MovieChat Forums > Ercole e la regina di Lidia (1960) Discussion > Advice re. which DVD of film is best

Advice re. which DVD of film is best


I have always felt that this was better than the first Hercules film with Steve Reeves – partially because I think that it was a very bad mistake to subordinate the story of the Quest for the Golden Fleece to the adventures of Hercules. That epic story deserved its own treatment – which it thankfully got, in 1963, when Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion fantasy classic “Jason and the Argonauts” was released. Actually, although Steve Reeves had handsome, chiselled features and a perfectly toned body, Nigel Green (the actor who played Hercules in “Jason”) was much more like the Hercules of Greek Mythology. But that is beside the point. The film known in English as “Hercules Unchained” (as opposed to “Hercules and the Queen of Lydia,” the literal translation of the Italian title) has a compelling charm, I think, with a lush score, interesting set design, and an excellent, campy seductress in the form of Omphale (Sylvia Lopez), which is why I think it is a great shame that it has not been given a decent release on DVD. The film is in the public domain and there must be a dozen versions out there. I have a bad feeling that they are all more or less the same, but I am FAR from thrilled with mine: from Alpha Video. On the keepcase the running time is given as 105 minutes (which it should be – give or take a minute or two), but it actually runs for only 95 minutes. There are only four – yes, 4 (!) – chapters; and when you start playing it, you wind up in the midst of a scene more than 20 minutes into the film! It is not presented in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and the colours are faded. Does anyone know of a better copy out there – if only slightly better?

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The copy I have is from 50 movie pack sci-fi Classics which I ordered online for 10$ and 2.98 shipping..

If your interested enough I suggest going to amazon.com and looking up that movie pack. I'm looking at it right now and they have a listing for $8.99 + $2.98 shipping. An amazing deal for 50 movies and you get a total of 4 hercules movies along with alot of other great flicks to enjoy or heckle with friends.

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Thank you very much for the info! Have a good day.

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Not a problem. Glad I could help you out

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