"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.
