Fort Alésia

"The forces of Rome are out to defeat the Druids but are shocked to learn their enemy has a powerful secret weapon that could spell defeat for them. Claudius Marcellus, a Roman Centurion, leads a small band of soldiers behind enemy lines to discover the location of this doomsday weapon and destroy it before the Druids can use it to attack Rome," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.

Titled "The Giants of Rome" for English listeners, this nicely paced "sword and sandal" epic stars an Adonis-handsome Richard Harrison (as Claudius Marcellus) in a bulging pair of satin briefs. He is supported by a "beefcake" quartet of Roman soldiers, including right-hand man Ettore Manni (as Castor). The accent is on men, but Wandisa Guida (as Livilla) adds a little femininity.

Up-and-coming young Alberto Dell'Acqua (as Valerius) makes a particularly strong impression herein. As the soldier who wants to join Caesar's selected quartet of soldiers, Mr. Dell'Acqua (later known internationally as "Robert Widmark") is given what must have amounted to a star-making role in his home country. Watch out, especially, for his startling "crucifixion" sequence.

****** I giganti di Roma (9/10/64) Antonio Margheriti ~ Richard Harrison, Ettore Manni, Wandisa Guida, Alberto Dell'Acqua

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!!)

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

"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.

In Giants Of Rome Richard Harrison leads a handpicked crew to seek and destroy a legendary secret weapon that the Druids have constructed blocking a pass. Given that this is an ancient world epic, how advanced technologically could the weapon be?

The plot is a homage to The Guns Of Navarone and while it isn't anywhere up to the standard of that film, it's a bit better than some of the peplum films I've been viewing lately. The dialog is a bit much however. When the band of warriors have to kill some Gauls and take a couple of prisoners, one of them is a woman. To which Harrison asks her why she hates the Romans so much. I mean really.

None other than Julius Caesar himself gives Harrison and his band their mission orders. Just what is this terrible secret weapon? All I can say is it's nothing the Roman legions hadn't faced before, just bigger.