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

A Long Ride from Hell – Code Red (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/Spain, 1968
Director: Camillo Bazzoni
Writers: Gordon D. Shirreffs, Roberto Natale, Steve Reeves
Cast: Steve Reeves, Wayde Preston, Guido Lollobrigida, Mimmo Palmara, Silvana Venturelli, Nello Pazzafini, Franco Fantasia, Enzo Fiermonte, Aldo Sambrell, Rosalba Neri

Release Date: September 13th, 2016
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 38 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: N/A
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: OOP

"When some badly dubbed bad guys rob a shipment of gold from a railroad company, Mike Sturges (Steve Reeves of Hercules fame) and his brother are framed for the crime. Thrown into the hellish Yuma State Prison, the brothers are  to work hard labor. The is so intense that Mike’s brother ends up dead, nailed to a cross! Mike escapes from prison and goes after the bad guys who framed him, and to also settle the score against the prison guard (Nello Pazzafini) who was responsible for his brother’s death. It’s hot times in Yumatowntonight!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 2k scan from the original inter negatives."

A Long Ride from Hell comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.9 GB

Feature: 20.1 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Flesh tones look correct, color saturation, image clarity, and black levels are solid, compression is very good, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 3.75/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Though there are some instances of background hiss, it’s never intrusive; dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. Range-wise, things sound satisfactory.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 4 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a featurette titled At Home with Steve Reeves! (13 minutes 47 seconds, in English and Italian with non-removable English subtitles), and a career spanning interview with actor Mimmo Palmara (57 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles).  

Summary:

A Long Ride From Hell was directed by Camillo Bazzoni (Mafia Connection). The screenplay for A Long Ride From Hell was co-written by Steve Reeves, his first and only screenwriting credit. The screenplay was adapted from a novel written by Gordon D. Shirreffs titled Judas Gun. The cinematographer on A Long Ride From Hell was Enzo Barboni, who would go on to become a director in his own right. Directing Spaghetti Western comedies like They Call Me Trinity... and Trinity Is Still My Name! The composer on A Long Ride From Hell was Carlo Savina, whose other notable scores include Naked You Die, The Legend of Blood Castle, Lisa and the Devil, and The Killer Reserved Nine Seats.

The narrative revolves around two brothers who are framed for a robbery that they did not commit. Mike Sturges and his brother get sent to Yuma Penitentiary. While in prison, his brother dies at the hands of the sadistic prison guards. With nothing left to lose, he agrees to take part in a prison break. After regaining his freedom, he then tracks down those responsible for framing him for a crime he did not commit.

After solidifying his place as one of the most in-demand American actors working in Italy during the late 1950s and early 1960s, Steve Reeves, who for the bulk of his career worked in the peplum genre, notably in the role of Hercules. For his swan song as an actor, he would make a spaghetti western, which around the same time was also reaching its apex. And though appearing in a spaghetti western might seem like an odd choice for Steve Reeves, It is not difficult to imagine him as the lead in a spaghetti western. Since most of his earlier roles were cut from a similar mold. And just like those characters, Mike Sturges would have to overcome insurmountable odds in his quest for vengeance.

Though the narrative revolves around a heist where robbers steal gold from a train, Ultimately, A Long Ride From Hell is a tale about revenge. Though A Long Ride From Hell has many elements that have become synonymous with spaghetii westerns, Setting the film at Yuma Penitentiary, where the prisoners are often at the mercy of the sadistic prison guards, is one area where A Long Ride From Hell stands out from most of its contemporaries.

From an action standpoint, A Long Ride From Hell does not disappoint. There are plenty of shootouts, fist fights, and even a barroom brawl thrown in for good measure. Visually, A Long Ride From Hell goes for a more stark style than the more typical operatic style that’s become the hallmark of spaghetti westerns.

Performance-wise, the entire cast is very good in their respective roles, especially Spartaco Conversi (The Great Silence) in the role of a sadistic prison guard. Other notable cast members include Aldo Sambrell (Face to Face) in the role of a Mexican bounty hunter, Rosalba Neri (Amuck!) in the role of a prostitute named Encarnation, and Silvana Venturelli (Camille 2000) in the role of Ruth Harper. Ultimately, A Long Ride From Hell is a middle-of-the-road spaghetti Western that would have remained in obscurity if it were not for Steve Reeves presence in the title role.

A Long Ride from Hell gets a solid release from Code Red that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of informative extras, 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