THE LOVES OF HERCULES (1960)

Muscleman Steve Reeves ignited the CRAZE of the SWORD AND SANDAL Epics after appearing in HERCULES (1958) and HERCULES UNCHAINED (1959). Before long WASHED-UP film stars like Rory Calhoun, Victor Mature, Rhonda Fleming and others were recruited to add STAR POWER to these EURO- TRASH epics. SEX BOMB Jayne Mansfield was four months PREGNANT when she signed on to do the Peplum Classic: THE LOVES OF HERCULES (1960). Mansfield received 75,000 to add GLAMOUR to this MUSCLEBOUND epic. Upon accepting the role, Mansfield had ONLY ONE CONDITION that her husband/ Muscleman Mickey Hargitay had to PLAY HERCULES

Our Peplum Classic opens with Hercules's wife MURDERED by the command of King Eurytheus. But the REVENGE PLOT against Hercules goes awry when King Eurytheus, himself is also MURDERED. The King was DOUBLE-CROSSED by the treacherous Licos (Massimo Serato) who wants the THRONE  for himself.

Unaware of the fate that has bestowed upon his wife, Hercules (Mickey Hargitay ) is in the mountains seeking COUNSEL from a SORCERESS. Hercules wants PEACE from the GODS. The Sorceress WARNS  Hercules that his life will be like a tousled raft swept up by wind and waves. Hercules asked what NEW SUFFERINGS will he have to endure. The Sorceress claims that she is not able to reveal it due to a HEAVY MIST.

As soon as Hercules received the news of his murdered wife, he seeks REVENGE. Upon arriving at Ecalia, Hercules is NOT permitted through the gates. Hercules decides to use the nearest FAKE tree to BATTERAM  the gates. After CRASHING through the gates, everyone flees for their lives to escape the WRATH of Hercules.

Hercules is GREETED by Queen Deianira (Jayne Mansfield) the DAUGHTER  of his GREATEST ENEMY. Queen Deianira PLEAS to Hercules to SPARE her people and take her life instead. Even though Hercules does not seek retribution in the life of Queen Deianira, her people demand justice in the trial of Themis. Hercules reluctantly becomes the EXECUTIONER of the Queen in the trial that no one has survived.  Hercules PRAYS to the gods to STEADY his hand for he does not kill the queen.

Queen Deianira is bound to a wall becoming the ASSISTANT to this CIRCUS TRICK of ax throwing. Hercules begins to throw the axes, each one missing Jayne Mansfield's hourglass figure. The Queen FAINTS, because the tension becomes too much to bear. Hercules PRAYS to God Zeus before he throws his final ax. Hercules LAUNCHES  the final ax in the air, which lands by the Queen's feet. Either Hercules is a gifted ax thrower or he couldn't hit a barn door if he was sitting the handle. Hercules FORGETS about his DEAD WIFE and runs to be by side of the FULL-FIGURED QUEEN.

Hercules and Queen Deianira go for a ride into the countryside for some ALONE TIME. But before they could return, Hercules comes to the aid to the villagers, who are being VICTIMIZED by the horrible MONSTER Alcione. All of sudden there is a STAMPEDE OF COWS followed by a BULL. Apparently, this MONSTER is no more than a CRAZED BULL. 

Hercules CHARGES to the rescue. In the meantime, the FULL- FIGURED Queen  BOUNCES off her horse. The Crazed Bull makes a beeline for the SCREAMING  queen.  Hercules REDIRECTS the CRAZED bull away from the SCREAMING Queen for some HAND TO HORN COMBAT. This bull seems to be more SEDATED  than CRAZED to me. In the end, Hercules becomes the VICTOR by killing the MONSTER/ CRAZED BULL. Afterward, the MUSCLEBOUND Hercules AWKWARDLY carries the FULL-FIGURED  Queen to safety.
                            

Once Queen Deianira was in a safe place, Hercules begins to profess his love to her,  forgetting about his wife who was murdered days ago. But before the FULL-FIGURED Queen could CONFESS to her musclebound admirer that she BETROTHED to another, her fiancee  Achilles (Gil Vidal) burst into the room.  After hearing the news of Queen's engagement, Hercules is completely DUMB-FOUNDED. Nevertheless, Hercules still feels that he is the BETTER man for the FULL FIGURED Queen. Achilles DRAWS his SWORD on Hercules only to be tossed across the room. Hercules was surprised to see that the FULL-FIGURED Queen chose Achilles over him.

 After Hercules left Ecalia, The FULL-FIGURED Queen's betrothed was ASSASSINATED. The DAGGER  found in Achilles's back belonged to Hercules. News reaches Hercules that he is ACCUSED OF Achilles's MURDER. Hercules races back to Ecalia for IMMEDIATE CLARIFICATION of the charges brought against him. Hercules DECLARES that the DAGGER must have been retrieved from the CRAZED BULL. Hercules suspects Achilles's sidekick, unfortunately, Liccos sent him to the UNDERWORLD. Hercules vows to bring him to clear his name of Achilles's murder.

Somehow, Hercules manages to catch up with Achilles's sidekick. The cat and mouse chase begin into the BOWELS of the UNDERWORLD. Once inside, Hercules is CONFRONTED  with the terrifying 3- HEADED HYDRA which seems more like a MARDI GRAS FLOAT gone BESERK.   Armed with his SWORD, Hercules battles the treacherous MARDI GRAS FLOAT to save Achilles's sidekick from its grasp. After SEVERING one of  the HEADS, Hercules is slammed against the cave wall. 

Suddenly three brave AMAZONS come to Hercules's aide, only to find that the MARDI GRAS FLOAT is permanently OUT OF ORDER. But Hercules is still in need of some attention, perhaps a BED BATH or two. Quickly these Man-starved amazons haul the MUSCLE MAN back to their domain.

Meanwhile, at the FOREST OF DEATH, Queen Hippolyta sends another LOVER to his DOOM to become a DECAYING tree for all eternity. Usually, Queen Hippolyta enjoys watching her ex-lovers in AGONY as they TRANSFORM into LIFELESS trees, but this time she had to leave before the FINALE. Once The Evil Queen heard that the SON OF JUPITER  is an UNEXPECTED  GUEST at the AMAZON'S DEMAIN, she came galloping.

The Queen of the Amazons ensures that Hercules will be cured, only to become another BOY TOY. But first, Queen Hippolyta has to TRANSFORM HERSELF in the LIKENESS of another woman. The Queen's PSYCHIC ADVISOR suggest that she become the FULL FIGURED QUEEN since Hercules loves no other woman, not even his DEAD WIFE.

After Hercules made a full recovery and is immediately taken to Queen Hippolyta (Jayne Mansfield). Hercules can't believe his eyes that the Queen of the Amazons resembles his FULL FIGURED Queen, despite the CHANGE of HAIR COLOR. For a BRIEF moment, Hercules wrestles with idea WHY is Queen Hippolyta MASQUERADING in the likeness of his FULL FIGURED Queen? Finally, The Son of Jupiter gives in to his PRIMAL URGES  not caring WHO is UNDER the AUBURN WIG.

Hercules was content ROLLING AROUND under the sheets with the Auburn Wigged version of his FULL-FIGURED Queen until he learned the FATE that awaits him.  Amazon Nemee ( Moira Orfe) brings Hercules to the FOREST OF DEATH to show him what happens to the Queen's BOY TOYS  after she tires of them. Nemee snaps one of the branches of the decaying tree, which immediately starts to BLEED. Not quite sure what Nemee 's motives are. Maybe she wants Hercules for herself or maybe she wants the Queen for herself.  Anyways, Hercules believes Nemee and swiftly makes his retreat to the edge of the forest where his horse awaits him.

All at once, Queen Hippolyta and her Psychic Advisor are upon them. Queen Hippolyta races through the decaying forest of her ex-lovers with a bow and arrow in hand. When Queen Hippolyta was close enough, she released an arrow into the back of the  DOUBLE CROSSING AMAZON. Immediately, Queen Hippolyta is MAULED by one of the DECAYING TREES. The Queen tries to GNAW her way free from her ex-lover's branches. But the DEAD tree proved to stronger than the Queen of Amazons. When Queen Hippolyta gasped her last breath after being CRUSHED by the DEAD  tree, she returned her original appearance.

Back at Ecalia Queen Deianira learns that Licos is responsible for the death of her father and Achilles, not Hercules. Licos takes over as the ruler of Ecalia and locks the Queen in the dungeon for refusing to marry him.

After learning that Licos FRAMED him for the MURDERS of King Eurytheus and Achilles, Hercules seeks RETRIBUTION. Hercules and his band of REFUGEES storm the kingdom of Ecalia to LIBERATE the queen. Hercules leads the attack holding a HUGE WAGON WHEEL to shield against incoming arrows. Once inside, Hercule was too late. Licos had escaped through a SECRET PASSAGE with the FULL FIGURED Queen as HOSTAGE.

Licos makes his escape in a CHARIOT with the FULL FIGURED Queen.  Knowing the Hercules would be following behind, Licos decides to seek REFUGE in a cave. Licos drags the FULL FIGURED Queen up the steep hill to the cave.  The FULL FIGURED Queen cries out for Hercules to SAVE HER just before she dragged into the dark cave. But Hercules does not hear the queen's cries for help and rides by the cave.

Inside the cave, Licos and the FULL FIGURED Queen are CONFRONTED by a Hairy Cave Dweller. Licos and the FULL FIGURE Queen try to DODGE away from the grasp of the CAVE DWELLER. At one point, Licos launches a spear at the CAVE DWELLER's Head and misses. The outraged CAVE DWELLER then STRANGLES  Lycos, leaving the FULL FIGURED Queen to FAINT. The CAVE DWELLER  is taken back by The Queen's beauty as she lies UNCONSCIOUS.

When the FULL FIGURED Queen awakes to the CAVE DWELLER  hovering over her, she is TERRIFIED  and SCREAMS. Hercules could hear the Queen's screams outside the cave. Inside the Cave, the FULL FIGURED Queen tries to escape from the CLUTCHES of the CAVE DWELLER. Swiftly, Hercules enters the cave and confronts the CAVE DWELLER.

 One thing is for certain, the CAVE DWELLER is NOT going to give up his PRETTIEST captive  WITHOUT A FIGHT. Fur Flies and Hercules STRANGLES the CAVE DWELLER. Our Peplum Classic has reached its CONCLUSION just in time before Jayne Mansfield  BURST out of her costume in one of her infamous COSTUME MALFUNCTIONS. 

                          FILM FACTS:

  In the scene: Hercules Vs. The Bull, there were preparations made to have the animal  TRANQUILIZED for Mickey Hargitay could wrestle him without any injuries.

Jayne Mansfield and Moira Orfei were at odds during the filming of THE LOVES OF HERCULES(1960). Orefi believed that she should have had the role of the Queen.

Moira Orfei despised Jayne Mansfield so much for being the STAR of  THE LOVES OF HERCULES (1960), that she had Mansfield 's name and image removed from the Italian promotional materials.

Mickey Hargitay was DUBBED in ALL language versions of THE LOVES OF HERCULES (1960) including the ENGLISH version.

THE LOVES OF HERCULES (1960) is also known as HERCULES VS. THE HYDRA (1960).               


             IMMORTAL DIALOGUE

   "Hercules, I see the ocean in a great tempest."

"Why shed needless Blood? Hercules has come to kill my father, whose governance of guilt I have inherited. It is my duty to meet Hercules alone."

                " I intend to entrust my life to his clemency."

Queen Deianira: " My father has paid with his life for the murder of your wife. I have given my people orders not to fight. If you seek revenge, take my life. But spare my people, they are innocent."

Hercules: "Your people need not be afraid of me. And I would not avenge myself on a defenseless woman even if you are the daughter of my greatest enemy."

            " If they're RIGHTEOUS gods, I MUST SUCCEED."

Queen Hippolyta: " Did you HOPE I would be more BEAUTIFUL? So it seems. You think my FACE  does match my FAME and you are DISAPPOINTED." 
Hercules: " WHOEVER you may be, HIPPOLYTA or DEIANIRA, you are the WOMAN I want."

              FABRICATED DIALOGUE

" I told you I didn't know they were using your FRIENDS for the BONFIRE."

" Oh Queen, I may I be so BOLD to ASK if you ever

KISS A GIRL."

" Between You and Me, don't you think I should have been the STAR of this picture instead of JAYNE MANSFIELD? "

"Mickey Hargitay CANNOT hold a candle to STEVE REEVES as HERCULES."

"Hello, It's me, JAYNE MANSFIELD under this HIDEOUS WIG ."

" Miss Mansfield, Could I have your AUTOGRAPH ?"

THE CAST

Queen Deianira/ Hippolyta - JAYNE MANSFIELD

Hercules - Mickey Hargitay

Licos - Massimo Serato

General - Rene Dary

Nemee - Moira Orfe

Achilles - Gil Vidal

                    MY BOTTOM LINE ...
Jayne Mansfield definitely takes the reins in this Peplum Classic: THE LOVES OF HERCULES (1960) overshadowing her Husband Mickey Hargitay in the title role. Hargitay is definitely the second banana to his sexpot wife, who breathes and exhales and sashays her way through this cinemascope spectacle. In spite of Jayne, Hargitay just doesn't have the CHARISMA that Steve Reeves embodied in the role of Hercules.  Hargitay would have been more suited as Hercules's sidekick than LEGENDARY STRONGMAN. Steve Reeves definitely raised the bar when he took on the persona of Hercules. Sadly, the ones that came after him simply can't fill his TOGA.

Jayne is every inch the Cult Icon she is known for in this Sword and Sandal Epic wearing tight-fitting costumes. In fact, the costumes appear to be so tight, you wonder if Jayne is going to have COSTUME MALFUNCTION at any time.  There is fun to be had when Jayne camps her way in the dual roles one of a good queen and the other evil. Jayne makes this Peplum Classic both watchable and enjoyable just as long it isn't taken too seriously.

Jayne Mansfield and her husband/ co-star Mickey Hargitay on the set of THE LOVES OF HERCULES (1960).