Customer Reviews

Last Days of Pompeii

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

As a big fan of the Sword'n'Sandal genre I had really been looking forward to owning this movie, as I had seen it rated by many people as being THE best movie of this type.

Well first of all, I was extremely upset to find that this is yet another case of a lush, beautiful late 50s/early 60s period piece super-duper deluxe WIDE SCREEN movie being released in an el-cheapo panned and scanned FULL SCREEN version. In this movie's case, the vista must have been extra-wide, because it seems that at least 1/2 of the picture is missing at all times. Thus I found it IMPOSSIBLE to enjoy a viewing of this DVD. Not only that, but the print of the movie used is in extremely faded and poor condition.

This DVD boasts that as a bonus it also contains the full 1913 silent version. The print of the 1913 movie is in equally abysmal shape.

As for the movie itself, although it is very highly rated by many people, I personally did not enjoy it as much as Reeves' other flicks. The story centres around some oh so goody two-shoes Christians in Pompeii who are being persecuted by the oh so evil, underhanded and two-timing head priest of the local heathen-god worshipping temple and his equally heathen and Godless henchmen. I guess if you're a hard-core Christian you may enjoy it, but I found myself gritting my teeth at times at the utterly preachy plot.

It should be mentioned that this story was also made into a TV mini-series in 1984, and although it shared the same stilted plot with this movie, I found that it was still much more entertaining, enjoyable and watchable than this rather plodding and dated version. If the 1984 mini-series were to come out on DVD (hint, hint, DVD making people out there) --remastered and the FULL uncut mini-series that is--, I would be interested in owning it, what with its high production values and good actors.

As for this movie, if you're a Steve Reeves fan or a fan of 50s/60s Italian Sword'n'Sandal flicks you will probably still like it, but I would recommend waiting till a better DVD version is made. The lazy people who put out this present horrible version do not deserve to get another penny of anyone else's money.

Wel, let's agree that the 1935 version, with effects by Willis O'Brien, is the one to see. But fans of Steve Reeves should enjoy this entertaining rehash, with modest but effective destruction scenes. Too bad nobody has given Reeves work the attention and restoration it deserves: the films are not presented in widescreen, and the prints are really terrible: washed out and filled with scratches and other imperfections. Wouldn't it be nice to see these Italian-made historical dramas cleaned up and restored? They're Reeves most lasting legacy, and it's sad to see them so poorly treated.

You can get a Widescreen Beautiful quality copy from Amazon France.
Just type in the name in English.

Avoid the U>S>A> Release.

Its in English & French with a Doco though this is in French only

They also have Samson in Widescreen though this is French only
SAMSON is now available from Sinister Cinema in the same top notch print in FULL WIDESCREEN & English Dubbed

Both DVD.s are quite cheap. 5 Stars for this one

Rock on brothers Paul

For the record, the bonus film on this DVD is an Italian silent version from 1926, NOT the 1913 version (which is available on its own DVD). Yes, the DVD box and even the opening title of the film claim this is the 1913 version...but it's not! It's the much racier and much more interesting later version. (For more details and a good review, see the film's entry at imdb.com.) On the minus side, this a narrated version with a rather hokey voice-over and, though it does not appear to be censored, it does seems to be missing some frames here and there. Despite the less than ideal condition of this print, the 1926 version is so rare, and so worth watching, that seeing it on this DVD will still be a treat for interested viewers.

(As for the Steve Reeves version, it's not among his best films, and this severely cropped print is especially bad, losing any sense of spectacle that the widescreen version may have projected. Too bad!)

Overall one of Steve Reeves best movies. Certainly his most lavish. Good sets, great arena scenes and quite a good ending showing (some of) the actual horrors of Pompeii'a destruction. Sure it's sword and sandel.But it's one of the best with some exciting action sequences. Mike Markowski....Dorchester, Ma.

As it says above, avoid this version at all costs.

It's pan and scan, scratched to death, with terrible faded color, and a much better version is available right here on Amazon; see my review of that version for details.

THIS VERSION IS A MUST TO AVOID. It's a complete disgrace.

This 1959 "Last Days" was a cooperative production between four European nations, and partially scripted/directed by Sergio Leone. The highlight of course is the anticipated event, Mt. Vesuvius erupting. Bodybuilder Steve Reeves is oiled and in his prime in this (minus the volcano) otherwise typical swords, sandals and togas outing.

Reeves is a Roman tribune who returns to Pompeii while on extended leave from the legions. He learns his father's been murdered and the story becomes an exercise in investigation and plotted revenge until Vesuvius sends our hero running for his life. Decent special effects (for its day) in the big disaster scene; points added for beautiful people, scenery, costumes.

Now the major downside:
Pre-recorded VHS tapes manufactured in the SP mode play just fine in most well-maintained machines. Those done in LP and SLP do not. GOODTIMES always used the slower tape speeds, therefore this version of LAST DAYS OF POMPEII is NOT recommended.


From the makers of the original KING KONG comes the 1935 edition of THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII. This high quality TURNER HOME NETWORK videotape is DEFINITELY recommended!


Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website.

(5.5) The Last Days of Pompeii (Italy/Spain/Monaco/W Ger-1959) - Steve Reeves/Christine Kaufmann/Fernando Rey/Barbara Carroll/Anne Marie Bauman/Tony Richards

The plot is actually quite deep, despite some of the comments. It deals with the early opression of christians and is (within dramatic license) historically acurate. If you hate christians, then I can see why there might be some bad reviews. But un biggoted views aside, it is an -extrodinary movie, One of reeves best. It is actually one of the most thought provocing as well. But if its a rambo-like movie you want, this is not it. This is more of an artistic work of historical fiction. it does have great action also though, but the movie is not centered around this.

pure nostalgia ,from when we where young
great to enjoy it once more
maybe stuff for remake

We had read with interest the review from another person that gave the movie one star, and still thought we would try it ourselves. The movie is set for wide-screen so you miss most of the action. The acting is below average. We just returned from Pompeii and looked forward to seeing some scenery of how Pompeii looked prior to the volcano, but the setting was not of Pompeii. The plot was good and with good acting and directing, the movie could have been interesting. As it was, we cannot recommend it to anyone.