Kaiser der Gladiatoren

If you are pretty mediocre as a director and they want you to make a film with only very little money, what's the outcome? - "I due gladiatori" is an excellent example of the cheap-produced Italian historical pictures of the early sixties. Relying partly on models such as "Ben-Hur", one could call them monumental, only there was nothing monumental left in 1964.

For instance: when a man is holding a rat that has been hunted by the hungry crowd, the next take shows a juicy meal, and, as the camera zooms, we see it being brought to the emperor at a small party. Nice idea so far, but we can be sure that Mario Caiano would have loved to show a vast orgy in consequence, but there's nothing more to eat than the bit that has just been carried in, and there's just a small number of guests standing around. As more examples, the arena fighting scenes are reduced to taking place at the 20-foot front of the stadium's wall, and what is supposed to be a battle between Romans and - Gauls (did I get that right?) is merely a skirmish of some 30 against 30.

The story, however, is somewhat interesting though not new at all. It is based on the true fact that emperor Commodus (180-192 AD) used to fight as a gladiator himself from time to time. Writers Amendola and Brescia also made use of the fact that Commodus had a twin brother (who died early); here, he survived and grew up unknowingly. - Now that emperor Mark Aurel has died (awkwardly dated into 191), his son Commodus succeeds to the throne and turns out to be a despot (that idea is poorly established). Loyal senator Tarrunio gets on his way to seek the twin brother he once was ordered to kill but saved. This man, Centurio Crassus, follows Tarrunio to Rome (hey, what about the Gallic invasion?) in order to overthrow the tyrant.

A couple of the ideas, especially the setting, are taken from Anthony Mann's "The Fall of the Roman Empire" (1963, with Christopher Plummer as Commodus), while the linking of brothers Commodus and Crassus reminds of Stephen Boyd and Charlton Heston's doomed relationship in "Ben-Hur" (1959) - "closer than brothers", as Boyd says.

Handsome Richard Harrison is a poor replacement for Boyd (in "The Fall..."); but especially the task of writing effective women's rôles into the story remained unaccomplished. (Moira Orfei is a beautiful temptress as ever, though.) Giuliano Gemma and Alvaro de Luna as Harrison's faithful friends add to the hero's nonchalant bravado. Mimmo Palmara is an excellent fighter (as he has often proved in the genre), but as Commodus he is colourless. Peplum's classic heavies Piero Lulli and Alberto Farnese do well as the emperor's sinister advisors Cleander and Leto. Yet, it is not enough to make this cheap flick average at least, in a genre that had lost most of its momentum and magic anyway. Composer Carlo Franchi, too, has contributed better scores before.

It is just unfair to be too severe about this film. It reflects the spirit and the taste of a public, a form of easy heroic passion, a genre so explored than it gives nothing new, very easy entertainment. To expect more is just bizarre. Sand and sandals, historical episodes as pretextes and good memories for today about actors. So, this story about brothers, revenge and justice, friendship and identical gladiators, with the spice of the love story is just decent. Not high expectations, not great revelations only a nice time front to romantic to naive film.

Anyone else think this was more an hybrid of "The Man in the Iron Mask" meets "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire"? Well with the death of Marcus Aurelius, his errant son Commodus (Mimmo Palmara) accedes the throne and launches straight into a reign of gladiatorial games and equally grand state sponsored larceny and brutality. Unbeknown to him, though, there is a twin brother who was secreted away at birth by senator "Tarrunio" (Gianni Solaro) and adopted with the name "Lucius" (Richard Harrison). In Rome, with his Praetorian prefect "Leto" (Alberto Farnese) running amok it seems that only his lover "Marcia" (Moria Orfei) might be able to rein in the new emperor, but when he cruelly gives her to his enforcer it falls to the ageing senator to send for the sibling in the hope that they can remove the tyrant before revolution brings the city to chaos and ruin. There is loads going on here with plenty of gladiatorial bouts, sword fights and action scenes to keep the pace fairly frenetic for most of the last hour of the drama. Twins they are, but there's barely even a passing resemblance between Palmara and Harrison which is a bit of a stretch later in the film, but I don't suppose that really mattered as this gathers an then sustains quite an entertaining swagger.

Set in 161 AD , twins were born to Emperor Marcus and for reasons to avoid future wars , one of them must be killed and to be kept secret . But the kid is saved and brought up in a fine family . While Rome rules the World and emperor Marcus Aurelius battles Barbarians on the Eastern border of the Roman Empire. Later on , the king Marcus Aurelius has recently died, leaving as Máximus Imperator to his son Commodo : Mimo Palmara who governs tyrannically all around the World and in the noisy Rome . There Commodus organizes violent gladiator combats . Then the grown-up twin called Lucius Crassus : Richard Harrison, becomes a notorious Roman General and subsequently to lead a revolt against the evil ruler.

A run-of-the-mill Peplum with thrills, emotion, battles and spectacular Gladiator combats on the arena. Stars the robust and strong Richard in his first Italian role, as he is excellent as a brave gladiator. He was one along with Brad Harris, Kirk Morris, Rock Stevens, Reg Park, Mark Forest emigrated to Italy to seek for fame and fortune as muscle mythological figures, but anybody topped Steve Reeves and Gordon Scott in popularity. Harrison played in Hollywood some minor characters as in Kronos and South Pacific, while shooting a secondary role in Master in the World 1961. Frustated at not being able to secure meatier roles in America, Harrison jumped at the chance when offered this first character as a Gladiator, following other successful Peplum as Seven Spartans by Pedro Lazaga and Two Gladiators by Mario Caiano. As he wound up settling i Italy for the mext two decades. These Roman roles immediately typed him in other Herculean characters and to avoisd penned in too much as a muscle man, he turned into Spaghetti Western protagonists . Playing routine Spaghetti antiheroes as Texas the Red, Gringo, Reverendo Colt. And maybe his greatest contribution to film history not doing For a Fistful of Dollars and recommending Clint Eastwood for the part. Being an Italian production here shows up various regular secondaries , usual in Peplum and Spaghetti Western such as Giuliano Gemma , Mimmo Palmara , Moira Orfei , Alberto Farnese or Farley , Piro Lulli , Mirko Ellis , Nello Pazzafini, Álvaro de Luna , Enzo Fiermonte and Álvaro de Luna .

Atmospheric cinematography by Ludovico Pavoni , though a perfect remastering being really necessary. Filmed in De Paolis, Lacio , Rome . As well as moving and rousing musical score by Carlo Franci. The motion picture was professional but regularly directed by Mario Caiano . He was an Italian director who made successful films of all kinds of genres as Gothic Terror : Nightmare Castle with Barbara Steele , Thrillers and Gialli : a Tutte le Auto della Policía, Eye in the Labyrinth , Westerns : Avenger of California , Brandy, Ringo Face of Revenge , My Name is Shanghai Joe , Bullets don't argue , A train for Durango, and Peplum as Ulisse vs Ercole , Maciste Gladiatori di Sparta, I due Gladiator , among others . Rating 5,5 /10. Regular but passable and acceptable Peplum

The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius has died. Marcus' son Commodus, who is a thug and amateur fighter, is now on the throne and is ruining Rome with his ways. There is a secret that only the Roman Senator knows the truth and tells the respected Roman Solider, Lucius Crassus, the story. Marcus Aurelius has twin sons. Marcus kept Commodus but ordered the other child's death. Tarruntius was given the task to kill the child but he could not do it and gave the child to a foster family. The foster family named the child Lucius Crassus. Lucius has just as much right to the throne as his twin brother Commodus. Commodus finds out that Lucius is his brother and is angry, he wants Lucius dead. The populace will not challenge and rid Rome of the evil, childish Commodus even though he is bring Rome down. There is now a Gladiatorial battle between the two twin brothers, the better fighter will win and take the throne of Rome.

Richard Harrison plays the heroic Roman solider Lucius Crassus. And there are a bunch of others with names I do not recognize but are fine Italian actors.

This is not a big budget film but looks like quite a bit of money was put into it (just not BIG money). It's an okay film, not great but watchable.

The copy I have is rather faded and poor, it is from one of those cheap Mill Creek 50-packs, Warriors. I cannot expect them to take the time to clean up each of the 50 films for a bargain price. Besides, most of the films are not worth the time to restore anyway.

4.5/10