I saw this film in a theater when it came out. I was just a little kid and it had a profound effect on me. My first exposure to Greek Myths and Italian Peplum thanks in part to Joseph E. Levine, a film distributor sometime producer that started out with a small movie theater in Boston.

.        Joseph E. Levine (with slate)

He released Godzilla in the USA and hit it big with Hercules, He wound up producing a lot of films through his Embassy Pictures, his biggest hit was The Graduate, Paul Simon said when they first screened the film, at the end Levine got up and said “I smell Money!”. He was right! I just realized while checking Levene’s resume that I actually worked on his last film, Tatoo, I was just an apprentice editor working in a cutting room at 1600 Broadway in Manhattan,

        1600 Broadway back in the day

in a suite that George Craig, a big music editor, had. His father had worked on Nanook of the North and a lot of other films as a music editor as well. Thom Nobel was the editor on Tatoo, a real character he came to work in a silver jumpsuit. I was only on the film for a short time.

Oh well, 1600 Broadway was a cool place to work, I had a view of Times Square, and they were one of the last buildings to have a crew of elevator operators, all great characters. But I digress. I really wanted to say that I believe Hercules even though credited to Pietro Francisi, is really a Mario Bava Film!

Genius at work! The Great Mario Bava!

Bava is credited as in charge of Special Effects and Lighting but no D.P. is credited! Bava did it all! I heard stories of Francisci falling asleep after lunch as Bava told everyone what to do. Believe me it is not uncommon in the film business for the person that does the work to not get the credit! And then history shows that Francisi’s career soon fizzled out while Bava’s took off.  Also the efficient directing, the classic imagery, the sets and lighting all scream “Bava!” to me. Check it out for yourself. It’s a Cool Movie. And Steve Reeves is great as Hercules, better than Reg Park whom Bava would use in his wonderful film, Hercules In The Haunted World, another film worth checking out.

And here’s a Bonus Fun Fact for All Film Forno Fans:

Steve Reeves first film appearance was in an Ed Wood Film, JailBait!

 Steve Reeves without Hercules beard!