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ARTICLE
DVD Review: The Colossus of Rhodes
by Jonathan Baylis Published: June 18, 2007
Rating: Country: Italy Release Date: June 26, 2007 Distributor: Warner Bros. Director: · Sergio Leone Cast: · Rory Calhoun · Lea Massari Related Sites: ·IMDb
Grade: B
Years ago I created a little film festival for myself called "From Kurosawa to Leone" (list below). I had liked both
directors, but hadn't seen some of their most important films. The goal was to see these films on the big screen and it took
a few years, but I made it. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I have since tried to indulge my completest nature
when I could watching such films as "Ran" and "Duck, You Sucker". The one Leone film I had never caught was "The Colossus of
Rhodes."
Well, as part of Warner Bros. Cult Camp Classics Vol. 4, they have finally released Leone's first film, along with "Land of the Pharaohs" and "The Prodigal". Filmed in Supertotalscope (an Italian Cinemascope, but a way cooler name!) it's an
above-par sword and sandal Roman spectacle, but it lacks the auteurship of Leone's future films. However, it does have
drama, romance, togas, battles, slave-revolt, and a giant Colossus that looms over a harbor, dropping molten lead on its
victims. Basically, it's no Ben-Hur, but it's a load of fun at times.
the master directs Calhoun
Rory Calhoun leads a cast that also features "L'avventura's" Lea Massari. Calhoun as Dario, a visiting Athenian war hero on vacation,
falls into and plays a crucial role in a slave revolt against the corrupt rulers of Rhodes. There are some great set pieces
and a heck of an climax, begifted from the angry gods! Great film for a lazy Sunday afternoon, which is when I watched it.
It's interesting to note that before "Colossus", Leone worked as a 2nd unit director on such films as "Quo Vadis" and "Ben-Hur".
The only extras on the disc are the trailer and an expert commentary by film historian Sir Christopher Frayling, who was also
Sergio Leone's biographer and always turns in a pro job. One piece of information I found especially interesting is that in more than one way, this film pays homage to Hitchcock. There's a stair sequence that gives tribute to "Vertigo", the Colossus itself lends to comparisons with "North by Northwest" and the finale of "Saboteur", which features another famous colossus, The Statue of Liberty.
From Kurosawa to Leone Film Festival The Seven Samurai
Yojimbo
Sanjuro
Fistful of Dollars
For a Few Dollars More
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
Once Upon a Time in the West
Once Upon a Time in America
