O Herói da Babilônia

This typical peplum featuring Gordon Scott would like to be something more than what it actually is, since the star is not some muscle-bound historical figure (which he would often get to play) but rather the returning son of a deposed king; even so, an alternate title for this was THE BEAST OF BABYLON AGAINST THE SON OF HERCULES, adopted for commercial TV screenings! Still, before long, Scott is fighting off the villain's soldiers single-handedly, throwing the latter around as if they were puppets and flattening three of them at once with a log, and removing a series of prison shackles by a mere exertion of his muscles!

As usual, among the members of the rebellion against the tyrant in power (an appropriately sinister Piero Lulli, further distinguished by sporting an elaborate head-dress) is a girl whom the hero contrives to save against all odds and fall for, ensuring that when he eventually gains the throne for himself (since his father, thought a prisoner, is really dead) there will be a Queen ready to take her place by his side!; the villain, too, has a companion in evil i.e. genre fixture (and future circus owner!) Moira Orfei. By the way, the only credits to appear on the print I watched where those of the male lead and the film's very title!

I first saw this movie when it was on TV in the "old days". It is still a fantastic adventure movie. Great story and excellent action filming. I now have 3 great color version that all have bits and pieces missing or misplaced. It is better than no copies at all. If you like great adventure and admire Gordon Scott, find a copy of this movie and have fun.

The young Nippur (Gordon SCOTT) returns to his homeland of Babylon after a long stay at the court of the Persian King Cyrus (Mario PETRI). His cousin Balthasar (Piero LULLI), who is under the ominous influence of a beautiful priestess named Ura (Moira ORFEI), now rules there. There are bound to be conflicts in which the young Tamira (Genevieve GRAD) also plays a major role.

This time the Italian sword and sandal film takes us to the time around 539 BC, when a certain Belshazzar ruled in Babylon and got into a major conflict with the Great King Cyrus. This film by Siro MARCELLINI is certainly not one of the best examples of the peplum cinema from the Roman film factory CINECITTA. Good entertainment for fans of the genre is guaranteed. The American bodybuilder and ex-Tarzan actor Gordon SCOTT cuts a dazzling figure as a champion of good. And a year later Genevieve GRAD would become the daughter of the GENDARM OF SAINT TROPEZ, played by the unforgettable Louis De FUNES.

In Italian cinemas, the rather modestly equipped sword and sandals film grossed 195 million ITL, while in West German cinemas it grossed the equivalent of around 350,000 EURO (from 358,000 cinema visits).

In THE BEAST OF BABYLON AGAINST THE SON OF HERCULES, the eeevil, Babylonian King Balthazar (Piero Lulli) has decided that he's not oppressing his people quite harshly enough. He soon remedies this..

Enter Nippur (Gordon Scott), who quickly finds opportunity to crush the king's troops with a handy log, while rescuing a slave girl in the process. Not-so surprisingly, our humongous hero is on a collision course with Balthazar.

Infiltrating Babylon, Nippur buddies up with the king, while wearing a fashionable shower curtain, throw rug, and table cloth ensemble. Don't worry, he soon gets to throw Balthazar's men around like sword-wielding coconuts!

QUESTIONS: #1- Can Nippurcules deliver the slaves, and allow the true heir to take the throne? #2- How does Balthazar stand up while wearing that space station-sized crown on his noggin? #3- What exactly is the meaning of the interpretive dance during the human sacrifice? #4- When Hernippules gets wounded, how will he save everyone?

This all leads to the gigantic battle-filled finale, featuring Hippurnules in the showdown of showdowns!

One of the best in the so-called "Sons Of Hercules" series. Just try getting the theme song out of your head!

Invite the friends! Mix the drinks! Get comfortable! Prepare to roar!...

The rightful heir (Nippur) to the throne of Babylon leads a slave revolt against an evil ruler.

In a brightly-coloured, reasonably well-concocted escapist fare, Gordon Scott takes on the Babylons in order to free the slaves thrown in the fire for sacrifice as well as seeking his father. He's excellent as always, exuding energy and the action scenes are exciting and well staged, and rather lifts this adventure. The stunts are impressive such as as the one Nipur's friend, Namar, is being chased by soldiers atop the roofs of the Babylonian city. With nowhere to go, Namar leaps from the top of one of the buildings down onto two of men waiting below. There's nothing to cushion him below.

The villainy is always good in these type of films - Moira Orfei sizzles as the evil and duplicitous Ura and the guy who plays Balthazar is a true nut job. The slave capturing scenes and throwing them in the fire can be grim.