''Hercules in the Vale of Woe'' ( it, Maciste contro Ercole nella valle dei guai/ ''Maciste vs Hercules in the Valley of Woe''), a.k.a. ''Hercules in the Valley of Woe'', is a 1961 Italian Franco and Ciccio comedy film directed by

Mario Mattoli Mario Mattoli (; 30 November 1898 – 26 February 1980) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 86 films between 1934 and 1966. His 1939 film ''Defendant, Stand Up!'' was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy ...

and starring

Kirk Morris Kirk Morris (born 26 August 1942) is an Italian bodybuilder and actor. He was the winner of "Mr.Italia Bodybuilding contest 1961” Born in Venice as Adriano Bellini, while at university Morris devoted himself to bodybuilding and thanks to his ph ...

as Maciste and Frank Gordon as Hercules. The film is a comical take on the popular sword-and-sandal epics of the 1950s and 1960s.

Plot

In Milan, a major theater entrepreneur's going to put on a show period piece set in the era of mythological Greece. However, by a lucky accident, the company of actors and the entrepreneur himself are catapulted back in time just at the time of invincible warriors and heroes of Homer and Hesiod. Now we learn that the king Eurystheus needed to drive to Hercules, the invincible hero, able to defeat his arch enemy Maciste, who wants to kidnap his girlfriend Deianira.

Cast

as Maciste * Frank Gordon as Hercules *

Franco Franchi Franco Franchi (born Francesco Benenato; 18 September 1928 – 9 December 1992) was an Italian actor, comedian and singer. He was born in Palermo, Sicily and began his career in the 1950s, although his career only really took off in the 1960s. ...

as Francheo *

Ciccio Ingrassia Francesco Ingrassia (5 October 1922 – 28 April 2003) was an Italian actor, comedian and film director. He was born in Palermo, Sicily, and began his career in the 1950s, although his career only really took off in the 1960s. He starred in m ...

as Ingrassiade * Bice Valori * Mario Carotenuto * Gianna Cobelli *

Carlo Croccolo Carlo Croccolo (9 April 1927 – 12 October 2019) was an Italian actor, voice actor, director and screenwriter. Biography Born in Naples, Croccolo began his acting career on the radio and he appeared in more than 100 films since 1949. His debut ...

Sandra Mondaini Alessandrina "Sandra" Mondaini (; 1 September 1931 – 21 September 2010) was an Italian actress, singer, and television and radio presenter. She appeared in 30 films between 1953 and 2008. Born in Milan, Italy, she married actor Raimondo V ...

Liana Orfei Liana Orfei (born 6 June 1937) is an Italian actress and circus artist. She appeared in more than 30 films between 1959 and 1971. Life and career Born in San Giovanni in Persiceto, Bologna, daughter and niece of famous circus artists, since her ...

* Ombretta Ostenda * Raimondo Vianello

Release

''Hercules in the Valley of Woe'' was released in Italy on 19 December 1961.

References

External links

* 1961 films 1961 comedy films 1960s fantasy comedy films 1960s parody films Italian parody films Italian fantasy comedy films Peplum films 1960s Italian-language films Films directed by Mario Mattoli Italian crossover films Films about Heracles Maciste films Films about time travel Films scored by Gianni Ferrio Sword and sandal films 1960s Italian films {{1960s-Italy-comedy-film-stub