| The Giant of Marathon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Riffed by | The Film Crew |
| Riffers | Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett |
| Series | None |
| Date Released | October 9, 2007 (Film Crew) and February 12, 2016 (RiffTrax) |
La battaglia di Maratona (English version: The Giant of Marathon) is a 1959 Italian sword and sandal film, loosely based on the Battle of Marathon. It was directed by Jacques Tourneur and Mario Bava. It starred Steve Reeves as Pheidippides. The Film Crew released their riff in October 2007. It was re-released on RiffTrax in February 2016.
Plot Synopsis and Preview[]
The Film Crew (MST3K) - Giant of Marathon
[Spoilers Begin]
This classical peplum tells a fictitious story set in 490 BC, the time of the Medic Wars during which Persian armies sweep the Ancient world. Having brought home to Athens the Olympic victor's laurel crown, Philippides joins as commander of the Sacred Guard, which is expected to defend the city-state's liberty, a year after the expulsion of the tyrant Hippias.
Athenian supporters of Hippias conspire, hoping to side Philippides by marriage to Theocrites' expensive servant Charis, and thus neutralize the guard. She fails to seduce him, as his heart is already taken by a young girl before the learns her name is Andromeda, daughter of Creuso.
Everything personal is likely to be put on hold when the news breaks that the vast army of Darius, the Persian King of Kings, is marching on Greece, hoping that its internal division will make its conquest a walk-over. Theocrites instructs Miltiades to hold back the sacred guard to defend the temple of Pallas after a likely defeat, and proposes instead to negotiate terms with Darius, but is told an alliance with Sparta could save the Hellenic nation.
Philippides makes the journey and survives a fiendish attempt on his life by conspirators; he returns with Sparta's engagement during the Persian attack in far greater numbers on Militiades valiant troops. Charis, left for dead after overhearing Darius's orders, reaches the camp to tell that the Persian fleet, now commanded by the traitor Theocrites, is heading for the Piraeus to take Athens. Miltiades sends Philippides ahead to hold out with the sacred guard until his hopefully victorious troops arrive, and after his perilous journey back they do a great job, proving that superior athletes can do better than traditional naval ramming tactics.
[Spoilers End]
Cast and Crew[]
- Steve Reeves as Phillipides
- Mylène Demongeot as Andromeda, Creuso's daughter
- Sergio Fantoni as Theocritus
- Daniela Rocca as Charis
- Philippe Hersent as Callimachus
- Alberto Lupo as Miltiades
- Daniele Vargas as Darius I, King of Persia
- Miranda Campa as Andromeda's handmaid
- Gianni Loti as Teucro
- Anita Todesco as Andromeda's friend
- Ivo Garrani as Creuso
- Sergio Ciani as Euros