Mark Forest Movies
Mark Forest was the second American bodybuilder after Steve Reeves to achieve stardom in Italy doing low-budget, sword-and-sandal, muscleman movies. Born Louis Lorenzo Degni in Brooklyn, NY, he moved to California at the age of 19 and became part of the bodybuilding scene in Muscle Beach. He worked for a time as part of Mae West's celebrated beefcake-laden stage act, won competitions, and was eventually cast in the second muscleman film to come out of Italy in the late '50s: Goliath and the Dragon (aka The Revenge of Hercules). It was for that movie that he was told to change his name to the more American-sounding Mark Forest. He later made his name in the role of the hero known as Maciste (who was often renamed Hercules or Atlas in U.S. releases) in such movies as Maciste, Strongest Gladiator in the World, Maciste and the Valley of Kings, Hercules Against the Sons of the Sun, The Terror of Rome Against the Son of Hercules, and -- best of them all -- The Lion of Thebes. Forest even starred in one Egyptian-made sword-and-sandal title, Kindar the Invulnerable. In more recent years, he has worked as a singer, voice teacher, and personal trainer. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide- 1965
Mark Forest stars in this obscure sword-and-sandal epic as Kindar, a sultan's son who was kidnapped after birth and raised by a rebel leader (Mimmo Palmara). Kindar, who has invulnerable skin, grows to adulthood, falls in love with a woman engaged to his real brother (Renato Rossini appearing as "Red Ross"), and prepares to raid the sultan's village before learning the truth. That sets up a desert battle between the two brothers, whose whip-fight is the film's high point. Osvaldo Civirani's assured direction and some slick action sequences make this a worthwhile entry for genre fans. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In this sword-and-sandal fantasy, Goliath must rescue twenty-four virgins who are being sent as a tribute to an evil conqueror. First the hero liberates one of the women. He then teams up with two other titans to save the rest. Action, adventure, and romance ensue. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Mark Forest stars as Hercules in this sword-and-sandal affair from 1960 (its American release occured two years later). The film bears a striking resemblance to the like-vintage Hercules Against the Barbarians, right down to the choice of leading man. We suspect that both films were excerpted from a longer Hercules epic, then released separately to engender a higher box-office take. Oh, yes the plot: Hercules takes on the three sons of Genghis Khan, quite a remarkable feat for a superhero from ancient Greece. Jose Greci also appears in this tribute to testosterone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In this fantasy, set in ancient South America, the muscle-bound hero defeats the evil Incan King by building a humungous fighting machine. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Forest
- 1964
In this sword and sandal fantasy, Poseidon must battle a gladiator quartet in ancient Rome. If he wins, the son of Hercules will have his life and anything else he wants. Sure enough, he wins and asks that the life of a Christian girl be spared. But the girl refuses her liberty until all of her fellow believers are also released. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1964
This is an interesting entry in the Italian muscleman genre of the early '60s. Set in the wake of the destruction of Troy, Lion of Thebes tells of Helen's flight from the vengeance of the Greeks, in the company of her loyal protector Arion (Mark Forest). She falls into the hands of the pharaoh Ramses, who sits on the throne of Thebes and is opposed by the aging pharaoh Menophis. Ramses plans to marry Helen, but he is murdered by his jealous councilor. Arion must save her life when she is accused of the murder and sentenced to death. The plot intricacies intersect with elements of Land of the Pharaohs, with its court intrigue and treachery, but the presence of Forest adds an element of excitement to go with the exoticism of the settings and story, with his taciturn demeanor and always-at-the-ready muscleman heroics. Also interesting is Yvonne Furneaux's portrayal of Helen as a woman who genuinely regrets her beauty and the mistakes to which it has driven men, as well as King Menelaus as a man torn by vengeful passion and greed. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Forest, Yvonne Furneaux, (more)
- 1962
In this adventurous sword and sandal epic, the muscle-bound offspring of the famous strongman tries to stop the wicked Egyptian queen from continuing to terrorize her subjects. She does this as she prepares to turn her country over to the Persians. She is also trying to force her handsome stepson, a good friend of Samson, Jr., to marry her. Samson gets involved after he comes to her city to search for his pal. Using his extraordinary strength, the young hero manages to defeat the queen's troops. This leads the queen to use her seductive powers on the man, but he is not interested. Angered, the queen throws him into a dungeon. Fortunately, he escapes and leads a slave revolt. Mayhem ensues until the wicked ruler tumbles into a deep pit filled with hungry crocodiles. This leaves the step-son to assume the throne. Peace and justice ensue as Samson returns to his home. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
On the heels of muscleman Steve Reeves' low-budget Italian sword and sandal epics comes this unintentionally hilarious knock-off that is largely comprised of footage from an Italian mythic epic in which a brawny hero ("Maciste" in Italy and "Goliath" in the US) takes on wicked King Eurystheus' cheesy monsters that included a three headed fire belching dog, a gigantic, murderous bat (both of which appeared in the original film) and a ludicrously unscary dragon (in some scenes, only the huge head shows, while for long-shots the filmmakers used stop animation from Jim Danforth). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Forest, Broderick Crawford, (more)
- 1960
This action adventure film features Forest as Maciste the Mighty confronting an army of Persians. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1960
A powerful gladiator in Rome's fourth century discovers a plan to put a beautiful princess in prison, which he thwarts by exposing a sinister duke as a traitor. ~ All Movie Guide
