HERCULES AND THE QUEEN OF LYDIA

'''Hercules and the Queen of Lydia''', known in the U.S. as '''Hercules Unchained''' (1959) (''Ercole e la regina di Lidia'') is the sequel to ''Hercules'' (1958) that helped inspire the popularity of the 1960s sword and sandal craze. Steve Reeves returns as Hercules and Sylva Koscina plays his wife Iole.

Contents

Plot Summary

External links

Trivia

Plot Summary

While travelling, Hercules is asked to intervene in a quarrel between two brothers over who should rule Thebes, Greece. Before he can complete this task, Hercules drinks from a magic spring and loses his memory. He spends most of the movie in Queen Omphale of Lydia's pleasure gardens. While young Ulysses tries to help him regain his memory, Hercules' wife, Iole, finds herself in danger from the ruler of Thebes.
The plot draws names from a mishmash of various Greek legends and plays, notably ''The Seven Against Thebes'' for the dispute between the two brothers Eteocles and Polynices in Thebes. The movie widely deviates from the source material, though, haphazardly mixing times and featuring characterizations different than those portrayed in the myths.

External links

★ New York Times Review by Howard Thompson, July 14, 1960

★ Detailed Movie Review

Trivia

★ ''Hercules Unchained'' was featured on ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'', a show which mocked bad movies.

★ This movie features the final film appearance of boxer Primo Carnera, who appears in the opening as the giant Antaeus, who dares to fight Hercules for Iole.

★ ''Hercules Unchained'' was also seen on Steve Smith's Playhouse under the name "Hercules Unchanged," with Steve Smith taking over the dialogue of Hercules.