Hercules and the Princess of Troy

Hercules and the Princess of Troy
GenreAction
Adventure
Drama
Fantasy
Written byLarry Forrester
Ugo Liberatore
Directed byAlbert Band
StarringGordon Scott
Diana Hyland
Gordon Mitchell
Roger Browne
Music byFred Steiner
Country of originItaly
United States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerJoseph E. Levine
ProducerAlbert Band
CinematographyEnzo Barboni
EditorsRussell Wiles
John Woodcock
Running time47 minutes
Production companyEmbassy Pictures
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 12, 1965 (1965-09-12)

Hercules and the Princess of Troy is a 1965 Italian-American made-for-television adventure fantasy film directed by Albert Band. It was originally made as a pilot for a television series which never materialized.[1] Albeit very short, the film was released to US television as a feature film. It is also referred to as Hercules vs the Sea Monster in reference books.

Plot

The film opens with the statement that the people of Troy must once a month sacrifice a maiden lest a sea monster destroy their city. Because of this, some families flee Troy only to be captured by pirates. Hercules (Gordon Scott), aboard the Olympia, comes across one of these ships and frees the Trojans aboard. Going to Troy, Hercules is given use of two horses that cannot be wounded by arrows. He then learns from Ortag (Roger Browne) the monster's weakness: its armor doesn't cover its belly.

Shortly afterwards, a boxer tries to poison Hercules but is impaled on his own spiked gloves and dies. Then Hercules and Ulysses (Mart Hulswit) are attacked by what appear to be thieves, and Diogenes (Paul Stevens) presents the theory that Petra (Steve Garrett) killed his brother and is planning to have Princess Diana (Diana Hyland) killed. After this theory is revealed to Princess Diana, she is chosen for the ceremony, and the high priest is killed. After challenging Petra, Hercules is captured and held in a metal hole, down which soldiers pour oil to keep Hercules from climbing out. Ortag rescues Hercules and dies fighting the monster which Hercules finally slays. Princess Diana becomes ruler of Troy, and Hercules continues on his way.

Cast

See also

References

  1. ^ Hughes, p.25

Bibliography

  • Hughes, Howard (2011). Cinema Italiano - The Complete Guide From Classics To Cult. London - New York: I.B.Tauris. ISBN 9781848856080.