Le tyran de Syracuse

Face the punishment of death or a friend that is a thief and liar (willing to lie and pretend to be a hostage). Not much of a choice, the only other choice I can think of would be suicide or to get the heck out of there fast, leave the country quickly and forget both. lol.

This is the story of "all men are brothers", treat each other right. Damon and Pythias of Greek mythology - the story of morality.

It's okay but moves at a snail's pace. I guess because there wasn't quite enough material for a typical full length film of the time era so they drug out the original story.

2/10

A tale of friendship and hatred from the annals of Greek Mythology. Not your normal Peplum "Swords & Sandals" mishmash. This story has a moral to it. A bit slow in the beginning but worth the watch. bcarruthers-76500

This ambitious "sword and sandal" film gives a retelling of the story of two men, Damon and Pythias, brought together despite their two very opposite personalities. Damon, played with some heart and pluck by Guy Williams, is a wastrel, a thief, and beloved by all the people that have like lives. He has, initially no love for things like honor or duty. Pythias, played decently by Don Burnett, is the epitome of the honorable Roman out to do what is right no matter what hardships lie ahead. Well, the two become friends and face a common foe - to spin a long story short. Damon and Pythias is not a bad film despite its sluggish opening pace. The director tries to give his characters depth though they really are never explored deeply because of the limitations of the two actors. Williams is always fun to watch, however. After the first two-thirds of the film, things start to heat up - but really not enough to recommend this film. It does at the very least have a message and is full of heart - not something one sees a lot in this genre. If you are looking for lots of fighting and supernatural beasts, look elsewhere!

Damon And Pythias the retelling of the legendary friendship from Greek mythology is a cut above the usual peplum product from Italy at the time. It benefits a bit from Hollywood director Curtis Bernhardt although the film is way too slow. A lot from the first half of the movie could have been cut.

Pythias as played by Don Burnett is on a mission from Athens to Syracuse where he's to fetch back the Pythagorean field man in Syracuse back to the home office in Athens. In Athens the school of Pythagoras is a respected form of philosophy, Syracuse they're considered a dangerous cult and hunted down by its ruler Dionysius played by Arnaldo Foa.

While in Syracuse Burnett meets up with Guy Williams playing Damon who is a rogue in a manner befitting Errol Flynn. But Williams is a jaded sort and he sees Burnett really walks the walk in the philosophy of universal brotherhood that the Pythagoreans preach. It's not quite as simple as that, but the Pythagoreans here are presented as a forerunner of Christianity.

It all gets put to the test when Burnett is caught by Foa and Williams offers himself up as hostage in his place so Burnett can return to Athens to care for his sick wife. Foa decided to let him go through with it, thinking that no one would be dumb enough to return once free and that would discredit the philosophy which is finding favor in Syracuse.

Williams and Burnett were a pair of refugees from television, Burnett had done the Northwest Passage television show and Williams had just finished his run with Walt Disney's Zorro. Damon And Pythias never did establish them as film stars. Williams came along twenty years too late, in the thirties he could have been another Errol Flynn. He would have a run with Lost In Space after this film. Both their careers had petered out by the Seventies.

Damon And Pythias is a bit more literate than the usual peplum item. But it is also sluggish and dull in spots. It's a curiosity nevertheless and might be worth a look.

Like watching paint dry on a wall. A lifeless production thay barely holds your interest. I recordered it on TCM late at night hoping for a good unknown film staring Guy Williams would be worth watching. Nice Palace in dirt poor city. So much talk that amounts to nothing.