(1962, aka THE AVENGER) Steve Reeves, Giacomo Rossi-Stuart, Carla Marlier, Mario Ferrari. Reeves, the epitome of the perfect sword and sandal hero, plays the rugged Aeneas, who becomes involved with

WIDESCREEN EDITION (1964) Reg Park, Wandisa Guida, Eleonora Bianchi, Bruno Scipioni. Maciste is pitted against the evil Queen Fazira, who—by using to magic—has Maciste's willpower destroyed. He’s the

MARIA MAGDALENE (1958) Yvonne De Carlo, Jorge Mistral, Terrence Hill, Rossana Podestà, Massimo Serato. This Peplum epic tells the story of Mary Magdalene (De Carlo) and the twisted paths between her Jewish and Roman lovers.  Hill plays the Jewish noble who befriends the rebel Barrabas; while Mistral is the dashing Roman officer who captures De Carlo’s heart...  

(1962) Roger Browne, Jackie Lane, Massimo Serato, Linda Sini. Browne is the Roman god, Mars, who saves a city besieged by vicious warriors.  From the city is the beautiful Daphne, whom Mars goes ga-ga over; so he stays on Earth as a mortal, having “fun" with Daphne.  He also has three lightning bolts in his arsenal, courtesy of Jupiter, his dad.  

MESSALINA, IMPERIAL VENUS—Widescreen Edition (1960 Belinda Lee, Spiros Focás, Carlo Giustini, Arturo Dominici. The corrupt Roman Empress, Messalina (well-played by Lee), transforms from a Vestal Virgin to a power mad, sex-crazed killer. This film does a pretty good job portraying her depravity.  One memorable scene has a young would-be assassin ending up in Messalina’s bed...  

MINOTAUR, WILD BEAST OF CRETE—Widescreen Edition (1960) Bob Mathias, Rosanna Schiaffino, Alberto Lupo, Rik Battaglia.  King Minos sacrifices the 'required' number of virgins to the monstrous Minotaur.  But as his wife is dying, she confesses that their daughter has a twin whom she has hidden away to avoid giving one of the girls to the Minotaur... 

(1961) Mark Forest, Moira Orfei, Paul Wynter, Gianni Garko, Enrico Glori.  The son of Hercules—this time Maciste—aids survivors of a murderous raid by a war party of weird albinos that live inside Earth...

Widescreen Edition (1962, aka NEFERTITE, QUEEN OF THE NILE) Jeanne Crain, Vincent Price, Edmund Purdom. A fine epic—overlooked for years. Crain, as Nefertite, is desired by Purdom, who is imprisoned by an evil high priest, played br

PERSEUS THE INVINCIBLE—Widescreen Edition (1962) Richard Harrison, Anna Renal, Arturo Dominici.  Harrison, as Perseus, finds himself battling Medusa, her evil stone men, and an ugly dragon.  The scenes with the dragon are well-done.  Watch for the cool scene when Medusa’s stone victims return to life...