The Giants of Thessaly [I giganti della Tessaglia] *** (1960, Roland Carey, Ziva Rodann, Massimo Girotti, Alberto Farnese) – Classic Movie Review 7939

‘The Screen Explodes With Wondrous Spectacle Bigger Than Anything You Have Ever Seen!! ‘ Director Riccardo Freda’s entertaining 1960 Italian-French adventure-fantasy film The Giants of Thessaly [I giganti della Tessaglia (Gli Argonauti)] is loosely based on the Greek epic poem Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius [Apollonius of Rhodes].

It is a re-telling of the famous story of King Jason taking his Argonauts on a quest for the fabled Golden Fleece, a tale previously incorporated into the Steve Reeves Hercules (1958). Unfortunately, the barbarians have overrun Thessaly, and something has got to be done about it. We are holding out for a hero – Jason!

Roland Carey stars as Jason [Giasone], with Ziva Rodann as Creusa, Massimo Girotti as Orfeo, Alberto Farnese as Adrasto, Nadine Sanders as Queen Gaia, Luciano Marin as Euristeo, Cathia Caro as Aglaia, Alfredo Varelli as Argo, aria Teresa Vianello as Gaia’s Sister, Nando Tamberlani as Aglaia’s Father, Alberto Sorrentino as Licaone, Paolo Gozlino as Laerte, and Raf Baldassarre as Antinoo.

The Giants of Thessaly [I giganti della Tessaglia (Gli Argonauti)] is made at Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Italy, and Luce Studios, Rome, Italy. It is shot in Eastmancolor and SupertotalScope. It is also known as Les Géants de Thessalie.

Filmar released it on 6 December 1960 in Italy, where it grossed 408 million Italian lire.

Roland Carey, the Sixties Italian epic star of Swiss-French dual nationality, was born in Lausanne in 1933 and attended the Paris Conservatory.

Carlo Rambaldi did the Cyclops special effects.

 © Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7939

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