Hércules contra los tártaros

The print I looked at was of variable quality. Some of it seems to have been 16mm. pan-and-scan with failing color, while the last half-hour was widescreen and beautifully presented both in color and clarity. It's all dubbed into English. That will affect this review!

So. Mark Forest, who is Maciste or Hercules, depending on what language you're watching it in is in Poland. He's in love with José Greci , a poor woodcarver's daughter, whose father is the most respected man in the village. Forest, whoever he is in this movie, has just turned back the Mongol Hordes singlehandedly, but they're coming on again. It turns out that Miss Greci is actually Queen of Poland and....

Oh, why bother? It's all nonsense, and the point of this movie is the costume design, the strong men with their oiled torsos and the big fight scene at the end. Because that was the part that was in pristine condition, it looked good.

When the Mongols invade Europe, they are defeated at Krakow for the first time after many victories. Kubilai (Ken Clark), the responsible commander, asks his emperor Genghis Khan for a second chance. Kubilai has two ideas how to avoid another defeat. First, he wants to eliminate Maciste (aka Hercules in the American dubbed version), the hero of the Polish people, played by Mark Forest. And then, Kubilai holds a prisoner who reveals an important secret: the princess and future queen of Poland lives in a village under false identity. The Mongols want to capture her, but of course, Maciste is a guardian to any maiden in distress...

Maciste is wrestling with a giant snake and a crocodile (yes, in Poland!); there is also a fight in an arena with spikes (spears) similar to the famous scene in 'Flash Gordon' (1980). This is all smoothly directed and well photographed. People who liked similar movies of the genre shouldn't be disappointed.

The eternal Hercules in this film has gone way beyond his usual time and place in ancient Greece and is now helping Poland free itself of Mongol invaders in the 12th century. Mark Forest is the star of this peplum epic, Hercules Against The Barbarians.

Poland is having its dynastic problems, there is a king in exile, but there is a princess with a closer claim on the throne. She was hidden as an infant in a peasant village and not told of her lineage the better to protect her from the Mongols. Genghis Khan is having his problems as well with a pair of sons who both want to succeed dad and one of them is not too squeamish on what he has to do to take the throne.

Which is when Hercules enters the picture and sorts out everyone's problems. In this film besides human combat with the Khan's champion wrestler, Hercules has to defeat a really big snake and also wrestle a crocodile. Now this one had me floored because I do not think crocodiles are native to Poland or any other part of Europe. Still it was a good scene for the mighty Hercules.

My question would be did he get any kielbasa while visiting Poland?

Maciste / Hercules has a new battle to face against the Mongol Empire lead by Genghis Khan in the 12th century. Hercules must help to free Poland from the clutches of Genghis Khan and his band of Mongols.

I find this one better than Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World (1961). "7 Miracles" has Gordon Scott running around in a loin cloth in the entire film. "Barbarians" has Mark Forest wearing a bit more. "Barbarians" is a better made and acted out film - it also has a little bit better story. Both films have Maciste (Hercules/Samson) in a strange place and time era.

Not a lot here for me to enjoy though. I was uninterested in the film even though "Barbarians" is better than "7 Miracles" - I still did not enjoy either film.

1.5/10

When the Mongols invade Europe, they are defeated at Krakow for the first time after many victories. Kubilai (Ken Clark), the responsible commander, asks his emperor Genghis Khan for a second chance. Kubilai has two ideas how to avoid another defeat. First, he wants to eliminate Maciste (Hercules in the American dubbed version), the hero of the Polish people, played by Mark Forest. And then, Kubilai holds a prisoner who reveals an important secret: the princess and future queen of Poland lives in a village under false identity. The Mongols want to capture her, but of course, Maciste is a guardian to any maiden in distress...

Mark Forest, I reckon, is one of the best peplum stars- he's charismatic and acts well, and I enjoyed the films I have seen, but unfortunately this one that sees him pit against the Genghis Khan is quite muddled, tedious, and incoherent - it's has some ok fights. There's is an inventive and gruesome way the villain gets killed - a spear gate comes down on him, piercing through. Ouch! The women adds some much needed glamour.