Woodyanders
In the year 20,000 B.C. brave and heroic strongman Obro (brawny behemoth Gordon Mitchell) leads an expedition to find the city of Metropolis. When Obro discovers the fabled city he runs afoul of a cold pragmatic race of scientifically advanced beings who are lead by the cruel and wicked tyrant King Yotar (deliciously played with lip-smacking relish by Roldano Lupi). Yotar attempts to break Obro's will by subjecting him to a series of brutal tests and tries to conquer mortality in order to prevent his sickly son from dying. Meanwhile the other oppressed residents grow weary of Yotar's harsh reign and plan to revolt. Director Umberto Scarpelli ensures that the busy and colorful narrative moves along at a steady, snappy clip throughout. The fight scenes are rough, strenuous and thrilling: Obro pits his considerable might against both a hairy hulking caveman and a bunch of vicious cannibal pygmies. Sultry brunette Bella Cortez as the doubting, but compassionate Princess Mecede and delectably lissome redhead Liana Orfei as the fed-up Queen Texen supply scrumptious eye candy. Armando Trovajoli's robust, thunderous score, Oberdan Troiani's sharp widescreen cinematography and the nifty fog-shrouded elaborate sets are all up to par. A destructive last reel flood caused by a fierce storm concludes things on a stirring and satisfying note. Good, lively fantasy fun.
lordzedd-3
I like the strong man movie concept, good versus evil. Kicking butt, that kind of thing. But the Giant of Metropolis has to be the worst ever, yes even worse then the GEORGE REEVES Hercules movies. It's that bad. The only reason I wanted to watch and review this is the title, GIANT OF METROPOLIS, I thought it was going to be kind of giant statue monster thing. If I knew the "giant" the title was referring to was Gordon Mitchell believe me I wouldn't have bothered. Why they couldn't save the original soundtrack instead of dubbing back in English is beyond me. The voice over actors was terrible, it sounded like they were reading a script, the effects were awful, even for 1961. When you think Italian cheese, think THE GIANT OF METROPLOS. If I were you I would avoid this one, you should thank me, I watch bad movies so you don't have too. I give this body order of a movie, THE NOOSE!
dinky-4
Few movies can truthfully be called "unique," but this comes close. It's a bizarre hybrid, set in Atlantis in 20,000 B.C., which combines the "Hercules" genre with the kind of science-fiction motifs found in Flash Gordon serials. True, the plot is the usual strongman-vs-the-evil-tyrant affair, but the "look" and "atmosphere" surrounding this plot make for striking viewing and have that touch of stylized madness found in only a handful of movies. (Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" and David Lynch's "Dune" are some of the few comparable efforts which spring to mind.) Adding to the almost-hypnotic effect is a somber, restrained, at times almost atonal music score. Gordon Mitchell spends the entire movie in one of those "Hercules" loincloths and one never tires of looking at his bare torso which is often contorted into a variety of "bondage" positions. Only in the final cataclysm do the proceedings become routine but for the most part this movie is one of the cinema's most eccentric flights of imagination.
csdietrich
GIANT OF METROPOLIS is pure unadulterated camp fun! Seconding the motion & comments by The Vid of Colorado Springs, this sword and sandal Italian import from the Sixties has just been released on DVD at long last. This was one of my childhood faves and showcases blond hunk Gordon Mitchell, sets by Bava protege Giorgio Giovannini, wild Sodomite dancing, feathered dancers, magnetic death rays, costumes right out of PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES, and this is a must-see for all lovers of Italian sci-fi! Pure guilty pleasure at its best!
AD
