Author Archive: Retro

While leading a group of herdsmen, a mythical hero must battle the elements when their travels take them through a desert wasteland. Filmed partially in Algeria. Written by Guido Malatesta. English dubbed. Dir. Anthony Dawson (Antonio Marghereti)

In order to placate the angry gods, who have allowed Thessaly to be overrun with barbarian invaders and beset with natural disasters, King Jason takes his Argonauts on a search for the fabled Golden Fleece. Meanwhile, back at home, his scheming regent is plotting to get his hands on the kingdom–and the queen.

Hamilan, a cruel and ambitious general, murders his king and places himself on the throne with the former king’s evil niece as his queen. He then wages war against his peaceful neighbors, killing their women and enslaving their men. A hero named Ursus appears at a tournament to challenge Hamilan’s authority. Though victorious at the tournament, Ursus is arrested and forced to turn a grist-mill under an overseer’s lash. Meanwhile, the former king’s virtuous daughter, Diana, is tormented by her evil cousin, the new queen. Sentenced to a slow and tortuous execution, Ursus breaks free and a revolt breaks out. Ursus throws Hamilan to his death in a fiery pit and then Ursus and Diana enjoy the cheers of a grateful populace.

Muscular hero fights an evil king and his treacherous beasts, including vicious bats, three-headed fire-breathing dogs and a dragon. English dubbed. Dir. Vittorio Cottafavi

Framed for the escape of five gladiators from the arena, the son of one of Sparta’s leading citizens is sentenced to the arena as gladiator himself and forced to fight for his life in the Roman Colosseum. Years later he manages to escape and return to Sparta, only to find out that his father has been murdered–even though it was ruled a “suicide”–and the woman he loves is about to marry the evil king who has usurped the throne. He sets out to find six of his fellow gladiators and return to Sparta to save his woman and place the rightful king on the throne.

A young knight sets out on a quest to rescue a princess from an evil sorcerer, and must battle various mythical beings on the way. Written and Produced by Bert I. Gordon. Dir. Bert I. Gordon.