Sword and sandal

Sword and sandal films (or "peplums") are a cinematic genre of adventure or fantasy films that have subjects set in Biblical or classical antiquity, often with contrived plots based very loosely on mythology or history. Most movies based on Greco-Roman history and mythology, or the surrounding cultures of the same era (Egyptians, Assyrians, Etruscans, Minoans), etc. are sword and sandal epic films. The greatest productions of this film genre were made between 1958 and 1964, but peplums have experienced a recent renaissance. Broadly considered, this category could encompass such diverse films as Ben-Hur, Cleopatra, Titus, " Braveheart", "Gladiator", "King Arthur" or The Ten Commandments. In this sense, it is one of the oldest movie genres; the original Ben-Hur was made by Sidney Olcott in 1907; the 1914 silent film Cabiria was important in the development of the art of cinematography, and was one of the first sword-and-sandal films to make use of a massively-muscled actor, Batolomeo Pagano. Another name for the genre is peplum, from a Latin word for a sort of tunic that was easy to make and favoured by the costume departments for these films.

More specifically, however, the "sword and sandal" film genre usually refers to a low-budget Italian movie on a gladiatorial, Biblical or mythological subject, often with a professional body-builder in the principal role; the genre occupied much of the popular segment of Italy's movie industry from 1960-1964, before the invention of the spaghetti western. Gladiators were perennial favourite subjects, as were the adventures of Hercules, Goliath, Samson, Ursus, Jason and the Argonauts, or Italy's perennial favorite legendary strongman Maciste. The fad began with the 1958 release of Hercules, starring American bodybuilder Steve Reeves. This spawned the 1959 sequel Hercules Unchained, and literally dozens of low-budget imitations starring other bodybuilder stars such as Reg Park, Gordon Scott, Mark Forest, Dan Vadis, and Alan Steel (aka Sergio Ciani).

The absurd plots, out-of-synch dialogue, wooden acting of the muscleman heroes, and primitive special effects that were often woefully inadequate to depict the legendary creatures on-screen, all conspire to give these films a certain camp appeal now. This, and the beefcake factor, made the films' unintended humour notorious in the gay community. To be sure, however, many of the films enjoyed widespread popularity among very general audiences, and had production values that were typical for popular films of the day. Several have been subjects of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 treatment. Although many of the bigger budget peplums were released theatrically in the USA, fourteen of them were released directly to American television in a syndicated TV series called The Sons of Hercules, the films receiving newly-designed prologue narrations that desperately attempted to link whoever the hero of the film was to the Hercules mythos; these films ran on Saturday afternoons in the 1960s.

The Italian HERCULES Film Series (1957-1965)

A series of 19 Italian Hercules movies were made in the late 50's/ early 60's. The actors who played Hercules in these films were Steve Reeves, Gordon Scott, Kirk Morris, Mickey Hargitay, Mark Forest, Alan Steel, Dan Vadis, Brad Harris, Reg Park, Rock Stevens and Michael Lane. The films are listed below by their American release titles, and the titles in parentheses are the original Italian titles (if they were different).

- Hercules (Le Fatiche di Ercole/ The Labors of Hercules, 1957) starring Steve Reeves

- Hercules Unchained (Ercole e la regina di Lidia/ Hercules and the Queen of Lydia, 1959) starring Steve Reeves

- Goliath and the Dragon (La Vendetta di Ercole/ The Revenge of Hercules, 1960) starring Mark Forest (this Hercules film was transformed into a "Goliath" movie before it was distributed in the USA for some reason)

- Hercules Vs The Hydra (Gli Amori di Ercole/ The Loves of Hercules, 1960) starring Mickey Hargitay & Jayne Mansfield

- Hercules and the Captive Women (Ercole alla conquista di Atlantide/ Hercules at the Conquest of Atlantis, aka Hercules and the Haunted Women) 1961, starring Reg Park

- Hercules in the Haunted World (Ercole al centro della terra/ Hercules at the Center of the Earth) 1961 (directed by Mario Bava) starring Reg Park

- Hercules in the Vale of Woe (Maciste contro Ercole nella valle dei guai/ Maciste Vs. Hercules in the Vale of Woe) 1961, starring Frank Gordon as Hercules (this was made as a semi-comedy/ satire on peplums)

- Ulysses Vs. The Son of Hercules (Ulisse contro Ercole/ Ulysses Vs. Hercules) 1962, starring Mike Lane as Hercules

- The Fury of Hercules (La Furia di Ercole/ The Fury of Hercules, aka The Fury of Samson) 1962, starring Brad Harris

- Hercules, Samson and Ulysses (Ercole sfida Sansone/ Hercules Challenges Samson) 1963, starring Kirk Morris as Hercules

- Hercules Vs. the Moloch (Ercole contro Molock/ Hercules Vs. Moloch, aka The Conquest of Mycene) 1963, starring Gordon Scott

- Son of Hercules in the Land of Darkness (Ercole l'invincibile/ Hercules, the Invincible) 1964, starring Dan Vadis (this was originally a Hercules film that was retitled into a "Son of Hercules" film so that it could be included in the "Sons of Hercules" TV syndication package)

- Hercules Vs. The Giant Warrior (il Trionfo di Ercole/ The Triumph of Hercules, aka Hercules and the Ten Avengers) 1964, starring Dan Vadis

- Hercules Against Rome (Ercole contro Roma, 1964) starring Alan Steel

- Hercules Against the Sons of the Sun (Ercole contro i figli del sole, 1964)starring Mark Forest

- Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon (Ercole contro i tiranni di Babilonia, 1964) starring Peter Lupus

- Samson and the Mighty Challenge (Ercole, Sansone, Maciste e Ursus: gli invincibili, aka Combate dei Gigantes) 1964, starring Alan Steel as Hercules (this was more of a comedy/ satire on peplums & featured Hercules prominently in the plot)

- Hercules and the Princess of Troy (no Italian title, aka "Hercules vs. the Sea Monster", 1965)starring Gordon Scott (this 48-minute Italian/U.S. co-production was made as a pilot for a Charles Band-produced TV series that never materialized)

- Hercules, the Avenger (Sfida dei giganti/Challenge of the Giants, 1965)starring Reg Park (this was a cheaply made-for-TV quickie that consisted mostly of re-edited stock footage from 2 earlier Hercules films, “Hercules and the Captive Women” and “Hercules in the Haunted World”.)

A number of English-dubbed Italian films that featured the Hercules name in their title were never intended to be Hercules movies by their Italian creators.

"Hercules, Prisoner of Evil" was actually a retitled Ursus film.
"Hercules and the Black Pirate" and "Hercules and the Treasure of the Incas" were both retitled Samson movies (the second film not even being a sword-and-sandal film).
"Hercules and the Masked Rider" was actually a retitled Goliath movie.
"Hercules Against the Moon Men", "Hercules Against the Barbarians", "Hercules Against the Mongols" and "Hercules of the Desert" were all originally Maciste films.

None of these films in their original Italian versions were connected to the Hercules character in any way. Likewise, most of the "Sons of Hercules" movies shown on American TV in the 1960's had nothing to do with Hercules in their original Italian incarnations.

The Italian MACISTE Film Series (1960-1965)

There were a total of 25 Maciste films from the 1960s sword-and-sandal revival. The first title listed for each film is the film's original Italian title along with its translation, while the U.S. release title follows in parentheses (note how many times Maciste's name in the Italian title is altered to a totally different character's name in the American release titles):

Maciste nella valle dei re/ Maciste in the Valley of the Kings (aka Son of Samson, 1960)

Maciste nella terra dei ciclopi/ Maciste in the Land of the Cyclops (aka Atlas in the Land of the Cyclops, 1961) starring Gordon MItchell

Maciste alla corte del gran khan/ Maciste at the Court of the Great Khan (aka Samson and the Seven Miracles of the World, 1961)

Maciste contro il vampiro/ Maciste Vs. the Vampire (aka Goliath and the Vampires, 1961)

Maciste, l'uomo più forte del mondo/ Maciste, the Strongest Man in the World (aka Mole Men Vs The Son of Hercules, 1962) starring Mark Forest

Maciste contro Ercole nella valle dei guai/ Maciste Against Hercules in the Vale of Woe (aka Hercules in the Vale of Woe, 1962) a silly comedy/ satire

Maciste contro i cacciatori di teste/ Maciste Vs. the Headhunters (aka Colossus and the Headhunters, 1962)

Maciste all'inferno/ Maciste in Hell (aka The Witch's Curse, 1962) starring Kirk Morris

Il trionfo di Maciste/ The Triumph of Maciste (aka Triumph of the Son of Hercules, 1962)

Maciste contro i mostri/ Maciste vs. the Monsters (aka Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hercules, 1962)

Totò contro Maciste (Totò versus Maciste, 1962) this was a bad comedy/satire (part of the Italian "Toto" series) and it was never dubbed in English or shown in the USA

Maciste, il gladiatore piu forte del mondo/ Maciste, the World's Strongest Gladiator (aka Colossus of the Arena, 1962)

Maciste contro el sheik/ Maciste Vs. the Sheik (aka Samson Against the Sheik, 1962)

Maciste, l'eroe piu grande del mondo/ Maciste, the World's Greatest Hero (aka Goliath and the Sins of Babylon, 1963)

Zorro contro Maciste/ Zorro Vs. Maciste (aka Samson and the Slave Queen, 1963)

Maciste e la regina de Samar/ Maciste and the Queen of Samar (aka Hercules Against the Moon Men, 1964) starring Alan Steel

Maciste nelle miniere de re salomone/ Maciste in King Solomon's Mines (aka Samson in King Solomon's Mines, 1964)

Maciste alla corte dello zar/ Maciste at the Court of the Czar (aka Samson Vs. the Giant King, aka Atlas Against the Czar, 1964)

Maciste, gladiatore di sparta/ Maciste, Gladiator of Sparta (aka Terror of Rome Against the Son of Hercules, 1964)

Maciste contro i mongoli/ Maciste Vs. the Mongols (aka Hercules Against the Mongols, 1964)

Maciste nell'inferno di gengis khan/ Maciste in Genghis Khan's Hell (aka Hercules Against the Barbarians, 1964)

La valle dell'eco tonante/ Valley of the Thundering Echo (aka Hercules of the Desert, aka Maciste and the Women of the Valley, 1964)

Ercole, Sansone, Maciste e Ursus: gli invincibili/ Hercules, Samson, Maciste and Ursus: The Invincibles (aka Samson and the Mighty Challenge, aka Combate dei Gigantes, aka Le Grand Defi, 1965) this was a comedy/ satire poking fun at the peplum genre

Gli invicibili fratelli Maciste/ The Invincible Brothers Maciste (1965)

Maciste il Vendicatore dei Mayas/ Maciste, Avenger of the Mayans (1965) (Note* This cheaply-made Maciste film was made up almost entirely of re-edited stock footage from 2 older Maciste films, "Maciste contro i mostri" and "Maciste contro i cacciatori di teste". It is extremely scarce since it was never distributed in the USA and was apparently never dubbed in English.)

The Italian URSUS Film Series (1961-1964)

Ursus was a super-human Biblical/ Roman character who was used as the hero in a series of Italian adventure films made in the 1960's. Ursus was referred to as a "Son of Hercules" in several of the films when they were dubbed in English (in an attempt to cash in on the then-popular Italian Hercules film series), although in the original Italian films, Ursus had no connection to Hercules whatsoever. In the English-dubbed version of one film ("Hercules, Prisoner of Evil"), Ursus was actually referred to throughout the entire film as "Hercules".

There were a total of 9 Italian sword-and-sandal films that featured Ursus as the main character, as follows:

Ursus (aka Mighty Ursus, aka Ursus, Son of Hercules) 1961 (starring Ed Fury)
La vendetta di Ursus (The Revenge of Ursus) 1961 (starring Samson Burke)
Ursus nella valle dei leoni (Ursus in the Valley of the Lions, aka Valley of the Lions) 1961 (starring Ed Fury)
Ursus e la ragazza tartara (Ursus and the Tartar Girl, aka Ursus and the Tartar Princess, aka The Tartar Invasion) 1962 (starring Joe Robinson)
Ursus nella terra di fuoco (Ursus in the Land of Fire, aka Son of Hercules in the Land of Fire) 1963 (starring Ed Fury)
Ursus il gladiatore rebelle (Ursus, the Rebel Gladiator, aka The Rebel Gladiators) 1963 (starring Dan Vadis)
Ursus il terrore dei kirghisi (Ursus, the Terror of the Kirghiz, aka Hercules, Prisoner of Evil) 1964 (starring Reg Park)
Ercole, Sansone, Maciste e Ursus: gli invincibili (Hercules, Samson, Maciste and Ursus: The Invincibles, aka Samson and the Mighty Challenge, aka Combate dei gigantes) 1964 (this was a satire/ comedy poking fun at the sword-and-sandal genre, and starred Yan Larvor as Ursus)
Gli invincibili tre (The Invincible Three, aka The Three Invincibles, aka Three Avengers) 1964 (Ursus was the lead hero in this film, played by Alan Steel.)

The Italian SAMSON Film Series (1961-1964)

The Samson character was featured in a series of 5 sword-and-sandal adventure films made in Italy in the 1960's, as follows: (The Italian title & its translation is followed by the altered U.S. release title if it was different)

Sansone/ Samson (1961) starring Brad Harris
Sansone contro i pirati/ Samson Vs. The Pirates (aka Samson and the Sea Beast, 1963) starring Kirk Morris
Ercole sfida Sansone/ Hercules Challenges Samson (aka Hercules, Samson and Ulysses, 1963) starring Richard Lloyd as Samson
Sansone contro il corsaro nero/ Samson Vs. the Black Pirate (aka Hercules and the Black Pirate, 1963) starring Alan Steel
Ercole, Sansone, Maciste e Ursus gli invincibili/ Hercules, Samson, Maciste and Ursus: the Invincibles (aka Samson and the Mighty Challenge, 1965) starring Nadir Baltimore as Samson; a semi comedy/ satire of the peplum genre

The name Samson was later inserted into the American titles of 6 other Italian sword-and-sandal movies when they were dubbed in English for distribution in the USA, although these films actually featured the adventures of the famed Italian hero Maciste. "Samson Against the Sheik" (1962), "Son of Samson" (1960), "Samson and the Slave Queen" (1963), "Samson and the Seven Miracles of the World" (1961), "Samson Vs. The Giant King" (1964), and "Samson in King Solomon's Mines" (1964) were all retitled "Maciste" movies, because the American distrubtors didn't feel the name Maciste in the titles would be marketable to U.S.A. filmgoers.

"Samson and the Treasure of the Incas" (aka Hercules and the Treasure of the Incas, 1965) is listed in some reference books as a peplum, but the film was apparently set in South America during the time period of the Old West, and the film doesn't appear to be a sword-and-sandal.

The Italian GOLIATH Film Series (1960-1964)

The Italians used Goliath as an action superhero in a series of Biblical adventure films (peplums) in the early 1960's. He was possessed of amazing strength, and the films were similar in theme to their Hercules and Maciste movies. After the classic "HERCULES" (1957) became a blockbuster sensation in the film industry, a 1959 Steve Reeves film ("Terror of the Barbarians") was retitled "Goliath and the Barbarians" in the USA, and the film was so successful at the box office, it inspired Italian filmmakers to do a series of 4 films featuring a beefcake hero named Goliath. (The 1960 Italian film "DAVID AND GOLIATH" starring Orson Welles was not part of this series, as it was a straightforward adaptation of the original Biblical story).

The titles in the Italian "Goliath" peplum series were as follows:

Goliath contro i giganti/ Goliath Against the Giants (1960) starring Brad Harris as Goliath.
Goliath e la schiava ribelle/ Goliath and the Rebel Slave (aka The Tyrant of Lydia Vs. The Son of Hercules, 1963) starring Gordon Scott as Goliath
Golia e il cavaliere mascherato/ Goliath and the Masked Rider (aka Hercules and the Masked Rider, 1964) starring Alan Steel as Goliath.
Golia alla conquista di Bagdad/ Goliath at the Conquest of Baghdad (aka Goliath at the Conquest of Damascus, 1964) starring Peter Lupus as Goliath.

The name "Goliath" was later inserted into the film titles of 3 other Italian muscleman movies that were retitled for distribution in the USA in an attempt to cash in on the Goliath craze, but these films were not originally made as Goliath movies in Italy. Both "Goliath and the Vampires" (1961) and "Goliath and the Sins of Babylon" (1963) actually featured the famed superhero Maciste in the original Italian versions, but American distributors didn't feel the name Maciste had any meaning to American audiences. "Goliath and the Dragon" (1960) was originally an Italian Hercules movie called "The Revenge of Hercules", and it is a mystery to this day why U.S. distributors didn't market the film under that title, since Hercules films always tended to do much better at the box office than "Goliath" movies.

The Sons of Hercules (TV Syndication Package)

The Sons of Hercules was a syndicated television show that aired in the United States of America in the 1960s. The series repackaged 14 Italian sword-and-sandal films by giving them a memorable theme song and a standard intro relating the lead character in each film to the Greek demigod Hercules any way they could. The films are not in chronological order, as they are not really connected to each other plotwise. The first title listed for each film was its American television title, followed by the translation of the original Italian title in parentheses:

Mole Men versus the Son of Hercules (Maciste, The Strongest Man in the World) starring Mark Forest as Maciste
The Terror of Rome versus the Son of Hercules (Maciste, Gladiator of Sparta) starring Mark Forest as Maciste
Fire Monsters Against The Son Of Hercules (Maciste Vs. The Monsters) starring Reg Lewis as Maciste
Triumph Of The Son Of Hercules (The Triumph Of Maciste) starring Kirk Morris as Maciste
Son Of Hercules In The Land Of Darkness (Hercules The Invincible) starring Dan Vadis as Hercules
Ulysses Vs. The Son Of Hercules (Ulysses Against Hercules) starring Mike Lane as Hercules
Son Of Hercules In The Land Of Fire (Ursus In The Land Of Fire) starring Ed Fury as Ursus
Ursus, Son Of Hercules (aka Ursus, aka Mighty Ursus) starring Ed Fury as Ursus
The Tyrant Of Lydia Vs. The Son Of Hercules (Goliath and the Rebel Slave) starring Gordon Scott as Goliath
Messalina Against the Son Of Hercules (The Last Gladiator) starring Richard Harrison as Glaucus
The Devil Of The Desert Vs. The Son Of Hercules (Anthar The Invincible) starring Kirk Morris as Anthar
Medusa Vs. The Son Of Hercules (Perseus The Invincible) starring Richard Harrison as Perseus
The Beast Of Babylon Versus The Son Of Hercules (Hero Of Babylon) starring Gordon Scott as Prince Nippur
Venus Against The Son Of Hercules (Mars, God Of War) starring Roger Browne as Mars

Italian GLADIATOR Movies from the 1960s

CHALLENGE OF THE GLADIATOR (1965) Peter Lupus
FABIOLA (1948) aka THE FIGHTING GLADIATOR
GLADIATOR OF ROME (1962) aka BATTLE OF THE GLADIATORS, Gordon Scott
GLADIATORS SEVEN (1962) aka THE SEVEN GLADIATORS, Richard Harrison
INVINCIBLE GLADIATOR, THE (1961) Richard Harrison
LAST GLADIATOR, THE (1963) aka MESSALINA AGAINST THE SON OF HERCULES
MACISTE, GLADIATOR OF SPARTA (1964) aka TERROR OF ROME VS. THE SON OF HERCULES
REVENGE OF SPARTACUS, THE (1965) Roger Browne
SEVEN MAGNIFICENT GLADIATORS, THE (1985) Lou Ferrigno, Dan Vadis
SINS OF ROME (1952) aka SPARTACUS, directed by Riccardo Freda
SLAVE, THE (1962) aka SON OF SPARTACUS, Steve Reeves
SPARTACUS AND THE TEN GLADIATORS (1964) aka TEN INVINCIBLE GLADIATORS, Dan Vadis
TEN GLADIATORS, THE (1963) Dan Vadis
TRIUMPH OF THE TEN GLADIATORS (1965) Dan Vadis
URSUS, THE REBEL GLADIATOR (1963) aka THE REBEL GLADIATORS, Dan Vadis

Complete list of Peplums starring STEVE REEVES

AVENGER, THE (1962) aka THE LEGEND OF AENEAS, aka THE LAST GLORY OF TROY
DUEL OF THE TITANS (1961) aka ROMULUS AND REMUS
GIANT OF MARATHON, THE (1959) aka THE BATTLE OF MARATHON
GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS (1959) aka TERROR OF THE BARBARIANS
HERCULES (1957)
HERCULES UNCHAINED (1959)
LAST DAYS OF POMPEII, THE (1959)
MORGAN, THE PIRATE (1960)
PIRATES OF THE SEVEN SEAS (1964)
SANDOKAN, THE GREAT (1964) aka THE PIRATES OF MALAYSIA (directed by Umberto Lenzi)
SLAVE, THE (1962) aka SON OF SPARTACUS
THIEF OF BAGHDAD, THE (1960)
TROJAN HORSE, THE (1961) aka THE TROJAN WAR
WHITE WARRIOR, THE (1959) directed by Riccardo Freda

Other Classic Sword-and-Sandal Films (1960's)

There were many 1960's Italian sword-and-sandal films that did not feature a major superhero (such as Hercules, Maciste or Samson), and as such fall into a sort of miscellaneous category. Here is a list of the best-known titles:

ALI BABA AND THE SEVEN SARACENS (1963) aka SINBAD VS. THE SEVEN SARACENS, Gordon Mitchell
BRENNUS, ENEMY OF ROME (1964) aka BATTLE OF THE VALIANT, Gordon Mitchell
CAESAR, THE CONQUERER (1963) Cameron Mitchell, Rik Battaglia
CAVALIER IN THE DEVIL’S CASTLE (1959)
COLOSSUS OF RHODES, THE (1960) directed by Sergio Leone
CONQUEROR OF ATLANTIS (1965) Kirk Morris
CONQUEROR OF THE ORIENT (1961) Rik Battaglia
CONSTANTINE AND THE CROSS (1960) aka CONSTANTINE THE GREAT, Cornel Wilde
CORIOLANUS, HERO WITHOUT A COUNTRY (1963) Gordon Scott
DAVID AND GOLIATH (1960) Orson Welles
DUEL OF THE CHAMPIONS (1961) aka HORATIO AND CURIAZI, Alan Ladd
ESTHER AND THE KING (1961) Joan Collins, Richard Egan
FURY OF ACHILLES, THE (1962) Gordon Mitchell
GIANT OF METROPOLIS, THE (1962) Gordon Mitchell, Sci-fi theme
GIANTS OF ROME (1963) dir. by Antonio Margheriti, Richard Harrison
GIANTS OF THESSALY, THE (1960) directed by Riccardo Freda
HEAD OF A TYRANT (1959)
HERO OF BABYLON (1963) aka BEAST OF BABYLON VS. SON OF HERCULES, Gordon Scott
HERO OF ROME (1964) aka THE COLOSSUS OF ROME, Gordon Scott
HEROD, THE GREAT (1958)
INVADERS, THE (1961) aka ERIK, THE CONQUERER, Cameron Mitchell, directed by Mario Bava
KINDAR, THE INVULNERABLE (1965) Mark Forest
KNIVES OF THE AVENGER (1967) aka VIKING MASSACRE, directed by Mario Bava
LAND OF THE PHAROAHS (1955) Joan Collins
LAST OF THE VIKINGS (1961) Cameron Mitchell, Broderick Crawford
LION OF ST. MARK, THE (1964) Gordon Scott
LION OF THEBES, THE (1964) aka HELEN OF TROY, Mark Forest
LOVES OF SALAMMBO, THE (1959)
MARS, GOD OF WAR (1962) aka VENUS AGAINST THE SON OF HERCULES
MASKED MAN AGAINST THE PIRATES, THE (1965)
MINOTAUR, THE (1961) aka THESEUS AGAINST THE MINOTAUR
MONGOLS, THE (1961) directed by Riccardo Freda, Jack Palance
PERSEUS, THE INVINCIBLE (1962) aka MEDUSA VS. THE SON OF HERCULES
QUEEN OF SHEBA, THE (1953) directed by Pietro Francisci
QUEEN OF THE AMAZONS (1960) aka COLOSSUS AND THE AMAZON QUEEN
REVOLT OF THE BARBARIANS (1964) dir. by Guido Malatesta
ROLAND, THE MIGHTY (1956) dir. by Pietro Francisci, Rik Battaglia
ROME AGAINST ROME (1963) aka WAR OF THE ZOMBIES
SECRET SEVEN, THE (1965) aka THE INVINCIBLE SEVEN
79 A.D., THE DESTRUCTION OF HERCULANEUM (1962) Brad Harris
SWORD OF EL CID, THE (1962) aka THE DAUGHTERS OF EL CID
SWORD OF THE CONQUEROR (1961) Jack Palance
TAUR, THE MIGHTY (1963) aka TOR THE WARRIOR, Joe Robinson
TEMPLE OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT (1965) aka SANDOK, THE MACISTE OF THE JUNGLE (Note* - this was not a Maciste film however)
THOR AND THE AMAZON WOMEN (1963) Joe Robinson
TIGER OF THE SEVEN SEAS (1963)
ULYSSES (1954) Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn
VULCAN, SON OF JUPITER (1960) Gordon Mitchell
ZORIKAN THE BARBARIAN (1964) Dan Vadis

Later Sword-and-Sandal Films from the 1980's

After the peplums gave way to the spaghetti western in 1965, the genre lay dormant for close to 20 years. Then in 1982, the box-office success of Arnold Schwarzenegger's "CONAN THE BARBARIAN" spurred a second renaissance of Italian peplums in the five years immediately following. Most notable among them were the four ATOR films, starring Miles O'Keefe in the lead role. Most of these films were of terrible quality due to painfully low budgets, and the filmmakers tried to compensate for their shortcomings with the addition of graphic gore and nudity. Here is a list of the best of the '80s peplums:

ATOR, THE FIGHTING EAGLE (1983) aka "ATOR 1", Sabrina Siani, directed by Joe D’Amato
BARBARIAN MASTER (1984) aka SANGRAAL, THE SWORD OF FIRE
THE BARBARIANS AND CO. (1987) aka THE BARBARIANS, directed by Ruggero Deodato
BLADEMASTER (1985) aka "ATOR 2", Miles O’Keefe, directed by Joe D’Amato
CONQUEST (1984) aka CONQUEST OF THE LOST LAND, Sabrina Siani, directed by Lucio Fulci
HERCULES (1983) Lou Ferrigno, Sybil Danning, directed by Luigi Cozzi
HERCULES 2 (1984) Lou Ferrigno, directed by Luigi Cozzi
INVINCIBLE BARBARIAN, THE (1982) aka GUNAN THE WARRIOR, directed by Franco Prosperi
IRON WARRIOR (1986) aka "ATOR 3", Miles O'Keefe, directed by Alfonso Brescia
IRONMASTER (1983) aka THE WAR OF IRON, directed by Umberto Lenzi
QUEST FOR THE MIGHTY SWORD (1989) aka "ATOR 4", directed by Joe D'Amato
SEVEN MAGNIFICENT GLADIATORS, THE (1985) Lou Ferrigno, Dan Vadis
SHE (1983) Sandahl Bergman, Gordon Mitchell
SINDBAD OF THE SEVEN SEAS (1988) Lou Ferrigno, directed by Luigi Cozzi
THRONE OF FIRE, THE (1983) Sabrina Siani, directed by Franco Prosperi

Bibliography

Dizionario del Cinema Italiano: I Film Vol. 3 (1960-1969), by Roberto Poppi and Mario Pecorari; published in 1992 by Grimese Editore (this is the ultimate movie guide for anything having to do with Italian cinema, the only drawback being it is published only in Italian; it can be ordered via internet from a distributor in Italy.)

With Fire and Sword: Italian Spectacles on American Screens; written by Patrick Lucanio, published in 1994 by Scarecrow Press (New Jersey); this is a great reference book on peplums, but the films are organized primarily by their American titles/versions, and not their original Italian titles.)

Muscles, Myths and Movies (softcover 68-page magazine format); written in 1994 by Stephen Flacassier; ($6.95) distributed by Rabbit's Garage Inc., 202 Basswood, Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007 (this is an interesting fanzine-type movie guide but it is not as comprehensive as the others.)