A poor print of a poor film is not one worth needing the time or money trying to fix up with restoration, and this entry in the "Hercules" series starring Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield unfortunately is one of the worst of the lot. Yes, there is a hydra and a monstrous talking tree, as well as Hargitay wrestling with a bison, as well as a witch who can turn herself in to Mansfield in order to try get Hercules for herself. Mansfield, in a black wig, shows off her buxom figure but that's pretty much all. There's the villainous Massimo Serato who wants Mansfield for himself, insisting that he loves her but obviously only wanting the power of the throne. Looking like something out of "Star Trek", Tina Gloriani as the younger witch (daughter of Olga Solbelli), comes on out of nowhere to start casting her spells, and dumb Hercules fast forward easily even though he has just cut off the heads of the very slow moving Hydra.
I'm not about to seek out a print with Better Sound and picture quality, but the one I found was very Kenny and painful to listen to. There are some majestic sets used, but for the most part, it's all very cheap looking, with recycled costumes and styrofoam buildings, with the scene of the Bison not at all intense because it's obvious that the Bison has been tranquilized in some manner. Hargitay and Manfield to generate some heat, and he is handsome while she is very pretty, but I wouldn't call what they do here acting. The highlight is the scene with the Hydra, but it's only on first glance that it is frightening, and I spend more time looking for the men with the ropes getting it to move the heads. I'll stick with the Steve Reeves "Hercules" films over this one, although most of these peplum films wear out their welcome after watching them halfway through.
I'm not about to seek out a print with Better Sound and picture quality, but the one I found was very Kenny and painful to listen to. There are some majestic sets used, but for the most part, it's all very cheap looking, with recycled costumes and styrofoam buildings, with the scene of the Bison not at all intense because it's obvious that the Bison has been tranquilized in some manner. Hargitay and Manfield to generate some heat, and he is handsome while she is very pretty, but I wouldn't call what they do here acting. The highlight is the scene with the Hydra, but it's only on first glance that it is frightening, and I spend more time looking for the men with the ropes getting it to move the heads. I'll stick with the Steve Reeves "Hercules" films over this one, although most of these peplum films wear out their welcome after watching them halfway through.