Sword-and-sandal, also known as peplum, is a subgenre of largely Italian-made historical, mythological, or biblical epics mostly set in the Greco-Roman antiquity or the Middle Ages. These films attempted to emulate the big-budget Hollywood historical epics of the time, such as Samson and Delilah (1949), Quo Vadis (1951), The Robe (1953), The Ten Commandments (1956), Ben-Hur (1959), Spartacus (1960), and Cleopatra (1963). These films dominated the Italian film industry from 1958 to 1965, eventually being replaced in 1965 by spaghetti Western and Eurospy films.
Alexander Crichlow Barker Jr., known as Lex Barker, was an American actor. He was known for playing Tarzan for RKO Pictures between 1949 and 1953, and portraying leading characters from Karl May's novels, notably as Old Shatterhand in a film series by the West German studio Constantin Film. At the height of his fame, he was one of the most popular actors in German-speaking cinema, and received Bambi Award and Bravo Otto nominations for the honor.
Bloody Pit of Horror is a 1965 gothic horror film. The film, set in Italy, was directed by Domenico Massimo Pupillo and stars Mickey Hargitay, Walter Brandi, Luisa Baratto and Rita Klein. It tells the story of a group of women modeling for a photo shoot at a castle, whose owner takes on the identity of the Crimson Executioner, bent on their deaths.
Leoni al sole is a 1961 Italian comedy drama film. It is the directorial debut of Vittorio Caprioli.
City of Pain is a 1949 Italian drama film directed by Mario Bonnard. It was shown as part of a retrospective "Questi fantasmi: Cinema italiano ritrovato" at the 65th Venice International Film Festival.
The Stranger's Hand is a 1954 British-Italian thriller drama film directed by Mario Soldati and starring Trevor Howard, Alida Valli and Richard Basehart. An international co-production, it is based on the draft novel with the same name written by Graham Greene. The plot follows the son of a British MI5 agent kidnapped in Venice by agents of Yugoslavia as he searches for his father.
La bella di Lodi is a 1963 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Missiroli. It is based on the novel with the same name written by Alberto Arbasino.
La cuccagna, internationally released as A Girl... and a Million, is a 1962 Italian drama film directed by Luciano Salce.
100 Horsemen is a 1964 Italian-Spanish-West German historical-adventure film directed by Vittorio Cottafavi.
Pirates of the Coast is a 1960 Italian adventure film directed by Domenico Paolella.
The Son of the Red Corsair is a 1959 Italian historical adventure film written and directed by Primo Zeglio and starring Lex Barker, Sylvia Lopez and Vira Silenti. It is based on the novel with the same name by Emilio Salgari. The story had previously been made into a 1943 film The Son of the Red Corsair.
Superargo and the Faceless Giants is a 1968 Italian-Spanish science fiction-superhero film written and directed by Paolo Bianchini. It is the sequel of Nick Nostro's Superargo Versus Diabolicus.
Robin Hood and the Pirates is a 1960 Italian adventure film directed by Giorgio Simonelli, and starring Lex Barker and Jackie Lane.
Spy Today, Die Tomorrow is a 1967 German-Italian-Spanish Eurospy film written and directed by Franz Josef Gottlieb and starring Lex Barker.
The Avenger of Venice is a 1964 adventure film written and directed by Piero Pierotti and Carlo Campogalliani and starring Brett Halsey and Gianna Maria Canale. It is based on a novel by Michel Zevaco.
Slave of Rome is a 1961 Italian peplum film written and directed by Sergio Grieco and starring Rossana Podestà and Guy Madison.
Gentlemen of the Night is a 1964 Italian-French adventure film directed by Pino Mercanti and starring Guy Madison and Lisa Gastoni.
The Secret of the Black Falcon is a 1961 Italian swashbuckler film co-written and directed by Domenico Paolella and starring Lex Barker and Livio Lorenzon.
Terror of the Red Mask is a 1960 Italian swashbuckler film co-written and directed by Luigi Capuano and starring Lex Barker and Chelo Alonso.
Knight of 100 Faces is a 1960 Italian swashbuckler historical film directed by Pino Mercanti and starring Lex Barker and Liana Orfei.
