The Works of Hercules (movie, 1958)

Synopsis

After confronting the Nemean lion that was terrorizing the region, Hercules embarks with Jason in search of the Golden Fleece to allow him to regain the throne of Thessaly .

Technical sheet

• Original title: The Fatiche di Ercole
• French title: Les Travaux d’Hercule
• American title: Hercules
• Directed by: Pietro Francisci
• Assistants to the realization: Ettore Mattera, Pietro Nuccorini
• Scenario: Ennio De Concini , Pietro Francisci and Gaio Fratini after the Argonautics of Apollonius of Rhodes
• French Dialogues: Josette France
• Sets: Flavio Mogherini
• Costumes: Giulio Coltellacci
• Choreography: Gisa Geert
• Makeup: Euclide Santoli
• Photography: Mario Bava
• Sound: Renato Cadueri, Giulio Tagliacozzo
• Editing: Mario Serandrei
• Music: Enzo Masetti
• Musical Director: Carlo Savina
• Producer: Federico Teti
• Production Companies: Oscar Film (Italy), Galatea Film (Italy), Urania Film (Spain), Embassy Pictures (USA)
• Distribution companies: Lux Films (Italy), Embassy Pictures (United States), Warner Bros. (United States), D3 Distribution Company (France)
• Country of origin: Italy / Spain
• Original language: Italian
• Inside shooting: Titanus studios ( Rome )
• Format: color ( Eastmancolor ) – 35 mm – 2.35: 1 Dyaliscope – monaural sound (Westrex Recording System)
• Genre: peplum
• Duration: 100 minutes
• Release dates:
  • Italy: February 20 , 1958
  • La France : April 22 , 1959
• (en) CNC classification : all public (operating visa n ^o 21032 issued December 17 , 1958)

Distribution

• Steve Reeves (VF: Jean-Claude Michel ) : Hercules
  (lining: Giovanni Cianfriglia )
• Sylva Koscina (VF: Marcelle Lajeunesse ) : Iole daughter of Pelias
• Fabrizio Mioni (VF: Hubert Noël ) : Jason
• Gianna Maria Canale (VF: Paule Emanuele ) : Anthea, Queen of the Amazons
• Gabriele Antonini : Odysseus
• Ivo Garrani (VF: Jean Davy ) : Pelias
• Arturo Dominici : Eurystheus
• Mimmo Palmara (VF: Michel Gudin ) : Iphitos
• Lydia Alfonsi (VF: Lita Recio ) : the Sibyl
• Aldo Fiorelli (VF: Jean Violette ) : Argos
• Gino Mattera (VF: Roland Menard ) : Orpheus
• Walter Grant / Gian Paolo Rosmino (VF: Paul City ) : Aesculapian
• Afro Poli (VF: Pierre Morin ) : Chiron

Around the film

To promote the film in the United States , producer Joseph E. Levine innovated at the time by developing a “saturation” audiovisual advertising campaign, using more than 600 Hercules visuals, including illustrations like this article (a costly and unusual investment of $ 120,000 ). A procedure that has become commonplace today for the promotion of prestigious cinematographic productions ¹ .

Notes and references