Año 79: La destrucción de Herculano

Italian sandal film with the unforgettable Brad Harris (1933-2017)

This work (created in 1962) of the peplum genre, which is worth seeing, should actually be called "In the Year 79 - The Destruction of Herculaneum" based on the original Italian title. Brad Harris, bearded this time, plays a victorious Roman general who, after all sorts of trials and tribulations, gets caught up in the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which was supposed to destroy the ancient cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. The female lead is played by the charming Italian actress Susan Paget. Giuseppe Mattei and the Slovenian actress Mila Kacic shine in striking supporting roles.

The muscle-bound lead actor Brad Harris, who was still at the beginning of a long film career in the European film industry of the 1960s and 1970s, impresses with some spectacular fight scenes. Gladiator fights, the persecution of Christians and even a fight with crocodiles are thrown into the mix to make the film an above-average contribution to the genre. Unfortunately, many scenes in the film are cut unnecessarily.

It was directed by the Italian genre specialist Gianfranco Parolini, who later directed several films in the German KOMMISSAR X film series and the entertaining brawler classic "THIS TIME I WILL MAKE YOU RICH / ZWEI SCHLITZOHREN IN DER GELBEN HÖLLE" (1974), in which the powerful Brad Harris and the handsome GOLDEN GLOBE nominee Antonio Sabato act as powerful bullies who beat up countless gangsters in Hong Kong.

"DIE LETZTEN STUNDEN VON POMPEJI / 79 AD / ANNO 79: La distruzione di Ercolaneo" (1962) is definitely recommended for fans of the Italian sandal film.