Movie Description 276f3k
Hercules is a 1957 Italian epic fantasy feature film (released in Italy in Feb., 1958) based upon the Hercules myths and the Quest for the Golden Fleece. The film stars Steve Reeves as the titular hero and Sylva Koscina as his love interest Princess Iole. Hercules was directed by Pietro Francisci and produced by Federico Teti. The film spawned a sequel, Hercules Unchained (Italian: Ercole e la Regina di Lidia), that also starred Reeves and Koscina.
Hercules made Reeves an international film star and effectively paved the way for the dozens of 1960s peplum (or "sword and sandal") films featuring oiled bodybuilders as mythological heroes and gladiators battling monsters, despots, and evil queens.