Hercules (1958)
Retrofit Drive In
Hercules was a myth. Steve Reeves was unreal.
Welcome to this week’s Retrofit Drive In! It’s a long journey back this week, all the way to 1958 which is strange enough, but that year serves as a convenient black hole conduit that propels us all the way back to ancient Greece and Rome.
The divine hero Heracles originated in Greece. The Romans renamed him Hercules, who was half-mortal and half “My God!” His father was Jupiter, his mother was Alcmene, and he is a reasonable candidate for our first superhero. No costume, no cape, not much of anything really.
But he’s a huge strong guy who always shows up when the situation gets dire. If there are some toga-clad asses that are in need of a serious kicking, Hercules of Thebes, son of Jupiter, is your guy.
Montana-born Stephen Lester Reeves (Jan 21, 1926 - May 1, 2000) was no doubt a direct descendant of the ancient muscle man. Following the death of his father in a farming accident, he was raised by his mother and trained in Ed Yarick’s Oakland, California gymnasium. Someone must have kicked sand in his face. After all Steve was growing up in the time of Charles Atlas, when 97-pound-weaklings transformed themselves into beach Hulks.
Reeves served in the Army in the Philippines, came home, and continued to buff up. He was crowned Mr. Pacific Coast in 1946 and ‘47, Mr. America in 1947 and Mr. World in 1948. That same year he came in second in the Mr. USA contest and second for Mr. Universe.
The next year he tested for the Victor Mature role in Samson and Delilah (1949) but couldn’t lose the weight Cecil B. DeMille thought he should. He was 6’1, 225 lbs., had 18.5” arms, a 29” waist, 26” thighs, 18.5” calves and a 52” chest. Too much of a hunk to lose his powers to a haircut.
A 3rd place as Mr. USA in 1949 got him another trophy before he finally won the Mr. Universe in 1950. He set his steel-blue eyes on Hollywood. He got extra work in Athena (1954), and earned his SAG card for a speaking role as a cop in the Ed Woods flick Jail Bait (1954).
But it is for the movie you are about to see that we remember the man mountain Steve Reeves. Director Pietro Francisci’s daughter saw him in Athena and lobbied heavily. Reeves flew to Italy, accepted the role at a flat rate of $10,000, and brought down the house. Literally. Fast forward to the last 10 minutes if the dubbing drives you crazy. Steve and everybody got dubbed.
The film is an action packed salad of mythological high points that include two of the famed “labours of Hercules.” He takes out the Nemean lion and captures the Cretan Bull (played by an American bison). Herc trains warriors, throws a discus out of sight, renounces his immortality, romances the king’s daughter, and joins Jason and the Argonauts in a road trip to find the Golden Fleece.
With Hercules and the fabulous sequel Hercules Unchained, Reeves helped launch the “sword and sandal” film genre (AKA peplum films). He made a quick series of heroic movies and by 1960 was the number one box office draw in 25 countries around the world. Edith Hamilton’s Mythology hit the bestseller list again.
If you can catch your breath after Hercules, stick around for Chapter 6 of The Phantom Empire and a bit of really early animation from Felix the Cat, made around the time Steve Reeves was born.
”The Past Is a Blast.”
Feature: HERCULES (1958)
Serial: THE PHANTOM EMPIRE Chapter 6 “Disaster from the Skies”
Cartoon: FELIX THE CAT in “Futuritsy” (1926)
”The Past Is a Blast.”
