Ursus l'invincible

Acceptable and middle-budgeted Peplum or ¨swords and sandals¨ movie with the corpulent Alan Steel, or Sergio Ciani , it stars a B-big name cast as Lisa Gastoni, Mimmo Palmara , Rosalba Neri , Vassili Karis , among others . As the mighty Ursus (Alan Steel) to free an enslaved group of people from an oppressive , evil ruler and surely all who stand in his way . As Ursus to keep wits and strength about him when he is blinded by a potion of an astute magician (Gianni Rizzo) . In this rarely seen muscle epic , Ursus along with his pals , a young acrobat named Pico (Arnaldo Dell'Acqua , brother of secondaries : Roberto Dell'Acqua, Alberto Dell'Acqua and Ottaviano Dell'Acqua) and a sympathetic mute called Manina (Enzo Maggio who holds the comical relief) all take part in a battle royal . This time the hero known as Ursus (renamed Samson for Americans) survives and runs head-on into the forces of a cruel tyrant (Mimmo Palmara) who has thrown-out a King (Carlo Tamberlani) and ruled over a city called Atra , in Tunisia region , helping prince Dario (Vassili Karis) , who falls in love for an enemy princess (Rosalba Neri), to retrieve his throne . All the usual comes into play as the bad guys are eventually subdued . As Ursus survives long enough to battle a villainous in an exotic oriental country .

This exciting Peplum contains emotion , noisy action sequences incorporating circus acrobatics , spectacular battles with lots of sword-wielding warriors , court intrigue and many other things . There's a bit more intentional humor with tongue-firmly-in-cheek than usual in this Peplum opus . It stars Sergio Ciani , a hunk man who made lots of roman epic films , also called ¨Musclemen movies¨. Sergio's luck changed when an Italian producer persuaded him to play Peplums similarly to Steve Reeves , who really paved the way for others actors to seek their fame and fortune in Italy playing bouncing adventurers . Other stars by the time on this type of movies are the followings : Mark Forest , Gordon Mitchell , Dan Vadis , Reg Park , Brad Harris , Samson Burke , Richard Harrison , Rock Stevens and Kirk Morris . Nobody, nevertheless , topped Steve Reeves in popularity , though Gordon Scott made him a important competence . Alan Steel started off his beefcake run off as a body double for Reeves in both the "Hercules" sequel ¨Hercules Unchained¨ (1959) and in ¨Giant of Marathon¨ (1959) , in which he also had bit roles . Within a couple of years Steel was posing front-and-center as Herk himself and entering in the star-system based on pumped-up heroes playing ¨Sansone or Samson¨ (1961) , opposite another physique-minded American import , Brad Harris in the title role . On numerous occasions Steel was asked to play the legendary Greek hero , as well as the equally well-built demigods Samson and Ursus, even though the film titles often fused (or confused) them in their titles . Steel starred as ¨Hercules in Ercole Contro Roma or Hercules Against Rome¨ (1964) , ¨Hercules Against the Moon Men¨ (1964) , ¨Sansone Contro Il Corsaro Nero or Hercules and the Black Pirate¨ (1964) , and ¨Hercules and the Treasure of the Incas¨ (1964) , the second movie mentioned being one of the only spectacles to actually incorporate science fiction into the genre. In contrast , his Hercules serves as a mere sidekick in the Zorro-like spectacle ¨Golia e Il Cavaliere Mascherato or Hercules and the Masked Rider¨ (1963) starring Ettore Manni . In addition , he performed Ursus , ¨Il Gladiatore Ribelle or Ursus , the Rebel Gladiator¨ (1962) opposite Dan Vadis . He also played the supporting role of Kaldos in ¨Rocha , son of Samson or The Fury of Hércules¨ (1962) when it was Brad Harris' turn to play the title role , and ¨Samson and his mighty challenge¨ (1964) . By mid-decade the Herculean phase had faded away and Steel went on, unlike others peplum stars, to other film styles such as dramas , thrillers , horror, oaters , even comedies and he eventually moved into Spaghetti Western and spies . In the late 1960s he and fellow movie musclemen Kirk Morris and Gordon Mitchell served up "spaghetti westerns" entitled ¨Sapevano Solo Uccidere¨ (1968) and ¨Fast hand¨ (1973). The film benefits itself from an acceptable secondary cast , full of familiar faces as Carlo Tamberlani , Nello Pazzafini and three gorgeous Eurotrash actresses as Rosalba Neri , Orchidea De Santis and Lisa Gastoni . In spite of mediocre interpretations , the acting honors go to Mimmo Palmara as a nasty usurper .

Colorful cinematography in Eastmancolor , TotalScope 16 mm by Izzareli , shot on location in Tunis and Lacio , Rome and Elios Studios . Atmospheric and evocative Original music by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino who composed lots of Peplums and Spaghettis . The film was professionally directed by Gianfranco Parolini , aka Frank Kramer , but with no originality . Parolini often uses action sequences incorporating circus acrobatics and lots of humor and irony . He began directing Musclemen epics as ¨Rocha¨, ¨The Macabeos¨ with Brad Harris , ¨Samson¨ , ¨Fury of Hércules¨ and ¨The ten gladiators¨ with Dan Davis and Gianni Rizzo , Parolini's usual actor. After that , he continued with ¨commissioner X¨ series stars Tony Kendall , fantastic with ¨three supermen¨ and warlike movie as ¨5 per l'Inferno¨ with Gianni Garco (Sartana) and the nimble acrobat Nick Jordan , Parolini's regular . His first Western was ¨Johnny West¨ and later on , ¨God's gun¨ with Jack Palance and he also directed the first ¨Sabata¨ with Lee van Cleef . It's followed by ¨ Return of Sabata¨ with similar artistic and technician team and ¨Indio Black¨ with Yul Brynner . "3 Avengers" is a so-so Péplum , If you like lots of sword fighting , this ones for you.

One of my favorite films. Its pure silly action. Everyone looks knowingly at the camera and they seem to draw you into the fun. Until is collapses towards the end this is a fun movie with a plot, no romance, good action, great humor and it knows its not important but goes for it anyway. Its 95 minutes of pure fun. my only complaint is I wish my print were letter boxed.

Alan Steel was a busy actor during this period. He hadn't even finished HERCULES AGAINST THE UNIVERSE and immediately was called away to start this 3 Avengers movie. (If you watch HERCULES AGAINST THE UNIVERSE you can clearly see a "stand-in" for Alan Steel). The 3 Avengers has many titles including URSUS, THE SON OF HERCULES. AND THE 3 AVENGERS which wasn't really part of the actual S of H series but used anyways. This Ursus movie is a sort of comedy which has him fighting countless factions for control of some grasslands in the desert. He has no problem winning all his fights. Alan Steel was at his physical best in this outing and is very impressive as a strongman. Main outdoor scenes were filmed around Tunis, Tunisia. I have added 3 STILLS of Alan Steel to the gallery for you to enjoy. Larry Anderson.

From sword and sandal film to slapstick comedy

Director Gianfranco PAROLINI already knew how to keep the Italian cinema audience happy. When a serious sandal film no longer works, comedic elements are added.

This time the extremely strong Ursus (Sergio CIANI) is on the road with his two buddies Pico (Arnaldo Dell'ACQUA) and Manina (Toni MAGGIO), neither of whom take honesty very seriously. But all three of them are great at beating up opponents. There are funny beating scenes throughout the film, which are certainly reminiscent of later fights in Bud SPENCER's films. But things get really serious when the three whipping boys discover that a fake Ursus (Mimmo PALMARA) has almost seized power in their location. This villain is supported by the king's second wife (Lisa GASTONI). Only her stepson, Prince Karim (Vassili KARIS), resists and even achieves reconciliation with an enemy desert tribe. The beautiful Demora (Rosalba NERI) is very fond of the dashing Karim. But the king's scheming advisor (Gianni RIZZO) and his henchman (Giuseppe MATTEI) put a lot of pressure on the prince and the three whipping boys...

Entertaining mix of sword and sandal film and slapstick comedy that paved the way for Bud SPENCER and company!