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Goliath and the Dragon

Goliath and the Dragon (aka The Revenge of Hercules)
GoliathAndTheDragon-Poster.jpg
Directed by Vittorio Cottafavi
Produced by Achille Piazzi
Gianni Fuchs
Written by Marcello Baldi
Mario Ferrari
Marco Piccolo
Duccio Tessari
Archibald Zounds Jr. (Nicolò Ferrari)
Starring Mark Forest
Broderick Crawford
Gaby André
Philippe Hersent
Leonora Ruffo
Music by Alexandre Derevitsky
Les Baxter (US)
Cinematography Mario Montuori
Edited by Maurizio Lucidi
Distributed by American International Pictures (US)
Release date
Italy:
August 12, 1960
Running time
95 min
Country Italy France

La vendetta di Ercole (literally Revenge of Hercules), better known as Goliath and the Dragon, is a 1960 Italian/French international co-production widescreen peplum film starring weight lifter and gymnast Mark Forest in his debut film role and Broderick Crawford as the villain. The identity of the title character was changed from Hercules to Emilius known as Goliath for release in North America by American International Pictures to tie in with their previous use of "Goliath" in Goliath and the Barbarians (1959). The film features special make up by Carlo Rambaldi.

This version, the most widely seen today, was produced by James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff, with Lee Kresel serving as dubbing director. This version was significantly re-edited and contains a stop-motion dragon sequence by Jim Danforth and Wah Chang, which was not part of the original release. Like other American International Pictures releases of Italian made sword and sandal films, it features a new score by AIP's house composer Les Baxter. This version was remastered and distributed by Something Weird Video.

The film begins with Hercules/Goliath/Emilius entering the underworld and defeating several monsters including Cerberus to retrieve the Blood Diamond of the Goddess of Vengeance. It is later revealed that King Eurystheus has sent Hercules/Goliath on this task to ensure his death to gain allies who after Hercules' death will join the King in an attack on Thebes. The episode is loosely based on the twelfth of the Labours of Hercules.


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