Hold onto your laurel wreaths because “Hercules and the Conquest of Atlantis” (1961) is here to flex its way into your heart!
This golden oldie directed by Vittorio Cottafavi is a sword-and-sandal spectacle that’s cheesier than a wheel of feta.
Alan Steel dons the lion’s pelt as Hercules, and boy, does he bring the brawn! His muscles have more screen time than the Colosseum, and his heroic exploits are as over-the-top as a chariot race in zero gravity.
Cottafavi’s direction is a wild chariot ride through ancient Greece and beyond. The sets are more colorful than a peacock parade, and the costumes are so epic, they make togas look like yesterday’s news.
The special effects are a delightful blast from the past. Ray Harryhausen may not be involved, but the stop-motion monsters have a charm all their own. They’re like claymation critters with a PhD in menacing.
The supporting cast hams it up with gusto, delivering lines with the gravitas of Shakespearean thespians. The villains, in particular, are as devious as a Cyclops with an evil plan, and they’ll have you cheering for Herc to knock some sense into them.
The plot? It’s a whirlwind tour of Greek mythology with a side of Atlantis. It’s more twisty than a labyrinth and has more turns than Odysseus’ voyage home. But fear not, it’s all in good fun, and you’ll be rooting for Herc every step of the way.
Now, I’ll admit, “Hercules and the Conquest of Atlantis” may not be high art, but it’s a Herculean dose of entertainment that’ll leave you grinning like Dionysus at a wine tasting.
So grab your laurel wreath, dust off your sandals, and prepare for a mythological romp that’s as lovably ludicrous as a minotaur in a tutu. This is a blast from the past that’s more fun than a Bacchanalian feast. Don’t miss it!
Written and Directed by: Vittorio Cottafavi
Starring: Reg Park, Fay Spain, Ettore Manni
