The Slave (1962 film)

The Slave
Directed by Sergio Corbucci
Written by Adriano Bolzoni
Bruno Corbucci
Sergio Corbucci
Giovanni Grimaldi
Starring Steve Reeves
Music by Piero Piccioni
Cinematography Enzo Barboni
Edited by Ruggero Mastroianni
Release dates
 1962
Language Italian

Il figlio di Spartacus (internationally released as The Slave and The Son of Spartacus) is a 1962 Italian peplum film directed by Sergio Corbucci.[1]

Plot

In 48 B.C., twenty-five years after the revolt of Spartacus, the slave leader's newborn son Randus has grown to become a soldier in the Roman army. Stationed in the city of Alexandria, Egypt, Randus has been promoted to centurion by his commander, Gaius Julius Caesar, and is given an important task to accomplish; to travel to the city of Zeugma in the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire and learn of the secret plots planned out by the Roman governor of the eastern provinces, Marcus Licinius Crassus. Randus leaves Egypt on a war galley out to sea, accompanied by his decurion friend Lumonius, his Germanic servant Beroz, a Gallic officer named Vetius, and Vetius' sister Claudia.

Shortly after departing from Alexandria, Randus meets and befriends a young Egyptian slave-girl named Saida, who is owned by Vetius' sister Claudia. On a thick foggy night, the galley collides with a hidden reef and Saida is thrown overboard. Randus dives in to save Saida, but both are unable to get back to the ship as it sails away. The two are soon washed up onto a beach and decide to travel across the desert until they find a caravan that can provide them with water and supplies. They soon encounter a slave caravan guarded by a detachment of Lycian mercenaries, but are captured in the process. During the journey across the desert to the city of Zeugma, one of the slaves, an ex-gladiator named Gulbar immediately recognizes Randus as the son of Spartacus and Varinia after discovering an amulet around the Roman centurion's neck. Together, Randus and the slaves manage to free themselves from their captors and kill all of the Lycian soldiers. Before Randus' friends, Vetius and Lumonius arrive with some of Crassus' guards to rescue Randus, Gulbar tells Randus to find him and his slave army at the legendary "City of the Sun" before riding away into the desert.

Cast

From left to right, Ivo Garrani, Steve Reeves, and Renato Baldini

Production

The film was shot between Rome and Cairo.[2]

Reception

In his book Cinema Italiano - The Complete Guide From Classics To Cult, Howard Hughes describes the film as one of Steve Reeves' finest vehicles and as Corbucci's best peplum film.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Roberto Chiti; Roberto Poppi; Enrico Lancia; Mario Pecorari. Dizionario del cinema italiano. I film. Gremese Editore, 1992. ISBN 8876055932.
  2. 1 2 Howard Hughes. Cinema Italiano - The Complete Guide From Classics To Cult. I.B.Tauris, 2011. ISBN 9781848856080.


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