This installment of Glad Tidings is a series of photos from the gladiator movie
Caesar Against the Pirates (1962.) Though it seems rather ridiculous on the surface (almost like
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, 1964, or
Snow White and the Three Stooges, 1961), there was an actual incident in Julius Caesar's early life (around twenty-two) when he was indeed captured by a band of pirates and held for ransom. He not only demanded that the ransom be made higher, befitting his station, but he later returned and crucified all the pirates who'd previously held him. In a show of "leniency," he had their throats cut first to prevent suffering on the crosses! Handsome Uruguayan leading man Gustavo Rojo (who enjoyed a remarkable seventy-year acting career right up until his death at ninety-three) plays Caesar. Singer-actress Abbe Lane shows up midway as the leading lady (Lane is still with us today at eighty-five) and bodybuilder-turned-actor Gordon Mitchell is the chief pirate. Check out the amazing neckwear he sports in his opening scene!
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| Rojo enjoys a massage... |
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| ...even better when his (first of three) wife taps in. |
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| Love her hair. |
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| His pal is supposed to be seeing to an injury...! |
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| Watch the hands, there, buddy... |
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| "See what you're missing?!" |
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| Rojo's friend still seems interested... |
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| "Is there anyone here for love?" |
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| "Jealousy is an ugly thing, Dorothy..." |
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| I think Abbe Lane must have used up much of the wig budget... |
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| Well, alrighty then...! |
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| The End. |
Hey Gordon, Kitty Carlisle called, she wants her necklace back.
ReplyDeleteAs a keen childhood “historian” I found myself drawn to S&S epics, and immediately realized the importance of abbreviated battle-ready tunics along with well-turned rumps and thighs. While noting the historical inaccuracy of modern tighty-whities becoming visible under said tunics, I was always on the lookout for further wardrobe malfunctions as caught by the camera. A sharp eye for “continuity” doesn’t necessarily get in the way of historical and cinematic appreciation.
ReplyDeleteAs a cineaste of course I’m startled by inauthentic productions which seek to cover up actors who are unable to play parts requiring darkish athletic Mediterranean looks from the waist down…in costumes which would be “restrictive” to the armies of the times.
Thank goodness for swords and sandals and history, and thank goodness I was never unfairly busted and shamed as a dirty little boy leering at near-naked men on the screen!
F.Nomen, isn't it amazing, though? I was just fixated by it when I saw this movie. And to be on a man!
ReplyDeleteRick, back in the pre-Internet (and pre-cable!) days, many of us were drawn to gladiators, Tarzan, "Battle of the Network Stars," etc... in order to get a good look at "the menses!" I, for one, never forgot the visage of Jon-Erik Hexum on "Voyagers" as he went into battle on one episode as a gladiator. Hell, I even fondly recall the group Animotion, whose male half dressed as one for the video of "Obsession."
Oops Poseidon - seems I forgot to post some context in my earlier response: last weekend they showed "Airplane!" aka "Flying High" on local TV and I was howling laughing at the captain's queer-baiting of little Joey! Priceless! I can only imagine the out-takes of that scene.
ReplyDeletere Animotion video: proves my point that you can put any dog in a centurion helmet plus brief tunic and you got sumthin' to look at! Great song BTW
You’re a naughty one, Mr Poseidon...:) And btw, that Airplane bit is really bad. When I was a kid I didn’t understand it. And I haven’t seen it nor thought about it since then. But wowza, totally inappropriate:).
ReplyDeleteI love that you referenced "I saw what you did" and Gentleman Prefer Blondes" hilarious. That necklace was fierce. I have been on a different S&S kick ( sword and sorcery from early 80's) but will be on look out for some of these early 60s beefcake fests
ReplyDeleteWhat's so amazing about the "Airplane!" sequence (with the usually staid Peter Graves) is that all the things he mentions, "Did you ever see a grown man naked?" etc... were things I thought about as a little gayling! Not in any way advocating child abuse of any kind, just saying that the writers were on-target with their references because I did ruminate on the topics covered.
ReplyDeleteGingerguy, I also like those sorts of movies every once in a while. "Krull," "The Sword and the Sorcerer," "Dragonslayer" and even the "Conan" movies. Not a steady diet, but an occasional schnickety-schnack. Ha ha!
Add Red Sonja to that mix Poseidon, Sandahl Bergman is unbelievable. I know I don't have to tell you that "The Sword And The Sorcerer" starred Kathleen Bellar aka Kirby Colby
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ReplyDeleteI love Gustavo Rojo so I've got to see this movie and hope I can find it on youtube or somewhere. Sounds like an Italian classic, LOL! How on earth did Abbe lane wind up in this?
ReplyDeleteRick, just wanted to say that the comment above that's marked "removed by a blog administrator" was not intentionally done by me!! I think it happened with my phone in my pocket or something - totally accidental and I apologize.
ReplyDeleteWilliam, a pretty decent print of this film is available (in widescreen) on youtube! Thanks!! (And I too was stunned to see Abbe Lane of all people in the movie.)