The Loves of Hercules
Encyclopedia
The Loves of Hercules is a 1960
Italian
-epic fantasy-feature film
starring Jayne Mansfield
and husband Mickey Hargitay
.
) is away, his people and the woman he loves are killed by the king of Ecalia. Hercules learns of the murder of his wife and seeks vengeance, only to learn that the kingdom from which the murderers came is besieged from within, by a usurper to the throne. Jayne Mansfield
portrays the king's daughter, who sympathizes with Hercules and opposes the usurper; she and Hercules are parted when he is wounded battling a three-headed dragon and given aid by a group of Amazons, who bring him to their queen (also played by Mansfield). She proceeds to woo the strongman, not knowing that she has a unique way of terminating her relationships transforming her lovers into trees. Hercules manages to escape with his life while the queen is done in by one of her victims. He eventually returns to free the princess and her kingdom.
starring Steve Reeves
, and marked an attempt to add some star power to the notion of a muscleman movie, not so much in the title role as the female lead.
Mansfield received permission from her studio 20th Century Fox
to film this movie in the early weeks of 1960. Filmed on location in Italy, this was not one of Mansfield's "loan out" films. She received a fee of $75,000 for starring in the movie. A hit in Italy, it was later broadcast as a movie of the week in 1966 on American television and has since gained a cult following for its campiness. Mansfield was in the early stages of pregnancy
with her third child when production started.
1960 in film
The year 1960 in film involved some significant events, with Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho the top-grossing release in the U.S.-Events:* April 20 - for the first time since coming home from military service in Germany, Elvis Presley returns to Hollywood, California to film G.I...
Italian
Italian
Italian may refer to:* anything of, from, or related to the country of Italy* Italian people, an ethnic group* Italian language, a Romance language* Italian or Italian-A, alternative names for the Ping-Pong virus, an extinct computer virus*Italian cuisine...
-epic fantasy-feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
starring Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield was an American actress working both in Hollywood and on the Broadway theatre...
and husband Mickey Hargitay
Mickey Hargitay
Miklós "Mickey" Hargitay was an actor and Mr. Universe 1955. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he was married to Jayne Mansfield, and the father of actress Mariska Hargitay...
.
Alternative titles
- Hercules vs. the Hydra (USA TV title)
- Gli amori di Ercole (Italy)
- Les amours d'Hercule (France)
- Herkules ja rakkauden kuningatar (Finland)
- O iraklis kai oi Amazones (Greece)
- Die Liebesnächte des Herkules (West Germany)
- Los amores de Hercules (Spain)
Plot
While Hercules (Mickey HargitayMickey Hargitay
Miklós "Mickey" Hargitay was an actor and Mr. Universe 1955. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he was married to Jayne Mansfield, and the father of actress Mariska Hargitay...
) is away, his people and the woman he loves are killed by the king of Ecalia. Hercules learns of the murder of his wife and seeks vengeance, only to learn that the kingdom from which the murderers came is besieged from within, by a usurper to the throne. Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield was an American actress working both in Hollywood and on the Broadway theatre...
portrays the king's daughter, who sympathizes with Hercules and opposes the usurper; she and Hercules are parted when he is wounded battling a three-headed dragon and given aid by a group of Amazons, who bring him to their queen (also played by Mansfield). She proceeds to woo the strongman, not knowing that she has a unique way of terminating her relationships transforming her lovers into trees. Hercules manages to escape with his life while the queen is done in by one of her victims. He eventually returns to free the princess and her kingdom.
Production notes
This was one of the earlier movies to follow from Italy in the wake of the success of HerculesHercules
Hercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene...
starring Steve Reeves
Steve Reeves
Stephen L. Reeves was an American bodybuilder and actor. At the peak of his career, he was the highest-paid actor in Europe.-Childhood:...
, and marked an attempt to add some star power to the notion of a muscleman movie, not so much in the title role as the female lead.
Mansfield received permission from her studio 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
to film this movie in the early weeks of 1960. Filmed on location in Italy, this was not one of Mansfield's "loan out" films. She received a fee of $75,000 for starring in the movie. A hit in Italy, it was later broadcast as a movie of the week in 1966 on American television and has since gained a cult following for its campiness. Mansfield was in the early stages of pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
with her third child when production started.
Main Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Mickey Hargitay Mickey Hargitay Miklós "Mickey" Hargitay was an actor and Mr. Universe 1955. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he was married to Jayne Mansfield, and the father of actress Mariska Hargitay... |
Hercules |
| Jayne Mansfield Jayne Mansfield Jayne Mansfield was an American actress working both in Hollywood and on the Broadway theatre... |
Queen Deianira / Hippolyta |
| Massimo Serato Massimo Serato Massimo Serato, born Giuseppe Segato, was an Italian film actor with a career spanning over 40 years.Serato was born in Oderzo, Veneto, Italy and started appearing in films in 1938. He played leading roles in several historical dramas and sword and sandal epics, mainly Italian, as well as roles in... |
Licos |
| René Dary | Generale |
| Moira Orfei Moira Orfei Moira Orfei, , a popular Italian actress and television personality. Moira is considered the queen of the Italian circus.-Biography:... |
Némée |
| Gil Vidal | Achilles |