''Hero of Rome'' ( it, Il Colosso di Roma) is a 1964

sword and sandal Sword-and-sandal, also known as peplum (pepla plural), is a subgenre of largely Italian-made historical, mythological, or Biblical epics mostly set in the Greco-Roman antiquity or the Middle Ages. These films attempted to emulate the big-budge ...

film set in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

in 508 BC, and depicts the expulsion of the last kings of Rome and the legend of

Gaius Mucius Scaevola Gaius Mucius Cordus, better known with his later cognomen Scaevola ( , ), was an ancient Roman youth, possibly mythical, famous for his bravery. In 508 BC, during the war between Rome and Clusium, the Clusian king Lars Porsena laid siege to Rom ...

Plot

The city-state of

has just expelled its Etruscan overlords and become a republic. The Etruscans declare war in an attempt to regain their territory. The warrior Scaevola is captured trying to assassinate king Porsenna, and threatened with

torture Torture is the deliberate infliction of severe pain or suffering on a person for reasons such as punishment, extracting a confession, interrogation for information, or intimidating third parties. Some definitions are restricted to acts ...

unless he gives them strategic information. Scaevola instead thrusts his right hand into a

brazier A brazier () is a container used to burn charcoal or other solid fuel for cooking, heating or cultural rituals. It often takes the form of a metal box or bowl with feet. Its elevation helps circulate air, feeding oxygen to the fire. Braziers h ...

and lets it burn, demonstrating that he loves Rome too much to care about physical pain, and warns the king that many other Romans would do the same. The awed Porsenna releases him and sues for peace after learning the truth about how the Romans banished their last king,

Lucius Tarquinius Superbus Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (died 495 BC) was the legendary seventh and final king of Rome, reigning 25 years until the popular uprising that led to the establishment of the Roman Republic.Livy, '' ab urbe condita libri'', I He is commonly known ...

. However, Tarquin still wants to continue the war to regain his throne, and orders his men to kill Mucius later. Surviving the ambush, Mucius returns to Rome to lead his countrymen, but the damage to his hand prevents him from wielding a sword in his right hand again. The

Roman Senate The Roman Senate ( la, Senātus Rōmānus) was a governing and advisory assembly in ancient Rome. It was one of the most enduring institutions in Roman history, being established in the first days of the city of Rome (traditionally founded in ...

manages the war badly, and it becomes clear that only Scaevola can lead his countrymen to victory. He trains himself to fight with his left hand, and is soon able to return to battle and defeat the Etruscan kings.

Cast

* Gordon Scott as

Gabriella Pallotta Gabriella Pallotta (born 6 October 1938) is an Italian film actress. She appeared in 22 films between 1956 and 1974. For the film ''The Pigeon That Took Rome ''The Pigeon That Took Rome'' is a 1962 American comedy war film directed and written ...

Cloelia Cloelia ( grc, Κλοιλία) was a legendary woman from the early history of ancient Rome. Biography She was one of the women taken hostage by Lars Porsena, as a part of the peace treaty which ended the war between Rome and Clusium in 508 BC. ...

* Massimo Serato as

Roldano Lupi Roldano Lupi (8 February 1909 – 13 August 1989) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 60 films between 1942 and 1967. He was born in Milan, Italy and died in Rome, Italy. Selected filmography * '' Jealousy'' (1942) * ''Yes, Madam'' ...

Porsenna Lars Porsena (or Porsenna; Etruscan: ) was an Etruscan king (lar) known for his war against the city of Rome. He ruled over the city of Clusium ( Etruscan: ; modern Chiusi). There are no established dates for his rule, but Roman sources often ...

Gabriele Antonini Gabriele Antonini (born 16 April 1938, died October 2018) was an Italian film, stage and television actor. Life and career Born in Rome, the son of an army general, Antonini was chosen by Mario Monicelli for the role of Sandro in '' Fathers and ...

as Arunte *

Maria Pia Conte Maria Pia Conte (born 10 March 1944) is an Italian former actress. Life and career Born Maria Pia Vaccarezza in Genoa, the daughter of a carpenter, Conte spent her youth in Sestri Levante before moving to Genoa to study classical ballet. Afte ...

as Valeria * Franco Fantasia as Claudio

Release

''Hero of Rome'' was released in Italy with a 90-minute running time on June 25, 1964. Some of the early video prints confused the correct order of the reels.

Reception

A anonymous reviewer in the ''

Monthly Film Bulletin ''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 to April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those with ...

'' reviewed a dubbed version titled ''Arm of Fire''. The review declared that the films narrative was "unconvincing and improbable" and that the dialogue was hampered by English dialogue that was "on the level of the cartoon strip" while the "climactic spectacle is competently handled, but other ocular highlights are few."

References

Bibliography

* *

External links

* 1964 films French historical adventure films Films set in ancient Rome Films based on classical mythology Films set in Italy Peplum films Films directed by Giorgio Ferroni Films set in the 6th century BC Films scored by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino Sword and sandal films Cultural depictions of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus 1960s Italian-language films 1960s Italian films {{1960s-Italy-film-stub