Sappho, Venus von Lesbos

This is the second of the Italian epics Tina Louise made for director Pietro Francisci for the year 1960. While IMDb lists the above American title, the actual translated Italian one actually says "Sappho-Venus of Lesbos". And, no, there's no girl-on-girl action here though one of Sappho's friends, Actis (Susy Golgi Andersen), seems to have somewhat of a crush on her. But Tina's character is actually smitten with a wounded man named Phaon (Kerwin Mathews) who stumbles into their women-only island. But she's promised to another man named Hyperbius (Riccardo Garrone). I'll stop there and just say that I wasn't as involved in the story as the previous Louise-Francisci collaboration, L'assedio di Siracusa (Siege of Syracuse), but I still liked many of the action scenes, the romantic sequences, and the once again beautiful score by Angelo Francesco Lavagino. And, hey, there's plenty of other fine-looking women other than Ms. Louise who wear clothing that accentuate their cleavage and legs to the utmost effect! So on that note, The Warrior Empress/Sappho-Venus of Lesbos is worth a look.

The Italian title is "Saffo, venere di Lesbo" which I guess is something like "Sappho, Venus of Lesbos" but anybody who can read Italian go ahead and correct me (Babelfish was no help). Doesn't matter, you get the idea - this is a peplum, Italian sword-and-sandals cheapie, and Sappho (Tina Louise) happens to be the main character. Of course this bears little or no resemblance to the historic poetess, and anybody thinking that "sappho" and "lesbos" means there's going to be some girl-girl action here had best be disabused of that right away. "The Warrior Empress" is probably as good a title as any for this cheesy romp, when it comes down to it.

Sappho is one of the heirs of Melanchrus, a slovenly and sybaritic king who keeps taxing the people beyond their means and ultimately inciting a revolt. Kerwin Matthews is Phaon the double-agent in the king's guard who leads the revolt and, of course, falls for Sappho who is however promised to Hyperbius (Italian actor Riccardo Garrone in the sole good performance in the film). Fighting and declaiming over freedom, and a really badly staged and laughable sea battle between two triremes follow.

The sets are as cardboard and pathetic as anything out of the original "Star Trek" and Matthews' and Louise' acting is of a par. Still, laughable fun and I look forward to exploring more of this genre someday.

To begin with, I watched this patiently expecting the titular figure to turn up somewhere along the line but, after 90 minutes, no such luck! For what it is worth, the film does mark a potentially intriguing overlap of epic exponents – namely director Francisci (who, with HERCULES {1957}, led the peplum into its most popular phase) and star Kerwin Mathews (who had been the protagonist in many an effects-filled fantasy/adventure). However, what we have here is a thoroughly routine effort with the emphasis on romance and dancing – the heroine (played by Tina Louise) is one of a group of scantily-clad Vestal Virgins-cum-Amazonians (they even get to demonstrate their ostensible ruggedness by organizing a chariot race amongst themselves!) who, while engaged to soldier Riccardo Garrone (best-known as a comic and for his TV ads publicizing coffee in the guise of Saint Peter!), becomes involved with wounded fugitive agitator Mathews when he takes refuge in their remote temple ("an island within an island", as Garrone describes it solely for the viewer's benefit).

A semi-interesting revelation concerns Mathews' true métier; however, the film falters mainly because we are supposed to believe that the people are oppressed yet, not only do we get scarce evidence to this end but the tyrant (hammily played by Enrico Maria Salerno) is, at best, an eccentric obsessed with his own cleanliness (he is constantly asking whether his bath has been prepared)! In fact, the potentate is merely exiled at the end, leaving the jilted Garrone to bear the brunt of the villain's expected come-uppance (at the hands of a lion, since a den filled with these animals conveniently lies just outside the Vestals' temple-gate, presumably to prevent anyone entering or exiting). By the way, the original Italian title of this one is highly suggestive – SAPPHO, VENUS OF LESBO (for the record, a real-life Greek poetess/muse)! – but the only other tell-tale sign (apart from the girls' afore-mentioned athletic prowess) of any homosexual activity going on behind closed doors is the fact that Louise's room-mate proves jealous of her attentions for the hero, reports him to the naturally-annoyed Garrone (though he fails to notice her own pining for his fiancée!) and, predictably, gets her just desserts by eventually becoming lion-fodder.

The other reviews pretty much covered the story of the movie. Kerwin Mathews has stated in several interviews..."I am NOT a Mr. Anything". Apparently the producers wanted a body builder lead for this movie during the Hercules era and because Mathews was American he must be Mr. Something. Also, the costumes were very accurate for the period 1,000BCE in that part of the Medetrainian. The female costumes were exactly like the ones on Crete as seen in wall murals in the palace of Knossos. Also the inverted red columns were in style at that time as well. They were just painted tree trunks that were placed upside down to give more room around the bottom. Plus being in an earthquake zone, a lot of wood was used in construction in order to absorb the shocks. When I visited Lesbos, I didn't see any girls as good looking a Tina Louise. I have also added a few new stills to the gallery.

In ancient Mytilene, on the island of Lesbos, handsome warrior Kerwin Mathews (as Phaon) is wounded in battle. Luckily, the scantily-clad women of the island find Mr. Mathews and nurse him back to health. Mathews grows attracted to friendly, voluptuous and arousing Tina Louise (as Sappho). The feeling is mutual, which irks Ms. Louise's sub-textual female companion. To make matters worse, Louise's male companion was set to be Riccardo Garrone (as Hyperbius), who is Mathews' deadly enemy...

This was directed by Pietro Francisci and photographed by Carlo Carlini. They sometimes give it a dreamy quality, but this no Fellini. In fact, it's below average for the genre...

Mathews strolls through the part, impressing only because he's been good in previous adventures. Louise impresses in her looks alone; ludicrous but sexy, she did not forward her serious acting career with this one. The small-scale production saved money by having Mathews and the men go without pants; instead, they simply wore lower armored vests and pulled their shirts down. There are dozens of full-figured young running around braless in their satiny nighties. And, almost everyone gets to show some cheek.

**** The Warrior Empress/ Saffo, Venere di Lesbo (1960-08-24) **WC-Db4: Pietro Francisci ~ Kerwin Mathews, Tina Louise, Riccardo Garrone, Enrico Maria Salerno