La rebelión de los esclavos

Actor Burt Nelson's real name is Rafael Rivelles. He plays the part of Rutilio. There are too many inconsistencies to make this movie enjoyable. The Christians fight for their freedom and when they are about to win the battle, they lay down their weapons.

I could never quite put my finger on what seemed ''off'' about the acting in Christian persecution films (usually disguised as sword-and-sandal movies). Any time they're talking about Jeevus or attending mass in the catacombs or looking up to the skies to be saved from some calamity, the characters always look zonked out, like their eyes are open by no lights are on in their brain pans ., They all walk around in their state, barely showing any human emotion, pledging their affinity for some fairy tale being. How is that different from zombies, barely showing any human emotion, looking for brains to eat? Watch Quo Vadis, Ben-Hur, The Robe, Barabbas. They're all zombies wearing loin clothes. You read it here first.

This is a typical "sword and sandal" so called "epic" of the early 1960s when these roman rebellion movies were being churned out by the tons by Italian producers. Steve (Mr. Hercules himself) Reeves got this sword and sandal stuff going with his movies "Hercules" and "Hercules Unchained"....to great and smashing box office success. Italian producers then on skimpy budgets hired cheap Italian actors and actresses occasionally thrown in with an American star, such as in this film with Rhonda Fleming to improve the box office. The movies were always about a city of people oppressed by the ruling clan and usually had a well muscled down actor to lead the people in a revolt. In this film, Lang Jeffries lacks the physique of Steve Reeves or Mark Forrest, but does an admirable job as the leader of a band of slaves....he leads them on a rebellion to stop persecution by Roman rulers...along the way a love/hate relationship develops between Fleming and Jeffries....and yes they fall in love. Typical of the sword and sandal movies, evil rulers, mean soldiers, whippings, and a slave revolt. If you like the peplum you will like this film.

The Revolt of the Slaves can be enjoyed by those 14 and older. The movie provides light entertainment with little thought. The Revolt of the Slaves does command your attention by its picturesque sets and wonderful costuming. The movie contains enough sword fighting and wrestling matches to keep you interested. The Revolt of the Slaves moves quickly. You go from fighting scenes to beautiful peaceful scenes where there are plenty of beautiful women to keep keep you looking for more. The musical scores in this film come at dramatic times. This is a typical Christian persecution film. Pass the popcorn and soda to enjoy a night of film. I give it four thumbs up.

Revolt of the Slaves is loosely based on a famous novel called Fabiola written by Cardinal Wiseman in the 1850s. It strays drastically from the original story, keeping some of the same characters (in particular the martyrs Sebastian and Agnes), and some of the same scenes, but downplaying martyrdom as a whole, and trying to make a movie that could be called "Vibio saves the Christians." The "Vibio" character is not part of the Fabiola story. He is introduced as a slave who is also a Christian, but he isn't about to be a martyr. He rescues Christians a number of times throughout the movie. Action scenes are everywhere in this movie, and every one of them is added--none are from the book.

I loved the book Fabiola, and I found this to be a deconstruction of it, not only in story but in philosophy. The screenwriters had some sympathy for the Christians, and portrayed them somewhat positively, but wanted to make them safe and happy in this world. If you know anything about the Diocletian persecution, Christians were anything but safe in those days. Faith is present in some of the characters, and it comes in handy, but physical combat seems to be the preferred mode of doing business. This movie had potential, but it was just Hercules vs. the pagan Romans.