Samson & the Sea Beasts (1964) review

SAMSON & THE SEA BEASTS 1964 aka SANSONE CONTRO I PIRATI

Kirk Morris (Samson), Margaret Lee (Amanda), Daniele Vargas (Murad), Aldo Bufi Landi (Manuel), Tullio Altamura (Montez), Nello Pazzafini (Sandor), Calisto Calisti (slave trader)

Directed by Amerigo Anton (Tanio Boccia)

The Short Version: With the names Kirk Morris and Guido Malatesta among the credits, that's an SOS to sail away from this sinking ship. Good for a few laughs, but little else. It's another Italian pirate adventure mixing muscleman theatrics with a shirtless and brainless Kirk Morris as Samson battling bad guy brigand Daniele Vargas. The "muscles" of Margaret Lee are the true highlight.


In 1630, Murad, a marauding pirate, sails the coastal waters of the Antilles attacking ships, taking their resources and kidnapping the women to be sold as slaves from his headquarters on Devil's Island. A beautiful woman manages to escape his clutches and seeks the aid of Samson to aid in freeing the many captured women.

Kirk Morris tries to act in peril against this lifeless alligator that pretends to menace Margaret Lee

One of numerous Italian swashbucklers with shades of the strongman films that were about to give way to dozens upon dozens of westerns. This is one of the least spectacular of the period adventure fantasies and isn't helped much by the star, Adriano Bellini (Kirk Morris). Nothing against Morris, but he's one of the least emotive of the well built performers slinging paper mache objects at the antagonists. The script has some potential for braindead thrills, but under the direction of Tanio Boccia, the flick is lost at sea.

In all these movies with scenes like this, it's only a matter of seconds before the hero and the damsel suddenly find their faces attached to one another

Guido Malatesta, a hack director in his own right, wrote the script with little imagination and hardly any sense of adventure. You have the hunky hero, a gorgeous female compatriot, a dangerous sequence involving a test of strength and the requisite big finale. The director pretty much fails on on all of these save for one area. It's two words and that's Margaret Lee. A stunning beauty, her mesmerizing face helps get the viewer through the numerous rough spots. She plays Amanda who isn't very feisty, but does rescue Samson and doesn't mind getting into the thick of things.


Kirk Morris has a good physique, but he often induces laughter. while not as big as many other actors in these movies, he's well built, yet he feels the need to suck in his stomach to make his chest poke out more. He does this in all his movies and I often wondered if he didn't have trouble breathing while filming. I imagine he found great relief between takes. Not only that, but, 'Ahoy, Matey! Stock footage off the port bow!!!' Some of the battle scenes also turn up in the much more fun HERCULES & THE BLACK PIRATE (1964; actually a Samson adventure in the Italian version), one of several other pirate themed peplum hybrids. The scene where Morris must avoid a death by spears from all directions by pulling a ship with a dozen men rowing against him is a pseudo highlight, but it goes on for too long.


Getting back to Margaret Lee, this sexy actress has appeared in her fair share of crap cinema. The hilarity of FIRE MONSTERS AGAINST THE SON OF HERCULES (1962) immediately comes to mind. Still, seeing her in even the most trying cinematic dreck makes the ordeal much more bearable. Having seen this as a kid, I didn't remember much of it, but now, I would only look at this again to marvel at the mighty form of Margaret Lee.

The Three Evil Amigos: Tullio Altamura (left), Daniele Vargas (middle), Nello Pazzafini (right)

The score by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino is quite good; far too good for this movie. The opening theme is especially lively and may have you humming it during the movie to hold your attention. Among the scant few monotonous scenes of action, there's also a laughable "duel" between Samson and an immobile rubber alligator. Even Daniele (THE PIRATE & THE SLAVE GIRL 1959, THE THIEF OF BAGDAD 1961) Vargas looks bored as the dull villain, Murad. There's a lot worse Italian adventures out there, but this is easily one of the least exciting. Recommended for only the most devout sword and sandal/Italian adventure fanatics and fans of Kirk Morris...I know you're out there.

Mad Monster Party (1967) review

MAD MONSTER PARTY 1967 (on screen title: MAD MONSTER PARTY?)

Starring: Dr. Frankenstein, Count Dracula, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, The Invisible Man, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Frankenstein's Monster, The Monster's Bride and a gaggle of other ghouls

Directed by Jules Bass

The Short Version: Frightfully entertaining animated favorite that's the perfect Halloween capper to a night of spooky ghouls and ghosts. Kids both young and young at heart will likely get the most monstrous mileage out of this kooky and altogether ooky creature collage benefiting from the vocal talents of Hollywood favorites, Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller.


Baron Frankenstein sends out invitations for a special kooky convention--The Worldwide Organization of Monsters--a ghastly gathering at the Isle of Evil where he will discuss his retirement and name his monstrous successor. When Freaky Frank decides to give his wealth and secrets to his sole living relative, Felix Flankin, the other monsters are in an uproar as all have designs on the diabolical doctor's new secret of total destruction.


From Rankin-Bass, the same creators of the claymation favorite, RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, comes the ultimate monster mash. Featuring an assortment of pop cultures most famous creatures, this childhood cult movie favorite is a hugely enjoyable, timeless classic for the monster kid in all of us. In 1967 monsters were still quite the rage and the hopes were that such an enterprise as a creature feature utilizing the "Animagic" process of stop motion animation would guarantee a big hit for the producers which included Joseph E. Levine (SOLDIER BLUE, MY NAME IS TRINITY).


Sadly, this was not the case and the film would only later acrue popularity through airings on television (which is where I saw it the first time). Featuring the voices of both Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller, there's lots to savor here for fans both young and old. Allen Swift did the bulk of the other voices. There's a timeless quality about this movie that will be most appreciated by those who love monster pictures and also those who enjoy animated features. Those with a fondness for the popular RUDOLPH claymation favorite should seek this one out. Fans of Tim Burton will likely enjoy this one as it appears to have been a heavy influence on his NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993).


There's musical numbers (dig them crazy ghouls, Little Tibia & the Fibulas!), an array of classic monsters and other kooky characters accompanied by every haunted house and horror plot device since Universal first became the premiere company of atmospheric terror films. The character of Yetch is modeled after the great character actor, Peter Lorre, and this undead, lovelorn zombie servant constantly loses his head whether for the sultry Francesca, or some comically macabre pratfall.



Apparently, Rankin-Bass had a long time working relationship with Japanese moviemaking technicians. The animators were Japanese and Rankin-Bass would would work with Toho on KING KONG ESCAPES (1967; based on THE KING KONG SHOW) and later collaborate on three live action monster motion pictures--THE LAST DINOSAUR (1977), THE BERMUDA DEPTHS (1978) and THE IVORY APE (1980).


Maybe a tad bit overlong at 95 minutes, it's a triumph of skill in a lost art and a reminder of a time when making movies was more about the magic involved in creating something with ones hands as opposed today where so much is devised with computers. Seldom has their been a more light-hearted, enduring Halloween spectacular, MAD MONSTER PARTY (1967) is one ghastly good time that you can enjoy with the entire family.

This review is representative of the Anchor Bay DVD