This is a rip-roaring peplum adventure, with a real budget that stretches to ships, palaces, elephants, and fairly large-scale battle sequences that we don't normally get in lower-budgeted Italian adventure films from this period; the extra money may well be a result of the American interest behind the scenes in this film. Whatever the story behind the production, this is a well-made and thoroughly engaging peplum yarn which plays like a Mediterranean spin on SPARTACUS, with Jack Palance taking over from Kirk Douglas as the slave who leads an uprising.
Director Rudolph Mate made a fair few top-notch productions during this period and I'm pleased to say that in REVAK, SLAVE OF CARTHAGE he presses all the right buttons. For a change we get a fairly fast-moving production in which the action keeps moving from castles to cities to ships to dungeons. Technically, the film is very well made with crisp photography and stirring music. The various fights and battle sequences are very well choreographed and highlights include the massive battle that closes the film (those spear throwers are damned good shots), the bit where Palance engages in a gladiator-style battle with a hulking opponent, plus the skirmishes between Palance and the guards that take place throughout the production. Things are pretty violent too for a film made in 1960, as Palance nearly has his head crushed by an elephant's foot, an enemy has his neck impaled and spits blood, and one poor victim is made to drink a boiling broth and vomits blood immediately afterwards.
Palance is at the top of his game as the hero and really gives it his all. It's wonderful to see him as a good guy for a change and his athleticism and power is second to none; he convinces in his part throughout. He's supported by attractive Italian actresses and some dastardly villains who are pleasing macho, unlike the unconvincing wimps we're supposed to believe are leaders that we see in some of these productions. However, it's the extra touch of imagination that makes this film so enjoyable. While there are the usual flaws – a dancing scene padded out to the extreme, for instance – other scenes, like the bit with the boiling broth, add a touch of originality to the genre and make this one to track down.
Director Rudolph Mate made a fair few top-notch productions during this period and I'm pleased to say that in REVAK, SLAVE OF CARTHAGE he presses all the right buttons. For a change we get a fairly fast-moving production in which the action keeps moving from castles to cities to ships to dungeons. Technically, the film is very well made with crisp photography and stirring music. The various fights and battle sequences are very well choreographed and highlights include the massive battle that closes the film (those spear throwers are damned good shots), the bit where Palance engages in a gladiator-style battle with a hulking opponent, plus the skirmishes between Palance and the guards that take place throughout the production. Things are pretty violent too for a film made in 1960, as Palance nearly has his head crushed by an elephant's foot, an enemy has his neck impaled and spits blood, and one poor victim is made to drink a boiling broth and vomits blood immediately afterwards.
Palance is at the top of his game as the hero and really gives it his all. It's wonderful to see him as a good guy for a change and his athleticism and power is second to none; he convinces in his part throughout. He's supported by attractive Italian actresses and some dastardly villains who are pleasing macho, unlike the unconvincing wimps we're supposed to believe are leaders that we see in some of these productions. However, it's the extra touch of imagination that makes this film so enjoyable. While there are the usual flaws – a dancing scene padded out to the extreme, for instance – other scenes, like the bit with the boiling broth, add a touch of originality to the genre and make this one to track down.