Film

Ercole alla conquista di Atlantide (1961)

Director: Vittorio Cottafavi

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Some extreme claims have been made for Cottafavi's sword and sandal epics, but essentially this example impresses by its simplicity and excellent pictorial values. Reluctant hero Hercules (Park) is hoodwinked into serving the Greek cause by quashing the scheme of the Queen of Atlantis (Spain) who, under the influence of the god Uranus, is producing a race of supermen. The knockabout comedy is unexceptional and most of the cast only adequate, though Spain delivers a high camp performance as the arrogant queen, letting off coloured puffs of smoke for her pleasure. Best of all is the dynamic design: deep and mysterious hallways, a team of white horses flying through subterranean tunnels, and a wholly identical super-race revealed from beneath their equally identical armoured visors.

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