Film Genre: Epics
This episode looks at Hollywood's epics as well as low-budget Italian "peplum" movies that introduced the bodybuilder hero to cinema with Mr Universe Steve Reeves & Michael Cacoyannis. Although the genre almost disappeared for 30 years, recent advances in digital technology allow directors to recreate the ancient world without massive sets. Film clips from The Ten Commandments, Ben Hur, The Gospel According to Matthew (Il Vangelo secondo Matteo), Spartacus, Hercules Unchained, Gladiator, and Iphigenia are discussed.