Sword and sandal film with Mark Forest and Moira Orfei
The recently deceased Mark Forest (1933-2022) was a sought-after actor in the peplum films of the Roman Cinecitta in the early 1960s. As in this film, he often played the mythological role of Maciste, who had become a kind of superman in Italian film history since the silent film "Cabiria" (1914).
Here he fights with his ally Bango (Paul Wynter, 1935-2019, the Mr. Universe of 1960) against strange mole people and their queen Halis Mojab (Moira Orfei, 1931-2015, the actress was with her own circus until old age and as an elephant tamer). They want to free the kidnapped king's daughter Saliurna (Raffaella Carra, 1943-2021) and bring her back together with her lover Loth (Roberto Mioli). Gianni Garko, born in 1935, plays another role.
The highlight of the rather weaker sword and sandal film is certainly the moment when Maciste is forced into a fight with Bango. In this situation, Maciste at least has a worthy and equal opponent.
The film was produced by Elio Scardamaglia (1920-2001), who was successful with his Leone Films for decades with films and television series.
Mark Forest, who died on January 7, 2022, one day after his 89th birthday, was still successful as an opera singer in the USA after his career as a muscle man in Italian cinema.
The recently deceased Mark Forest (1933-2022) was a sought-after actor in the peplum films of the Roman Cinecitta in the early 1960s. As in this film, he often played the mythological role of Maciste, who had become a kind of superman in Italian film history since the silent film "Cabiria" (1914).
Here he fights with his ally Bango (Paul Wynter, 1935-2019, the Mr. Universe of 1960) against strange mole people and their queen Halis Mojab (Moira Orfei, 1931-2015, the actress was with her own circus until old age and as an elephant tamer). They want to free the kidnapped king's daughter Saliurna (Raffaella Carra, 1943-2021) and bring her back together with her lover Loth (Roberto Mioli). Gianni Garko, born in 1935, plays another role.
The highlight of the rather weaker sword and sandal film is certainly the moment when Maciste is forced into a fight with Bango. In this situation, Maciste at least has a worthy and equal opponent.
The film was produced by Elio Scardamaglia (1920-2001), who was successful with his Leone Films for decades with films and television series.
Mark Forest, who died on January 7, 2022, one day after his 89th birthday, was still successful as an opera singer in the USA after his career as a muscle man in Italian cinema.