Hercules And The Captive Women (1963) - April 13, 2021

[Akijama]

Bonus Materials
Full Feature, Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K): Hercules and the Captive Women
All new documentary: Swords and Sandals
Audio Commentary by film critic, Tim Lucas
Full color insert booklet with essay on film
Sales Points
Subtitles in English and Spanish
All new 4K restoration
MST3K Full Feature included!

[Jobla]

From what label is this coming?

I see a tiny logo that looks like The Film Detective, but my nearly 68 year old eyes aren't certain of that.

[Akijama]

It's Film Detective.

[Jobla]

Great news, thanks.

I have read that this film was originally exhibited in 70mm, although I have no proof of that. I doubt that Film Detective could dig up a 70mm print source, but who knows? Of course, it may have only been screened in Europe in that format.

[Joseph Goodman]

I don't think it was ever actually shown in 70mm any where; the soundtrack, released by Digitmovies a few years ago from the original tapes, was mono. If it had seen a 70mm release, it probably would've been in stereo. I've seen it listed as an "upcoming release" (as Hercules Conquers Atlantis) in old trade publication ads for the Philips/Norelco 70mm projectors, but no evidence any 70mm release ever materialized. The Super Technirama 70 credit may have been an artifact of plans made earlier in the production, but abandoned later on. It's certainly a Technirama film, as horizontal emulsion scratches can be seen in Herc's fight with Proteus.

[SuperDevilDoctor]

Groovy news!

"Today is dedicated to the blood of Uranus!"
(Um, maybe they should've pronounced it "YOOR-uh-nus"...)

[Kincho]

How are Film Detective releases, in general, in regards to quality?

Looks like something I'd pick up.

[Jobla]

Their release of EEGAH was excellent. Reportedly, their initial Blu-rays were burned BD-Rs, but later releases from them have been pressed. However, I only have EEGAH at present.

HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN is a really fun fantasy peplum. If you like films such as HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD, THE GIANT OF METROPOLIS, THIEF OF BAGHDAD (1961), and/or HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN, you'd probably enjoy CAPTIVE WOMEN as well.

[DukeTogo84]

Never bought a Film Detective release, but I'll be picking this up.

[Joseph Goodman]

Any word if this will have the European cut, HERCULES CONQUERS ATLANTIS? The US version is cut by about ten minutes (trimming out nearly all of Gian Maria Volonté's bit part), and while the English dub is the same, the US version crams in library music cues in almost every moment where there was no music originally.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Joseph Goodman

Any word if this will have the European cut, HERCULES CONQUERS ATLANTIS? The US version is cut by about ten minutes (trimming out nearly all of Gian Maria Volonté's bit part), and while the English dub is the same, the US version crams in library music cues in almost every moment where the was no music originally.

Yeah, it would be great if both cuts were included, but I would figure they would have mentioned that it was included with the special features.

[javi92]

Originally Posted by Kincho

How are Film Detective releases, in general, in regards to quality?

Usually not great.

[Robert Furmanek]

Originally Posted by Joseph Goodman

I don't think it was ever actually shown in 70mm any where; the soundtrack, released by Digitmovies a few years ago from the original tapes, was mono. If it had seen a 70mm release, it probably would've been in stereo. I've seen it listed as an "upcoming release" (as Hercules Conquers Atlantis) in old trade publication ads for the Philips/Norelco 70mm projectors, but no evidence any 70mm release ever materialized. The Super Technirama 70 credit may have been an artifact of plans made earlier in the production, but abandoned later on. It's certainly a Technirama film, as horizontal emulsion scratches can be seen in Herc's fight with Proteus.

It's very likely they only had access to the 1/4-inch mono LP master and not the original three channel 1/2-inch multi-track tape master.

[Monterey Jack]

Was the MST3K episode included in any of their DVD compilations? I thought the version included on the Eegah! disc actually looked better than the standalone DVD (fewer glitchy artifacts and sound pops), and boasted subtitles, which MST3K eps rarely do.

[starsteam]

Originally Posted by monterey jack

was the mst3k episode included in any of their dvd compilations? I thought the version included on the eegah! disc actually looked better than the standalone dvd (fewer glitchy artifacts and sound pops), and boasted subtitles, which mst3k eps rarely do.

[Joseph Goodman]

Originally Posted by Robert Furmanek

It's very likely they only had access to the 1/4-inch mono LP master and not the original three channel 1/2-inch multi-track tape master.

From Digitmovies's liner notes:

This CD release was made possible once again thanks to the help of our friends at C.A.M. who authorized the project and in whose historic archives the original mono session elements had been preserved for 45 years.

[hanshotfirst1138]

A peplum on Blu-ray at long last?

[Robert Furmanek]

Originally Posted by Joseph Goodman

From Digitmovies's liner notes:

Those are back up elements, the original half-inch master would have been multi-track.

[Jobla]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

A peplum on Blu-ray at long last?

There have been several:

COLOSSUS OF RHODES
THE GOLDEN ARROW
THIEF OF BAGHDAD (Germany)
ERIK THE CONQUEROR
HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD
REVOLT OF THE SLAVES
ULYSSES (1954)
THE WONDERS OF ALADDIN
ROMULUS UND REMUS (aka DUEL OF THE TITANS, Germany, 2021)

[dcmatthews]

Originally Posted by Jobla

There have been several:

But there's always room for more!

Personally, I'd love to see a BD release of Hercules Against the Moon Men, my favorite peplum because of the sci-fi elements and that classic "spike trap" peril. And if it can include the original Italian version Maciste e la Regina di Samar (Maciste and the Queen of Samar), so much the better!