Hercules/Mole Men Against the Son of Hercules (1959)

A double feature of epic proportions! In Hercules, the granddaddy of all sword and sandal films, the mythical muscleman (played by former Mr. America and Mr. Universe Steve Reeves) joines the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece. Along the way, they encounter a bevy of buxom Amazons, hideous apemen, Italian sex goddesses Sylva Koscina (Lisa and the Devil) and Giana Maria Canale (I Vampiri), and a gigantic dragon. Presented on DVD for the first time in its original widescreen splendor, this is the original monsters-and-muscles classic you've been waiting for!

Plus: Mark Forest stars in Mole Men Against the Son of Hercules as Hercules' son, Maciste, who goes underground to discover the terrifying kingdom of the Mole Men, who are ruled by beautiful but wicked Queen Alismoyab... whose evil is no match for her weakness for muscles! Also starring black bodybuilder Paul Wynter, this is one of the wildest and weirdest of the Italian beefcake fests.

A True Classic!!!!!

They don't make'm like this one anymore. I remember seeing this in the theaters when I was a kid, and believe me it was an event. Just like Clayton Moore was the Lone Ranger, and Guy Williams was Zorro, Steve Reeves was the perfect person to play this character. The story was great and the action fantastic! I recommend this one for both kids and adults.

John April 14, 2008

Picture-good/Audio-weak

As another reviewer states this is an inferior audio dub of the classic Hercules. BUT, it's a very good widescreen picture copy. Well the best I've seen so far and I've ordered about 4 versions in the past. It beats the heck out of the HORRIBLE remastered version going for $19.95 elsewhere at Amazon. But if we could only have the audio of one and the video of the other :( There is also a very odd hum in the audio at parts of the mvie but not so bad it's distracting. I'd rather have deep lush color than a perfect audio track. Although as others have said why can't Criterion master this Classic movie and get the two parts right ?????
Hercules has never looked as good and considering the other choppy pale versions this is the one to get by Jupiter, wish it were Zeus though :) February 13, 2008

The 40 year search has ended

I saw what I thought was Son of Hercules vs the Mole Men over 40 years ago late one night on a black and white tv while living in greater Chicagoland. I may have been the only one to see it as for the last 40 years my quest to see it again was met with laughter and ridicule. And now, I have a copy. It's not Hercules vs the Moon Men as so many insisted, It does exist and the Son of Herc does indeed save his black friend by preventing tons of concrete slabs from pressing swords into his flesh. Incredible Feats of strength, an underground city powered by thousands of the mole men's slaves running in a circle, Italian damsels with pointed chests in distress, a fortune in GIANT jewels and more silliness than we have a right to expect...who could ask for more. August 8, 2007

Hercules/Mole Men Against Son of Hercules

The original Steve Reeves "Hercules" (released in the U.S. in 1959) is an Italian, import classic: low-bugeted and dubbed, yes, but in terms of its influence, it has no equal. It is the movie that inspired a slew of sword-and-sandal epics that dominated the drive-in theater scene for nearly a decade.

Reeves is the proverbial, cinematic Hercules, and his influence can be clearly felt in other popular Herculean portrayals: Reg Park and Lou Ferrigno immediately come to mind.

Slyvia Koscina is quite a fetching leading leady. The film's score is appopriately grand, and the story engaging (culled mostly from the "Jason and the Argonauts" legend).

What makes this edition so damn alluring is that it is presented in a crisp, clear widescreen format. This is truly the way that this movie must be viewed. Widescreen certainly gives the film a more sprawling, bigger-butgeted feel. Also, most full-frame copies of this classic look washed-out or the prints are heavily scratched/nicked.

As a bonus on this disc, one gets "Mole Men Against the Son of Hercules". While no classic (and not a true-blue Hercules installment), the latter is still a fun (full-frame) adventure that should hit the spot for those hankering for additional sword-and-sandal thrills.

Let's hope that Retro-media will release Reeves' "Hercules Unchained" in widescreen soon.



July 30, 2007

Gorgeous, Magnificent Beefcake at its Prime

"Hercules" has already received its plaudits and praise. I'd like to concentrate on the phenomenal Mark Forest who stars in Mole Men AGainst the Son of Hercules. This man was a giant of an Adonis, with an unbelievable torso. His pecs were bigger than Jayne Mansfield and his stomach muscles were justly famed. On top of all that, he permeated a powerful sensuality that worked its magic, as if he were constantly thinking naughty thoughts. His face was beautifully chiseled and again, his body was incredible. As in other movies, he carries himself like a god, gliding easily from one catastrophe to another, with wonderful scenes of him straining himself to lift mountain size boulders and tearing down mountains. What a loss to the beefcake world when Forest walked away from his booming career in the Italian film industry in the 60s and trained to sing opera. He now teaches signing at a Florida college--a far cry from those glory days when his millions of fans panted for each new beefcake extraganza that starred above the title that name that signified muscles, phenomenal male beauty and sexy charisma: Mark Forest. February 12, 2007

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