Fort Alésia

Playing almost like a Roman-era version of THE GUNS OF NAVARONE (1961) – with an elite group of specially-skilled soldiers handpicked by Julius Caesar to go on a suicide mission and destroy the Druids' secret weapon – this is an agreeable time waster which is moved along at a brisk and efficient pace by prolific director Margheriti. He was perhaps the most erratic of the three Italian genre specialists (the others being, obviously, Riccardo Freda and Mario Bava) who basically set the foundation of what today is referred to as "Euro-Cult"; I've now watched some 9 of his films and the most satisfying have been his 2 horror outings starring Barbara Steele – THE LONG HAIR OF DEATH (1964) and CASTLE OF BLOOD (1964).

Sensibly, THE GIANTS OF ROME does not opt to make its heroes invincible (as was usually the case in films of this type) and despite a happy ending, all but one member of the group lose their life in accomplishing the all-important mission. The "secret weapon", however, turns out to be a major let-down: though one of the Romans expresses great surprise at never having seen anything like it, a little while later the leader of the group refers to it by name as if he had been around such devices all his life! Still, the most hilarious moment of the film came when the leading lady solemnly tells our hero her life-story which includes the fate of her father, one Fulvius Lucisanus (Fulvio Lucisano being a leading Italian producer of the time, though he doesn't seem to have had anything to do with this particular title!!)

"Giants of Rome" is an average storytelling about Caesar and Vercingetorix , dealing with adventures of a brave group behind the enemy lines . This is a fairly Sword and Sandals standard from the 60s starred by the American hunk Richard Harrison who acted in several Spaghetti Westerns and Musclemen epics . It's made middling scale with some spectacular scenes and Peplum style . It concerns Julius Caesar and his famous existence on Gaul, including feats , fights , political events , betrayal , wars and eventually the known battle of Alesia . Vercingetorix provokes a general rebellion against Roman domination, he rallies his people and tribes when they are threatened by a powerful army commanded by Julius Caesar (Alexandro Sperli) . Caesar asks troops to senate ruled by senator Pompeius (Piero Lulli) for fighting against the Barbarians . Caesar assigns a risked mission to Claudius Marcellus (Richard Harrison) who enlists a squad of specialists (Ettore Manni , Alberto Dell'Acqua.. ) and swears Caesar that they will encounter the giant arms before Caesar carries out his attack some days later . Our heroes get trapped and tortured repeatedly but manage to getaway . Along the way , they flee from a Druid jail and take an imprisoned Roman soldier and while the gorgeous Livilla (Wandisa Guida) falls in love with Marcellus . Although the deeds described are historically inaccurate, some events are vivid and authentic .

The action is regularly done and the story drags occasionally ; however , to be liked for Peplum hardcore lovers. This Sword and Sandals movie is a crossover in Peplum ink of ¨Guns of Navarone¨ with a powerful weapon that threatens the army , including a traitor and ¨Dirty dozen¨ also with a squadron of experts on diverse skills . The picture is partially based on historical events when happened Roman-Gaul wars . These are the following ones : Gallic chieftain Vercingetorix (dead 46 a.c) was an insightful and valiant warrior , whose father was captured and executed by the Romans , he was leader a rebellion against Roman domination . He seeks justice by winning freedom for Gaul from the Romans , and soon he raises an army of his own to defeat Caesar . Vercingetorix was definitely defeated in Alesia , where took place a long siege.

Other adaptations about Caesar and Vercingetorix are the following ones : ¨Julius Caesar the conqueror¨(1962) with Rik Battaglia as Vercingentorix and Cameron Mitchell as Caesar ; 'Vercingetorix (2001)' by Jacques Dorffman with Chistopher Lambert and Klaus Mara Brandauer ; 'Julius Caesar (2004 TV)' by Uli Edel with Jeremy Sisto as Caesar and Heino Ferch as Vercingetorix.

The motion picture was professionally directed by Anthony M. Dawson or Antonio Margheriti , an Italian craftsman expert on adventure and Peplum or Sword and Sandals , as he proved in 1964 Ursus, Il Terrore Dei Kirghisi , 1964 Soraya , Queen of desert , 1963 El Justiciero Rojo , 1963 Il Crollo di Roma , 1962 La Freccia d'Oro , among others . Rating : 5,5 ; passable and acceptable.

All those big muscle man, with their oiled up bodies - not sure how appealing that does sound, but that is the formula for Sword and Sandals movies. And while there have been more Hercules/Maciste movies than you can count, this is a "different" hero, but the same formula.

Still the fight scenes and the costumes are nice. Yes props may seem laughable nowadays, but never forget the budget these had. There is a camaraderie in this one that most single protagonist movies did not really have, if that is something you are interested in

This sword and sandal film by Antonio MARGHERITI tells a story from the Gallic War. In 52 BC, the decisive Battle of Alesia is imminent. Gaius Julius Caesar (Alessandro SPERLI) puts together a suicide squad to scout out a feared secret weapon of the Druids behind the Gallic lines and, if possible, destroy it. Under the leadership of Claudius Marcellus (Richard HARRISON), several experienced warriors (Ralph HUDSON, Ettore MANNI and Goffredo UNGER) set off and end up in the dungeon of Vercingetorix (Renato BALDINI). There they meet the beautiful patrician Livilla (the hair is perfect as always: Wandisa GUIDA) and her injured and broken bodyguard Drusus (Philippe HERSENT). Thanks to the young runaway Valerius (the exceptional acrobatic actor Alberto DellACQUA in his first role), the squad manages to escape. Now the heroes still have numerous battles ahead of them, and there will be painful losses to mourn...

The classic sword and sandal film borrows from upcoming war films such as THE DIRTY DOZEN and ATTENTATO AI TRE GRANDI by Umberto LENZI, in which battle-ready gallows birds are used as a suicide mission. This offers solid genre entertainment, but also leaves a bitter aftertaste.

Better than average sword and sandal time-filler with the underrated Richard Harrison starring as Claudius, solider of fortune selected with three others by Caesar to undertake a deadly mission to destroy a secret weapon that the Druids are using to repel Casear's forces. Along the way, the quartet become a quintet with the addition of the young and impressionable 'boy who wants to be a warrior' type (Guida), and then a "magnificent seven" when they encounter captured Romans Edua (Tessier) and her cowardly guard Drussus (Hersent), being tortured by the Druids.

Unencumbered by the usual overdeveloped musculature, an athletic Harrison employs his trained acting to good effect as the aggressively loyal Roman solider who'll give to the last drop to secure Caesar the platform he needs to succeed. Ably supported by Italian leading man Ettore Manni and with good performances by the supporting cast, Anthony Dawson (aka Antonio Margheriti) delivers a consistently watchable, gritty and engaging picture, far more worthy than the paltry four stars it currently attracts.

Some superb battle scenes, suspense, occasional light humour, romance and tragedy are complemented by colourful characters, given extra definition through Harrison and Manni's balanced performances. It's not "The Fall of the Roman Empire" by any stretch, but as a "Guns of Navarone" of Ancient Rome (you'll see the similarities with Stanley Baker and Gia Scala's characters in particular), it does okay and should entertain.