HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN (1961)
Article #1001 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 12-11-2003
Posting Date: 5-9-2004
Directed by Vittorio Cottafavi
Featuring Reg Park, Fay Spain, Ettore Manni

Hercules accompanies Androcles on an expedition to discover the source of a threat to the safety of Greece, and ends up in Atlantis, the domain of Uranus.

If you think about it, the attraction that Hercules seems to have for evil queens makes it only logical that he would eventually end up in Atlantis and deal with Antinea, that most evil of queens. This is actually one of the best of the non-Steve Reeves Hercules movies, with some great sets and an exciting (if sometimes strange and confusing) story. Of course, there are a number of distractions here; the occasional use of stock music from CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON calls undue attention to itself (and it does so no matter which movie they use it in), the movie is packed with bizarre, dreamlike sequences that leave you scratching your head, the constant reference to the god Uranus conjures up punny visions that makes you wish they worshipped Neptune instead, and Reg Park’s neck. Especially Reg Park’s neck. In fact, Reg Park would be a lot of fun to watch if it weren’t for that neck. And it all goes to show that when it comes to body-building, there are some muscles that should just be ignored.