Where Was The Sequel? by Dave Goode

One of my favorite flicks from the sinew & sandal genre is SAMSON AND HIS MIGHTY CHALLENGE. Not to be confused with HERCULES , SAMSON AND ULYSSES. This one features the strength heroes Samson , Hercules , Maciste and Ursus. Directed by Giorgio Capitani and written by Sandro Continenza and Roberto Gianviti this movie was a wonderful spoof of the genre and was originally titled ERCOLE , SANSONE , MACISTE E URSUS GLI INVICBLI. Hercules getting top billing makes more sense as he carries the picture.





Alan Steel is great as a narcissistic, ego-driven Hercules. He even bullies Samson, played by Nadir Moretti, after the biblical strongman has his hair cut by Delilah. In an interesting switch from the Bible Delilah is Samson's wife. And she doesn't cut his hair to betray him to the Philistines. But to keep him from chasing after other women. Maciste in this movie is played by Howard Ross. And Ursus is portrayed by Yann Larvor. Any of these four musclemen could have carried a movie on their own.

 Also notable are the women in the film. Moira Orphei portrays Delilah. And she's really quite stunning. Interestingly enough her cousin Liana Orphei played the Philistine temptress in the movie HERCULES , SAMSON AND ULYSSES. Helene Chanel never looked more beautiful than she does here as the oracle Onfale as opposed to the Princess Omphale played by Elisa Montes. Montes has one of the funniest lines in the movie. When told that Samson once killed one thousand Philistine soldiers using the jawbone of an ass she asks " Was that the best weapon he could find? ".

The movie climaxes with a free-for-all with the four heroes. And it ends with them riding off together. A perfect springboard into a sequel or two or three. But unfortunately we never got one.

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ALAN STEEL.... A MAN OF STEEL by Dave Goode

But then while watching SAMSON'S MIGHTY CHALLENGE again a couple of years back it hit me. In this flick Steel was playing Hercules, to great comic effect,as a vainglorious, ego-maniacal, pleasure-seeking hedonist. In short the Hercules that appeared in Marvel Comics. Only a bit shorter. After that it became easier for me to enjoy movies in which he appeared as a hero.

Another thing I enjoyed about Steel was his athleticism. As mentioned before he looked more like a weight-lifter than a bodybuilder. And as such he looked more than capable of performing the feats of strength he was doing on screen. And he was able to hold his own in fight scenes with Brad Harris and Dan Vadis, two of the genres more athletic stars. No he wasn't the "prettiest" of the sinew & sandal stars. But he made for a convincing Hercules.