Le géant de Thessalie

This is one of the best Peplum or sword and sandals film from the history , retelling the legend of Jason in search of the famous fleece for uncharted sea . The film deals about the myth Jason (Roland Carey) , he travels in search for the fabled Golden fleece located in the Colchis . It's based on a poem of Greek poet named Apolonio of Rodas titled ¨The Argonautika¨ (250 B.C) . In order to stifle the anger of Zeus and other Gods and with volcano's eruption included , Jason must retrieve the magical calf housed from distant land of Colchis and bring it toward city of Iolco . Meanwhile , his nephew Adrasto (Alberto Farnese)and underling Antinoo (Raf Baldasarre) have usurped the kingdom , taken his throne and imprisoned his spouse queen (Rodan) named Creusa (she's actually Medea who later to be revenged Jason , killing their sons) . Jason assembles a motley , brave crew formed by a valiant band as Orpheo (Massimo Girotti, father of Terence Hill or Mario Girotti) , Euristeo (Luciano Marin) , among others . Jason has to climb an enormous sculpture where is the Golden fleece . Jason successfully leads his crew of would-be heroes throughout a series of outstanding adventures . They're confronted by a heinous witch named Gaia at an island of women called Lemmos . Besides , he embarks in the ship a stowaway named Atlanta , she's condemned to death but the philosopher , musician Orpheo , a love expert , saves to her(as the poem says , Orpheo actually accompanied the Argonauts though his love for Euridice was much later) . They sail unharmed along sea storm , suffering thirsty , famine and incredible adventures , encountering a giant monster (made by Carlo Rambaldi : ET) and a scheming witch . The film even rips off from Homero's Odyssey , when there appears a giant bearded Cyclops (such as Kirk Douglas in Ulysses by Mario Camerini) and Jason hurls a lance into his only eye .

As usual in Musclemen films here appears the choreographic girls dancing and lots of action with several adventures including spectacular fights , storms , witchery, and some good effects . This elaborate recounting is well directed by Riccard Freda although with little relation with the poem by Apolonio of Rodas . The film contains an evocative and spectacular music by Carlo Rustichelli . Fun for the whole family though it tends toward the ponderous at times but for the most part , it's a marvelous movie . Other adaptations about this classic story are the following : Jason and the Argonauts (1963) by Don Chaffey with Todd Armstrong and for TV (2000) by Nick Willing and with Jason London.

Elaborate sets, imaginative monsters, bloody battles, and the usual quota of oiled hard-bodies fighting over sultry beauties, "Giants of Thessaly" is a coherent and well-produced entry in the 'peplum', or sword and sandal genre. Here, the evil Adrasto (Farnese wearing a great beard sans moustache) is plotting to overtake Thessaly and forcibly acquire the yummy-mummy Creusa (brief international starlet Rodann) as his wife, but must first persuade the kingdom that his cousin and rightful ruler King Jason (Carey) is not returning from his treacherous journey to recover the coveted golden fleece.

Jason and his argonauts battle a giant cyclops, a mysterious island of witches masquerading as beauties, and encounter talking sheep as they bumble their way to glory and return to Thessaly to find Adrasto on the brink of taking Creusa as his wife. It's formulaic but satisfying nonetheless. Carey isn't quite as ripped as his contemporaries Reg Park or Brad Harris, but he still seems to charm the ladies.

Some bloody battles (check out the guy with the arrow through his ears), a ubiquitous dancing scene and even a sermon on the virtues of first true love, there's surely something for everyone if you're prepared to ensconce yourself in this unique brand of Italian film-making.

Rare Peplum pearl featuring Roland Carey and Massimo Girotti

After his stint as a stuntman for Burt Lancaster in "Trapez" and a foray into German local films ("The Country Doctor"), the attractive Swiss actor Roland Carey (1933-2019) was ready for leading roles in the sandal films of the Roman film industry. Unfortunately, this film from 1960, which was only released in West German cinemas on March 6, 1964, didn't really hit the mark. Director Riccardo Freda (1909-1999) later distanced himself from his own work for unspecified reasons. Elements from the Jason and Odysseus epics were mixed too unfavorably.

Jason (Roland Carey), the King of Thessaly, sets off with his mentor (Massimo Girotti, 1918-2003) and his Argonauts to Colchis to search for the Golden Fleece. His wife Creusa (Ziva Rodann, born in Haifa in 1933) is left alone and has to fend off the intrusive advances of Adrastus (Alberto Farnese). The Argonauts (including Raf Baldassarre and the physically very impressive Greek bodybuilder Takis Kavouras) experience a number of adventures fighting monsters and beautiful women. On the island of the beautiful Queen Gaia (Nadia Sanders) the men experience their blue miracle. The lovesick young man Euristeus (Luciano Marin) particularly stands out. Ultimately, Jason manages to steal the Golden Fleece from the red giant. The men happily return to their native Thessaly, where they still have to defend themselves against Adrastus and his men. Victims are inevitable...

There is action in this film, but it lacks the necessary cohesion. The story is too thin, and apart from the great Massimo Girotti ("Ossessione" (1943), "The Last Tango of Paris" (1972)), the actors can't make up for it. Roland Carey also remains all too pale and can only score points with his outstanding looks. He didn't have a really big career in Rome, but he did make a few films.

Nevertheless: A thoroughly enjoyable pastime, and not just for genre fans!

This is an earlier version of the same events narrated in JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (1963), arguably the screen's finest mythological epic and Ray Harryhausen's magnum opus, and it's a reasonably intelligent and enjoyable retelling in which, surprisingly, even the comic relief works. Still, Roland Carey makes for a colorless Jason - but Massimo Girotti is a suitably morose Orpheus, though his contribution is minimal and was probably only featured for marquee value!

Though a subsequent effort - MACISTE ALL' INFERNO (1962) - proved a disappointment, Riccardo Freda's involvement here ensures that this is one of the better peplums, even if the result is rather static and hokey overall (particularly the cheap-looking Cyclops). Besides, Carlo Rustichelli's score - which may have been borrowed from some other film or was perhaps re-used, as it sounded oddly familiar to me! - is pretty good...

Pretty average spectacle of the crank 'em out kind that showed up every weekend when I was about six or seven.

Mickey Hargitay musta been busy greasin' up his biceps or frolicking around with Jayne and Reeves wanted good money so they opted for Roland Carey who despite a decent chest is very colorless and blah.

The plot is as thin as pizza but serves well for the usual blend of fight,flounder and flex.

TO it's credit there is some good fantasy music,a hilarious one eyed gorilla,a wacky witch and the requisite harem dance.

If you got some pals that are good with the MST3K style of back talk you'll have plenty of fodder here.Fans of SOuth Park will hardly resist a remark or two about Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride.

If your a fan ,check it out otherwise forget it unless you want something to clear the kids out of the room.