Ferruccio de Martino Movies
The low-budget horror film Rome Against Rome concerns the Roman military doing battle against an army of zombies who have been reanimated thanks to the force of an ancient goddess. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1963
In this horrifying and exciting sword-and-sandal epic, a courageous Roman centurion sallies forth to retrieve a fabulous stolen treasure from the leader of a zombie cult who uses the reanimated bodies of dead soldiers to enable him to conquer the world. The warrior discovers that the demented despot's power lies in an enigmatic and powerful idol. He engages in many battles with the corps of corpses before he finally triumphs, saves the world, and recovers the treasure. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Drew Barrymore, Susy Andersen, (more)
Italian director Mario Bava took a brief hiatus from horror films to make this fairly interesting Viking-themed adventure. Iron (Cameron Mitchell) is a Viking leader whose long-lost brother Erik (Giorgio Ardisson) was raised by Queen Alice of England. Alice's counselor, Gunnar (Andrea Checchi) betrays her and helps the Vikings take over, while the shipwrecked Erik is nursed back to health by Rama (Alice Kessleri), the twin sister of Iron's wife Daja (Ellen Kessleri). Naturally, Erik returns home and must fight Iron and defeat Gunnar in order to save the country. It doesn't quite work out that way, however, as the ruthless counselor kills Iron, leading the Vikings and British to join forces with Erik and take Gunnar down. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cameron Mitchell, Andrea Checchi, (more)
Sophia Loren, complete with blackface and an Afro, came to international acclaim in this fairly literal version of the Giuseppe Verdi opera. Loren (with singing dubbed by Renata Tebaldi) portrays the title character, an Ethiopian slave owned by Amneris (Lois Maxwell), the daughter of the Egyptian king. Aida's romantic heart is her weakness, as she must choose between loyalty to her conquered race and romance with Radames (Luciano della Marra), an officer of the Egyptian army. Director Clemente Fracassi gets a bit carried away with epic splendor and the opulent color format, but fans of Loren and opera novices should find the film rewarding. Despite Loren's lauded performance, the role of Aida was originally intended for Gina Lollobrigida. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sophia Loren, Lois Maxwell, (more)
