Originally posted on 3/30/21
To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN (The Film Detective, 1961), having seen other sword and sandal flicks that were entertaining but not all that impressive. Which is why this rousing adventure (now fully-restored), which starts out rather modestly before gradually building to an intense finale, left me not only cinematically satisfied but on the verge of enthusiastic applause.
We meet Hercules (former Mr. Universe, Reg Park) in a tavern where he's trying to finish a delicious meal as rowdy young musclemen in service of the crown blow off steam by fiercely brawling all around him. When he figures they've had enough, he rises from the table and amiably makes short work of them all singlehanded, as we would naturally expect Herc to be capable of doing without breaking a sweat.
Various plot complications (along with ample feats of strength from our hero) result in Hercules leaving his wife and his impetious son Illo (Luciano Marin) for a seagoing quest that ends with a mutiny, the loss of his friend Androcles (Ettore Manni), and his being stranded on a savage island where he must rescue the beautiful young Ismeme (Laura Efrikian) from an evil shape-shifting wizard named Proteus whose transformation into various bloodthirsty creatures gives us our first SPFX feast and Hercules his first major adversary.
It turns out that Ismeme is the daughter of Queen Antinea of nearby Atlantis (deftly played by the wonderful and beauteous Fay Spain, THE GODFATHER PART II) and Hercules has foiled a sacrifice to the god Uranus that was meant to ensure peace and serenity to Atlantis.
While the cunning Antinea has an eye for our favorite strongman, he rejects her offer for joint rule of the known universe and instead goes on a rampage against Atlantis' sword-slinging army, with the help of son Illo and feisty "little person" Timoteo (Salvatore Furnari), to free Atlantis' doomed captives and thwart Antinea's evil plans.
The upshot of all this, fortunately for us, is a consistently engaging mix of action, drama, humor, and endless spectacle, with Reg Park an effortlessly likable Hercules. I don't know whether or not it's his own voice that's dubbed in--being an Italian film, everyone's dubbed--but he does a fine job handling this kind of roughhewn classicism. The rest of the cast are also exceedingly capable.
Other aspects of the film are similarly well-done, and the special effects look good even in those instances when they're not entirely convincing. Surprisingly lavish sets and production design give the film an A-list look, as do the superlative cinematography, costumes, and exquisite locations.
The musical score is rousing, although I've read that the original one was replaced for the American release version, with none other than the theme from "Creature From the Black Lagoon" accompanying one or two scenes.
The finale is so explosive and chock full of special effects (supervised by Mario Bava, no less) that I was reminded of the James Bond film "You Only Live Twice."
It's as though Ian Fleming and Alistair MacLean had collaborated on a Hercules movie, although this time the good guy doesn't just infiltrate and destroy a criminal mastermind's impregnable lair but the entire island of Atlantis itself. The resulting extended sequence, complete with erupting volcano, had me gasping in awe at its spectacle.
The sword and sandal genre (like any other, I suppose) has always been widely hit-or-miss with me, but HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN is so guilelessly entertaining that it's like a first-class ticket on a voyage of pulp fiction fun.
EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL FEATURES
Includes the full Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) version of the film, released in 1992. Additional special features are an introduction by MST3K writer and co-star Frank Conniff; audio commentary by film critic and screenwriter Tim Lucas; Hercules and The Conquest of Cinema: Swords and Sandals, a documentary from Daniel Griffith at Ballyhoo Motion Pictures; and The Duel of the Titan, a 12-page, full-color booklet insert with an essay from author and historian C. Courtney Joyner. (Note: This offer may no longer be available.)
Hercules and the Captive Women
The Film Detective
Genre: Action-Adventure
Original Release: 1963 (Color)
Not Rated
Running Time: 95 Minutes
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
SRP: $24.95 (Blu-ray) / $19.95 (DVD)
Discs: 1
Release Date: April 13, 2021 (Pre-order now)
UPC Code: #760137475286 (Blu-ray) / #760137475194 (DVD)
Catalog #: FB1010 (Blu-ray) / FD1010 (DVD)
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