Set in 161 AD , twins were born to Emperor Marcus and for reasons to avoid future wars , one of them must be killed and to be kept secret . But the kid is saved and brought up in a fine family . While Rome rules the World and emperor Marcus Aurelius battles Barbarians on the Eastern border of the Roman Empire. Later on , the king Marcus Aurelius has recently died, leaving as Máximus Imperator to his son Commodo : Mimo Palmara who governs tyrannically all around the World and in the noisy Rome . There Commodus organizes violent gladiator combats . Then the grown-up twin called Lucius Crassus : Richard Harrison, becomes a notorious Roman General and subsequently to lead a revolt against the evil ruler.
A run-of-the-mill Peplum with thrills, emotion, battles and spectacular Gladiator combats on the arena. Stars the robust and strong Richard in his first Italian role, as he is excellent as a brave gladiator. He was one along with Brad Harris, Kirk Morris, Rock Stevens, Reg Park, Mark Forest emigrated to Italy to seek for fame and fortune as muscle mythological figures, but anybody topped Steve Reeves and Gordon Scott in popularity. Harrison played in Hollywood some minor characters as in Kronos and South Pacific, while shooting a secondary role in Master in the World 1961. Frustated at not being able to secure meatier roles in America, Harrison jumped at the chance when offered this first character as a Gladiator, following other successful Peplum as Seven Spartans by Pedro Lazaga and Two Gladiators by Mario Caiano. As he wound up settling i Italy for the mext two decades. These Roman roles immediately typed him in other Herculean characters and to avoisd penned in too much as a muscle man, he turned into Spaghetti Western protagonists . Playing routine Spaghetti antiheroes as Texas the Red, Gringo, Reverendo Colt. And maybe his greatest contribution to film history not doing For a Fistful of Dollars and recommending Clint Eastwood for the part. Being an Italian production here shows up various regular secondaries , usual in Peplum and Spaghetti Western such as Giuliano Gemma , Mimmo Palmara , Moira Orfei , Alberto Farnese or Farley , Piro Lulli , Mirko Ellis , Nello Pazzafini, Álvaro de Luna , Enzo Fiermonte and Álvaro de Luna .
Atmospheric cinematography by Ludovico Pavoni , though a perfect remastering being really necessary. Filmed in De Paolis, Lacio , Rome . As well as moving and rousing musical score by Carlo Franci. The motion picture was professional but regularly directed by Mario Caiano . He was an Italian director who made successful films of all kinds of genres as Gothic Terror : Nightmare Castle with Barbara Steele , Thrillers and Gialli : a Tutte le Auto della Policía, Eye in the Labyrinth , Westerns : Avenger of California , Brandy, Ringo Face of Revenge , My Name is Shanghai Joe , Bullets don't argue , A train for Durango, and Peplum as Ulisse vs Ercole , Maciste Gladiatori di Sparta, I due Gladiator , among others . Rating 5,5 /10. Regular but passable and acceptable Peplum
