Hercules Unchained
by Pietro Francisci
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Actor: Gabriele Antonini, Primo Carnera, Steve Reeves, Sylva Koscina, Sylvia LopezDirector: Pietro Francisci
Cinematographer: Mario Bava
Writer: Pietro Francisci
Producer: Bruno Vailati
Producer: Ferruccio De Martino
Writer: Aeschylus
Writer: Ennio De Concini
Writer: Sophocles
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Italian (Original Language); Spanish (Original Language)
Format: Color, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 105 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-04-16
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Alpha Video
DVD Reviews of Hercules Unchained
DVD Review: Married to Sylva but bewitched by Sylvia
Summary: 4 Stars
"Hercules Unchained" (1959) is an Italian/French/Spanish sword & sandal flick in the mold of Kirk Douglas' "Ulysses" (1954). I always loved "Ulysses" as a kid (and adult), which is far better than the boring 1997 TV remake "The Odyssey" despite its datedness. So if you have a fondness for "Ulysses," "Hercules Unchained" is more of the same, with a very similar plot, i.e. the journeying hero forgets who he is while bewitched by a beautiful babe on some island.
Californian muscleman Steve Reeves plays the titular hero/god to perfection. Reeves is most known for his Hercules role but interestingly only played the part twice, in this film and the first one "Hercules" (1957). Anyway, one good side-effect of watching Reeves is that it will likely inspire guys to get in shape (the same effect as watching Stallone as Rambo).
In this film Herc is married to the beautiful Iole (Sylva Koscina), but he forgets his wife and homeland after drinking of the waters of forgetfulness and falls under the spell of Queen Omphale (Sylvia Lopez) of the isle Lidia. So Herc is caught between two beauties: Sylva and Sylvia.
"Hercules Unchained" can be enjoyed by both kids and adults. It's a fun fantasy adventure with dated "effects," but it also addresses quite a few mature themes.
One theme is the boneheaded predilection of men to sexual gratification and their intrinsic weakness to the spell of feminine beauty. Herc is married to cutie Iole (Sylva), but it wasn't too hard for him to fall under the power of Omphale (Sylvia). And he has the perfect excuse -- "Aduh, I forgot" (!).
Another theme is that feminine power can be used for good or evil, productivity or destruction. Sylva uses her feminine charms to catch herself a manly hunk (Reeves) for a husband and family, while Sylvia uses her womanly power to capture (literally) a never-ending succession of studs. Sylva wants a lifelong mate and family, whereas Sylvia is a black widow who kills her "conquests" after she gets bored with them and puts 'em in her trophy case, so to speak (you'll see what I mean).
Look around and you'll easily see both types of women in real life. One girl I knew in high school, for example, would catch herself a hunk boyfriend and ultimately start cheating on him as soon as she got bored; she would then let go of the boyfriend and officially hook up with the guy she was cheating with; once she got bored of him she'd start cheating with the next guy, ultimately dropping the boyfriend for him, ad nauseum. She was notorious, just like Omphale (Sylvia). She would even break up best friends with here expert feminine powers. The lunkheads could never come to the realization of what she was actually doing because they were too susceptible to her bewitching charms.
Interestingly, Sylva is beautiful in a cute way, whereas Sylvia is beautiful in a sharp, leggy and glamorous way. Both are well worth catching the film for if you're a red-blooded male.
Another theme is that of negative rivalry. The two siblings vie for kingship (or control) of Thebes. Proud rivaly begats enmity and violence, and ultimately mutually assured self-destruction. Both actors are outstanding, fittingly displaying a palpable royal pomp.
The sets and costuming are noteworthy. Mario Bava did the cinematography and special effects, as well as some directing, so the film has that colorful Bava look.
BOTTOM LINE: If you can overlook certain dated aspects (like the editing) "Hercules Unchained" is enjoyable on numerous levels, both juvenile and mature. It's the obvious precursor to modern films like "Troy."
Description of Hercules Unchained
Studio: Gotham (dba Alpha) Release Date: 03/29/2007Bestsellers in DVD
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