Goliath and the Barbarians [Il terrore dei barbari] *** (1959, Steve Reeves, Bruce Cabot, Giulia Rubini, Chelo Alonso, Arturo Dominici, Gino Scotti) – Classic Movie Review 2908

Steve Reeves stars as Goliath in the 1959 Italian peplum film Il terrore dei barbari [Goliath and the Barbarians]. 

‘10,000 Sights… 10,000 Thrills… The Fabulous Giant of Giants!’ Co-writer/ director Carlo Campogalliani’s 1959 Italian sword and sandal adventure epic Il terrore dei barbari [Goliath and the Barbarians] stars Steve Reeves following up his 1958 worldwide hit with Hercules [Le Fatiche di Ercole].

Reeves again successfully muscles in on the Italian action spectacular scene in this rousing tale in which he plays Emiliano (AKA Goliath of course) organising the Italian villagers into guerrillas to fight back in a war against the pillaging barbarians who have invaded his village and killed his father.

The movie is packed full with colourful characters, great stunts, plenty of strong-arm stuff and campy entertainment value, though there is perhaps not too much evidence of great cinematic flair. Look out for the scene where Reeves is strapped to two horses pulling in opposite directions, designed to split him apart.

It also stars Cuban bombshell Chelo Alonso as the alluring Landa, Bruce Cabot as Alboino, Giulia Rubini as Lidia, Arturo Dominici as Svevo, Gino Scotti as Count Daniele, Livio Lorenzon as Igor, Luciano Marin as Marco, Andrea Checchi as Landa’s father Delfo, Fabrizio Capucci as Bruno, Carla Calò as Bruno’s Mother and Furio Meniconi.

Finance ran out mid-shoot and the production shut down. American International Pictures executives James H Nicholson and Samuel Z Arkoff saw the rushes and agreed to buy the US distribution rights, providing the money to continue production. It gave AIP one of its biggest hits.

Les Baxter’s score replaces Carlo Innocenzi’s original in the English-language US dubbed version, which (as usual with Italian peplums) renames some of the characters (so Emiliano becomes Goliath).

Il terrore dei barbari (original title) is also known as Goliath and the Barbarians (UK and US) and El terror de los bárbaros (Spain).

The script by producer Emimmo Salvi, Gino Mangin, Nino Stresa and Giuseppe Taffarel is loosely based on events of the Lombard invasion of Italy in AD 568. 

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2908

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