Hercules Unchained (1959)

Director: Pietro Francisci

Starring: Steve Reeves, Sylva Koscina, Sylvia Lopez, Gabriele Antonini, Primo Carnera, Patrizia Della Rovere, Sergio Fantoni

More info: IMDb

Tagline: SEE the War of the Chariots! SEE Lydia, the Temptress! SEE the Contest of Giants! SEE the Combat of Kings! SEE the Arena of Tigers! SEE the Court of Lovers!

Plot: En route to Thebes for an important diplomatic mission, Hercules drinks from a magic spring and loses his memory. He spends most of the movie in the pleasure gardens of Queen Omphale of Lydia. While young Ulysses tries to help him regain his memory, political tensions escalate in Thebes, and Hercules' new wife Iole finds herself in mortal danger.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again? Yes.

#10 from SWORD & SANDAL TRAILERS VOL. 1. (part of the TRAILER TRASH PROJECT)


HOLY SHIT! This is so much better than the first HERCULES (1958) picture. Hercules has lots more to do, there's more action, the sets are larger than life and it's simply more fun. Basically it's why this genre did so well. It's grand entertainment and its pure escapism.

Steve Reeves returns for his second and final portrayal of Hercules and it's fun. He fights lions, miscellaneous dudes and an army coming out on top, saving his gal from certain death. He's the man.


I really don't have much to say except this would be the perfect picture to start with if you're not familiar with the Sword & Sandal genre. There are some good ones and this one seems to be the best one I've watched so far.