8/10
Not as black as it's painted
12 April 2010
I'm a very critical viewer, and have left scathing reviews of several films here on IMDb. I am also no fan of biblical or sword and sandal epics - I've never gotten more than 30 minutes though The Robe, Spartacus or Ben Hur. I came across Sodom and Gomorrah half-way through on TV recently, and quickly became hooked ... so much so that I shelled out £17 to buy a full, uncut 154 DVD from Portugal! Take my word for it - Sodom and Gomarrah is really very, very enjoyable in many ways. It is NOT the camp, so-bad-it's good piece of junk some reviews would lead you to expect. The action sequences are really outstanding, and the performances of Stanley Baker and the fabulous Anouk Aimee as the twisted, wicked brother and sister are mesmerising. It is also very racy (for 1962) - indeed it was an X certificate upon release in the UK. In the biography of Pier Angeli, it is revealed that she and Stewart Granger were not on speaking terms, and during filming they spoke to each other only when they were working together. Pier also make a point of making Granger aware he was the only one of the film's leading actors that she had not slept with while on location! If you get the chance, do watch this film. It's nowhere near the disaster you might be expecting ... and by the way, none of those campy lines people have quoted ("Do not bend to the Sodomites", etc) are actually contained in the film!
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