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Title: Goliath and the Vampires (1961) Director: Giacomo Gentilomo Writer: Sergio Corbucci Studio: Ambrosiana Cinematografica // American International Pictures (AIP) IMDb Plot: Goliath must save the kidnapped women of his village from an evil zombie leader who needs their blood to feed his soldiers. Joe Says: Goliath and the Vampires is a silly and, admittedly, forgettable adventure piece but makes for an entertaining matinee.

Before there were comic book superhero movies, there was Goliath and the Vampires (1961). Now, more than two decades into the era of big-budget Marvel moving making, this campy Italian sword and sandal fantasy deserves recognition as a great-grandfather of the genre. This heroic tale strangely set within a horror scenario delivers thrills and fun that although definitely goofy, makes for an entertaining matinee.  

Bodybuilder Gordon Scott, who is as charismatic with his smile as he is with his pecs, perfectly performs as the likable hero, Goliath. This is not the Biblical giant who fell to a boy with a sling, rather, a composite hero (Maciste in the original Italian) who could easily have been named Samson, Odysseus, Beowulf, or even Kal El. Set in an indeterminate ancient Mediterranean past, Goliath is a bit of a reluctant hero who falls into adventure rather than seeking it. In fact, he seems much more at ease with removing giant tree stumps until first called upon to save the child Ciro from drowning. Immediately afterwards, he races to his hometown village, which looks like the same location later used for Life of Brian, that is being savagely pillaged by the faceless vampires.  

The vampires are controlled by Kobrak, who survives on human blood. Notably, those of young, attractive women, certo. The vampires steal away a number of them, including Goliath’s main squeeze, Guja, to the island of Salmanak. Goliath and Ciro follow. Goliath announces his arrival spectacularly in a lengthy marketplace fight scene where the hero proves to be faster than a speeding whip, more powerful than a horse-drawn chariot, and is able to leap palace walls in a single bound. For a cheesy Italian movie where producer Dino de Laurentis was obviously looking for an ROI higher than the filming budget, the practical f/x were bar-setting for an early-sixties production. The extensive fight scenes were both well-choreographed and fun to watch. All that was missing was a John Williams score. 

Written by Sergio Corbucci, who would later go on to direct a number of spaghetti westerns including Sonny and Jed, Navajo Joe, and Django, the plot is both simplistic and epic.  

Goliath allies with freedom-fighter Kurtik, goes off to fight the vampire army, and eventually tussles one-on-one with Kobrak himself. Along the way he is seduced, starved, and saddened, but Scott moves through it all flexing his most powerful muscle: his smile. Goliath, like every good hero, comes out on top. Goliath and the Vampires is a silly and, admittedly, forgettable adventure piece. With a little love, and maybe a 4K restoration, this could have been one for the ages.