''Hercules Against Rome'' ( it, Ercole contro Roma) is a 1964 '' peplum'' film directed by

Piero Pierotti Piero Pierotti (1 January 1912 – 4 May 1970) was an Italian director, screenwriter and journalist. Life and career Born in Pisa, Pierotti started his career as a journalist, working for ''La Nazione'' and ''Il Nuovo Corriere'', and later fo ...

Plot

A childhood friend enlists Hercules to protect the Roman Emperor Gordiano, who is in danger from his own mutinous Praetorian Guards. By the time the hero reaches Italy and the temporary Roman capital of

Ravenna Ravenna ( , , also ; rgn, Ravèna) is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire from 408 until its collapse in 476. It then served as the cap ...

, the guards have already murdered the mild and scholarly Emperor, replacing him with their chief officer Filippo Afro. Gordiano's daughter Ulpia faces the prospect of marrying Filippo's worthless son Rezio, linking the usurper to the imperial family. Hercules undertakes to set the situation right, rescuing Ulpia and helping the great Roman general Lucio Trajano Decio seize the throne.

Cast

Alan Steel Sergio Ciani (7 September 1931 – 5 September 2015), best known as Alan Steel, was an Italian bodybuilder and actor. Born in Rome, Ciani started his career as a stuntman; then he became the body double for Steve Reeves in ''Hercules Unchained'' ...

as Hercules *

Wandisa Guida Wandisa Guida (born 21 April 1935) is an Italian former film, stage and television actress. She was sometimes credited as Wandisa Leigh. Born in Trani, Guida took part in the Miss Italia beauty contest in 1954, winning the title of Miss Cinema. ...

as Ulpia *

Livio Lorenzon Livio Lorenzon (6 May 1923 – 23 December 1971) was an Italian actor who was mainly active during the 1950s and 1960s. Biography He played minor roles in some memorable commedia all'Italiana movies directed by the likes of Dino Risi and Ma ...

as Mansurio *

Daniele Vargas Daniele Vargas, stage name of Daniele Pitani (20 April 1922 – 7 January 1981) was an Italian film actor. Life and career Born in Imola, a small town in the district of Bologna, after attending high school with Pier Paolo Pasolini, Daniel ...

as Filippo Afro *

Dina De Santis Dina De Santis (born 21 December 1943) is an Italian former actress. Life and career Born Carlotta Provin in Vicenza, as a child De Santis won a beauty contest and at young age she started working for the advertising industry and on stage. ...

as Arminia *

Tullio Altamura Tullio Altamura (born 18 July 1924) is an Italian actor, best known for his roles in Spaghetti Western, spaghetti westerns and action films in the 1960s. Life and career Born in Bologna, the son of a career officer in the Kingdom of Italy, It ...

as Lucillo *

Carlo Tamberlani Carlo Tamberlani (11 March 1899 – 5 August 1980) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 127 films between 1931 and 1976. He was born in Salice Salentino, Italy and died in Subiaco, Italy. His brother Nando Tamberlani was also an actor. ...

as Emperor Gordiano *

Andrea Aureli Andrea Aureli (5 March 1923 – 5 November 2007) was an Italian actor. Life and career Born in Terni, Aureli graduated from the Liceo classico in his hometown, then he enrolled the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome, graduating in ...

as Rosio *

Anna Arena Anna Arena (June 21, 1919 – August 19, 1974) was an Italian film actress.Smith p.116 Selected filmography * ''Jealousy'' (1942) * '' Vacation with a Gangster'' (1951) * ''The Piano Tuner Has Arrived'' (1952) * '' Beauties in Capri'' (1952) * ' ...

as Fenicia *

Nello Pazzafini Nello Pazzafini (15 May 1933 – 9 January 1996) was an Italian actor who appeared in a very large number of Peplum movies, Spaghetti Westerns and Poliziotteschi. He was an ex-bodyguard and often played a "tough guy" character. Partial filmog ...

as Segesto *

Ignazio Balsamo Ignazio Balsamo (25 October 1912 – 7 August 1994) was an Italian film and stage actor. Life and career Born in Catania, Balsamo began his career on stage, being part of several Sicilian language theatrical companies. Discovered by Pietr ...

as Tauras *

Attilio Dottesio Attilio Dottesio (16 July 1909 – 12 February 1989) was an Italian film character actor and singer. He appeared in 170 films between 1940 and 1985. Born in Brescia, Dottesio began his career in France, where first he obtained some success ...

as Satiro *

Salvatore Borghese Sal Borgese (born 5 March 1937, in Rome) is an Italian film actor. He is sometimes credited as Salvatore Borghese or Mark Trevor. He is noted for extensive work in the Italian film industry from the 1960s to present day, and for his work as a st ...

as Mirko *

Mimmo Palmara Domenico "Mimmo" Palmara (25 July 1928 – 10 June 2016) was an Italian actor. Biography Born in Cagliari, Palmara made his film debut in 1952 as a character actor in drama films by eminent directors such as Luchino Visconti, Mario Monicelli and ...

as Lucio Traiano

Release

''Hercules Against Rome'' was released in Italy on 15 May 1964 with a 94-minute running time. On its release in the United States, it was released at an 87-minute running time.

References

Bibliography

External links

* 1964 films French historical adventure films Peplum films Films about Heracles Films directed by Piero Pierotti Films set in the Roman Empire Films scored by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino Sword and sandal films 1960s Italian films {{1960s-Italy-film-stub