tiber shortly after birth, fed by a she-wolf and raised by a shepherd. In revenge, they lead a bloody raid against the ruling regime of King Amulius, at the end of which one of the most important cities of antiquity will be founded." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Romulus and Remus comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.1 GB

Feature: 26.3 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: 4.25/5 (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 gallery (56 images - posters/stills/advertisements/lobby cards), a theatrical trailer (5 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with Steve Reeves stunt double Giovanni Cianfriglia (7 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable German subtitles), German theatrical version of Romulus and Remus (101 minutes 8 seconds, 2.35:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD mono German with removable German subtitles), and reversible cover art.

Summary:

Directed by Sergio Corbucci, who would go on to become one of the filmmakers most synonymous with spaghetti westerns. Romulus and Remus is the second of three peplums Sergio Corbucci directed. The other two are Goliath and the Vampires and The Slave. Key collaborators on Romulus and Remus include directors Sergio Leone (Once Upon a Time in The West) and Duccio Tessari (The Bloodstained Butterfly), who both contributed the screenplay, and cinematographer Enzo Barboni, who would go on to direct They Call Me Trinity and Trinity Is Still My Name.

The narrative revolves around two brothers, Romulus and Remus, who were abandoned and kept alive by a she-wolf before a shepherd took them in. Though they are twins, these brothers could not be more unalike. Where Remus is driven by his ambitions even at the expense of others, Romulus’ empathy has him always putting everyone ahead of himself. Their bond would be broken when Remus was seduced by power and greed.

Despite Romulus and Remus having all of the trappings that are synonymous with peplums, Notably muscular leading men and an ample amount of action sequences, just to name a few things, It is a film that also uses Roman mythology as its foundation. The two brothers Romulus and Remus are at the heart of this film, leading to the founding of the city of Rome.

When discussing Peplum, a key ingredient in these films is their leading men. And though most peplums have one protagonist, Romulus and Remus have two. Cast in the role of Romulus is Steve Reeves (Hercules); he is the actor more than any that has come to define the peplum hero, and cast in the role of Remus is Gordon Scott, who also made a name for himself in peplums. He is also known for portraying Tarzan in six films. Despite their physical stature playing a role in the story at hand, this film actually does a good job allowing these two actors to shine in more dramatic moments.

At just under one hundred and nine minutes in length, there are rarely dull moments. And what the narrative lacks is more than made up for with its action sequences, which are all well executed. A few standout moments include a horse race where bales that are on fire are obstacles and a scene where Romulus fights a bear. Also, Sergio Corbucci had a knack for creating tense moments, and his direction is rock solid. Ultimately, Romulus and Remus is a perfect mix of action and historical drama.

Romulus and Remus gets a strong audio audio/video presentation from Explosive Media/Koch Media, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Slave (The son of Spartacus) – Colosseo-Film (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1962
Director: Sergio Corbucci
Writers: Adriano Bolzoni, Giovanni Grimaldi, Bruno Corbucci
Cast: Steve Reeves, Jacques Sernas, Gianna Maria Canale, Claudio Gora, Ombretta Colli, Roland Bartrop, Franco Balducci, Enzo Fiermonte, Renato Baldini, Gloria Parri

Release Date: April 14th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 101 Minutes 31 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: English, Italian, German
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: 14,99 EUR

"In 48 BC, the young Roman centurion Randus was secretly sent by Julius Caesar to his adversary Crassus in Syria. There the centurion learns of his true origins: He is the son of the legendary slave leader Spartacus, who died on the cross in 71 BC after the defeat of his army in southern Italy. The son of Spartacus takes the side of the enslaved population. When Crassus finds out who is fighting him in the sign of Spartacus, Randus seems lost. But with the help of the beautiful slave girl Zaida, he can escape from his captors..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

The Slave comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 35 GB

Feature: 27.8 GB

Though no information is provided about this transfer source, it is in great shape. Colors and flesh tones look correct, the image looks crisp, compression is very good, and though black levels fare well, there are a few instances where they are not as strong as they should be. Also, there are a few minor instances where the quality of the source drops. That said, when compared to other peplums that have made their way to Blu-ray, this transfer is one of the stronger ones.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono Italian), 4.25/5 (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. These two tracks are in great shape; there are no issues with background hiss or distortion. Also, dialogue comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well represented. That said, the English-language track sounds more robust than the Italian-language track. Included are removable English, Italian, and German subtitles. The English subtitles appear to be a direct translation of the Italian track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (47 images - posters/stills), a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), historical introduction (56 seconds, Dolby Digital mono German, no subtitles), an interview with Steve Reeves stunt double Giovanni Cianfriglia (7 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable German subtitles), a documentary about the peplum film genre titled Kino Kolossal (60 minutes 59 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo German, no subtitles), reversible cover art, and a slipcase.

Summary:

Directed by Sergio Corbucci, who is most remembered for directing the nihilistic Spaghetti western Django. Key collaborators on The Slave include screenwriter Bruno Corbucci (Cop in Drag), cinematographer Enzo Barboni (My Name is Trinity), editor Ruggero Mastroianni (Conversation Piece), and composer Piero Piccioni (The 10th Victim).

Where far too many peplums rely more on the spectacle of what is occurring on screen. The Slave finds the perfect balance between well-rounded characters and spectacle. Also unlike many Italian films at the time, which often took titles from other similar movies that were successful at the time. This film makes a genuine attempt to be a film that stands on its own. Despite its main character being drawn from the ancestry of Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus.

The narrative does a superb job setting up who everyone is and what their motivations are. And it also throws in a few well-timed misdirections to keep things interesting throughout. And though there is a considerable amount of time spent building the main characters backstories, The action sequences never suffer, as they are all well executed and inventive. Another area in which this film often stands out from its contemporaries are its death scenes, most notably the way in which this film’s main villain is disposed of.

Without a doubt, Steve Reeves (Hercules) is the most recognizable face to ever appear in the Peplum genre, and The Slave would mark his final appearance in the genre that he has become synonymous with. Performance-wise, he gives what is arguably not only his strongest performance in a Peplum film, but what is easily his strongest performance of his career.

Performance-wise, the rest of the cast are all very good in their respective roles; unfortunately for them, Steve Reeves is just so damn good in this film that his performance towers head and shoulders above all the other performances in this film.

Not to be overlooked is Sergio Corbucci’s solid direction. The Slave also re-teams him with Steve Reeves, whom he had previously directed in the film Duel of the Titans. And though he is more known for his forays into the Spaghetti western and Poliziotteschi film genres, It is not hard to see his immersion style in The Slave when it comes to action and violent set pieces.

Though made near the end of the Peplum cycle in Italy, with the arrival of the Spaghetti western just around the corner, The Slave is a surprisingly strong entry in the Peplum genre.

The Slave gets a strong audio audio/video presentation from Colosseo-Film, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World (Maciste alla corte del Gran Khan) – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/France, 1961
Director: Riccardo Freda
Writers: Oreste Biancoli, Duccio Tessari
Writers US Version: George Gonneau, Lee Kresel
Cast: Gordon Scott, Yôko Tani, Hélène Chanel, Dante DiPaolo, Gabriele Antonini, Leonardo Severini, Valéry Inkijinoff, Franco Ressel, Ely Yeh, Ham Chau Luong, Chu Lai Chit

Release Date: August 16th, 2022
Approximate running times: 95 Minutes 50 Seconds (International Version), 76 Minutes 19 Seconds (AIP Version)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Versions)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English (Both Versions)
Subtitles: English SDH (Both Versions)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $24.95

"Hordes of sadistic Mongol warriors descend upon China, enslaving its people and plotting to assassinate the beautiful young princess (Yôko Tani, The Savage Innocents)—until a musclebound hero (Gordon Scott, Tarzan the Magnificent) rises up and rouses the people to drive the Mongols from their nation’s majestic mountainscapes. A legendary warrior fulfills his destiny and becomes a miracle of a man in this classic peplum adventure film, also known as Maciste at the Court of the Great Khan." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (International Version), 3.75/5 (AIP Version)

Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.5 GB

Feature: 21.5 GB (International Version), 14.7 GB (AIP Version)

Though no information is provided about the sources used for both versions, the source used for the international version is in great shape, and other source imperfections are minimal. Colors and flesh tones look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there does not appear to be any digital noise reduction.

The source for the AIP version is not in as good condition. The opening and closing credits come from sources that look worn and are in rough shape. That said, the rest of the video looks considerably better, and it obviously comes from a different source than the one used for the opening and closing credits.

Audio: 4/5 (International Version), 3.5/5 (AIP Version)

Both versions come with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and both versions come with removable English SDH subtitles. The audio track for the international version sounds clean, clear, and balanced. The audio track for the AIP version has some syllabance issues, but the dialog comes through clearly enough to follow, and the ambient sounds are well represented. That said, when it comes to range, both audio mixes can sound limited.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, a limited-edition slipcover, and an audio commentary with novelist and film critic Tim Lucas.

Other extras include trailers for The Revolt of the Slaves, Arabian Adventure, Jack the Giant Killer, The Magic Sword, and Sinbad of the Seven Seas, and a promo for Kino Cult.

Summary:

Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World was directed by Riccardo Freda, a versatile filmmaker who worked in whatever genre was popular at the time in Italian cinema. Notable films directed by Riccardo Freda include I Vampiri, The Horrible Dr. Hichcock, The Ghost, Double Face, and The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire. Many of the sets and extras in Samson and the Seven Miracles of the World are reused from Piero Pierotti's Marco Polo, for which Riccardo Freda shot the action sequences. Also, actress Yoko Tani (The Savage Innocents) is in both films.

Though the Peplum genre had one of the longest runs of the genres which dominated Italian cinema in the 1950's, 60's and 70’s. The Plum peak period was between 1958 and 1965. With the last few years of this run suffering from the same elements that brought about the demise of all subsequent genre film cycles in Italian cinema, sub-genres within the genre are another element introduced by Peplum that would become a staple of later Italian film cycles. A case in point is Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World, a film that fits into a subgenre that revolves around a character named Maciste. It should be noted that the character's original name was Maciste, and it was changed for the US theatrical release to Samson.

The thing that immediately sets Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World apart from other Peplum is its setting in the Orient. And though Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World has many of the elements that one has come to expect from Peplum films, the mix of the Orient with the Peplum makes for an odd pairing.

Peplum films are most remembered for their leading men, who are usually former bodybuilders who have been chosen for their physique. Cast in the lead role of Samson is Gordon Scott, who before making a name for himself in Peplum, appeared as Tarzan in five films. He more than fulfills the psychical attributes of Samson.

Though Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World is a film that maximizes its resources, it is not a film without its shortcomings. Most notably, an unfocused narrative that suffers from a lack of Samson, who does not make his first appearance until about the twenty-minute mark. That said, when it comes to action sequences and moments of spectacle, Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World delivers in spades. Ultimately, Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World is a mid-tier Peplum that fans of this genre will get the most out of.

Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World gets a first-rate release from Kino Lorber that comes with a strong audio/video presentation, two versions of the film, and an insightful audio commentary, recommended.

                                                       AIP Version Screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Son of Samson - Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/France/Yugoslavia, 1960
Director: Carlo Campogalliani
Writers: Oreste Biancoli, Ennio De Concini
Cast: Mark Forest, Chelo Alonso, Vira Silenti, Angelo Zanolli, Federica Ranchi, Carlo Tamberlani, Nino Musco, Zvonimir Rogoz, Ignazio Dolce, Andrea Fantasia, Petar Dobric

Release Date: May 10th, 2022
Approximate running time: 88 minutes 53 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $24.95

"During the Persian rule over Egypt, the mighty Maciste (bodybuilder Mark Forest, Goliath and the Dragon) travels to the city of Tanis where the evil Queen Smedes (Folies Bergère dancer Chelo Alonso, Sheba and the Gladiator) rules with an iron fist and spreads misery across the land. Possessing legendary brawn and courage, Maciste leads a mass revolt against the queen and her tyrannical reign of terror." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Son of Samson comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 20.7 GB

Feature: 19.5 GB

Though no information is provided about this transfer, the source used for this transfer is in great shape. Any source imperfections are minimal and very minor. The colors look very good, the image looks crisp, and the black levels are strong.

Audio: 3.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and included with this release are removable English SDH subtitles. There are no issues with background hiss or distortion; dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. That said, range-wise, things can sound limited.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an audio commentary by film historian David Del Valle and filmmaker/historian Michael Varrati, and a limited-edition slipcover.

Other extras include trailers for The Revolt of the Slaves, Arabian Adventure, Jack the Giant Killer, The Magic Sword, and Sinbad of the Seven Seas. 

Summary:

Though it has been neglected when it comes to the Blu-ray format, Peplum was the first Italian cycle of films that gained a worldwide audience. Sure, Peplum, like most Italian film cycles, became derivative and oversaturated, which led to its demise. And yet, there is something oddly entertaining about peplums, especially when it comes to this film cycle's most celebrated films.

The protagonists' heroes were the one constant in Peplums. And though Hercules is the most recognizable name, other notable heroes include Goliath, Maciste, and Samson. Besides heroes, Peplums also made a household name out of several bodybuilders turned actors, most notably Steve Reeves. Another actor who made a name for himself in Peplum was Mark Forest, whose notable films include Goliath and the Dragon, Son of Samson, and The Lion of Thebes.

Content-wise, Son of Samson has all the elements that one would want from a peplum. Nonetheless, the end result is a by-the-numbers film in which the majority of the narrative revolves around Samson as he performs superhuman feats. Also, when it comes to the premise, Son of Samson goes with the all-too familiar slave versus master scernerio.

Fortunately, peplums are about spectacle, and because of this, any shortcomings are easy to forgive. That said, the main attraction of Son of Samson is Mark Forest, who physically more than fulfills his character's traits. Unfortunately, he lacks the onscreen presence that someone like Steve Reeves had in spades. Ultimately, despite its familiarity, Son of Samson can be a lot of fun.

Kino Lorber’s Son of Samson Blu-ray comes with a strong audio/video presentation and comes with an informative audio commentary, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer