- For the episode, see MST3K 412 - Hercules and the Captive Women.
Hercules and the Captive Women is a 1961 folklore/mythology film directed by Vittorio Cottafavi. It was distributed in the United States by Woolner Brothers Pictures Inc.
Plot[]
Gypsy in the theater
When strange atmospheric events occur in the disunited city states of Ancient Greece, a forum debates what action to take. As there is no agreement, Androcles the King of Thebes seeks the assistance of his friend Hercules. Hercules, now married to Deianira with a son named Hylas, does not wish to leave the comfort of his family, though Hylas is keen for adventure.
Androcles takes matters into his own hands by drugging and kidnapping Hercules and placing him aboard a ship manned by a disreputable collection of former slaves and criminals. The only members of the expedition Androcles can trust are his sidekick, Timoteo the dwarf and Hylas who has to hide below deck from Hercules lest he face his wrath for leaving home. Rather than being angry, Hercules spends his time relaxing on deck without offering any assistance.
When the supply of fresh water is sabotaged, the ship lands on an island to replenish their supply. The crew mutinies by attacking Androcles but Hercules overpowers them. The crew is left stranded on the island, and Hercules discovers Hylas on board.
Continuing their voyage, a storm wrecks the ship and separates the remaining travelers. Hercules sees a vision of Androcles begging for his help. Coming ashore on a mist-shrouded island he sees a woman held captive: not only chained to a cliff but gradually becoming a part of the rock formation. When he rescues her he has to fight Proteus, a god able to change form into various creatures. Defeating Proteus, Hercules discovers the woman he rescued is Princess Ismene, daughter of Antinea, the Queen of Atlantis, where he has landed. Hercules soon finds Hylas and Timoteo and bring the rescued Princess to Antinea.
Though welcomed at first, Ismene discovers that she has been selected for sacrifice: a prophecy foretells that if she is not killed, Atlantis and its population will be destroyed. The death of Proteus has already stripped Atlantis of its protective fog that keeps it unseen by the outside world. Ismene is recaptured and taken for execution. Antinea denies all knowledge of Androcles. His memory has been taken away and he is hidden from his friends. During a celebration, Hercules discovers that children are selected and taken away from their parents for an unknown reason.
Hercules realizes the plot when he and his companions rescue Ismene as well as a large group of prisoners in a pit. The rescued prisoners explain that children are taken to a special stone that transforms them either into blonde supermen or disfigures the weak ones who are then placed in the pit. A priest explains that the stone is made from the blood of Uranus. The power of Uranus’s stone has created Antinea an invincible army of black-uniformed blonde supermen with which she plans to conquer the world.
Hercules thwarts Antinea's plan and escapes with his companions and Ismene.
Cast[]
- Reg Park as Hercules
- Fay Spain as Queen Antinea
- Ettore Manni as Androcles
- Laura Efrikian as Ismene
- Salvatore Furnari as Timoteo
- Luciana Angiolillo as Deianira
Notes[]
- The soundtrack of the American release contains several short passages from the score of Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), in particular the easily recognizable three-note "Creature theme" which can also be heard during Experiment #801 Revenge of the Creature.
- This is said to be the only Hercules movie filmed in 70mm.
- At the beginning of the film, Hercules is shown with his wife Deianira. Their romance had been depicted in the 1960 film The Loves of Hercules, which later became Experiment #1108.
- In addition to several films in which he played Hercules, actor Reg Park starred as the mythic hero Maciste in the 1964 film Maciste in King Solomon's Mines. Maciste (played by Kirk Morris) would be the hero in the film used in Experiment #605.
MST3K Connections[]
- Writer Sandro Continenza was also writer for The Loves of Hercules.
- Mimmo Palmara (Astor) also portrayed Polinices in Hercules Unchained, Iphitus in Hercules (in which he was also a stunt double), and Kurt in Argoman the Fantastic Superman.
- Ignazio Dolce (unspecified role) was also second unit director for Killer Fish.
- Tullio Altamura (unspecified role) also portrayed Professor John Carmichael in Danger!! Death Ray.
- Ivo Garrani (King of Megalia) also portrayed King Pelias in Hercules.
- Leon Selznick (U.S. version narrator) was also the narrator in The Phantom Planet.
- Nando Tamberlani (Tiresia) also portrayed Chancellor Gladius in Hercules Against the Moon Men.
- Osiride Pevarello (tavern brawler) also portrayed Sandur in Cave Dwellers.
- Amerigo Santarelli (man in tavern) also portrayed the torturer The Loves of Hercules.
- Nazzareno Zamperla (tavern brawler) was also a stuntman in Hercules Unchained and Hercules.
- U.S. version producer and editor Hugo Grimaldi was also executive dubbing supervisor for First Spaceship on Venus, director and producer for The Human Duplicators, and assistant producer and supervising film editor for The Phantom Planet.
- U.S. version music supervisor Gordon Zahler was also composer for Women of the Prehistoric Planet, music provider (U.S. version) for First Spaceship on Venus, musical director for The Human Duplicators, and music supervisor for The Phantom Planet.
- U.S. version stock music composer Darrell Calker was also composer for The Amazing Transparent Man.
- U.S. version stock music composer Walter Greene was also stock music composer for First Spaceship on Venus (U.S. version, also music editor), The Human Duplicators, and Girls Town.
- Stock music composer Leith Stevens was also composer for World Without End and stock music composer for Women of the Prehistoric Planet, The Human Duplicators, Teen-Age Crime Wave, and The Phantom Planet.