Duel of the Titans

Romolo e Remo
Italian film poster
Directed bySergio Corbucci
Screenplay by
Story by
  • Luciano Martino
  • Sergio Corbucci
  • Sergio Leone[1]
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyEnzo Barboni[1]
Edited byGabriele Varriale[1]
Music byPiero Piccioni[1]
Production
companies
  • Titanus
  • Ajace Produzioni Cinematografiche
  • Societe Nouvelle Pathe Cinema
  • Societe Generale de Cinematographie[2]
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • 6 December 1961 (1961-12-06) (Italy)
Running time
108 minutes
Countries
  • Italy
  • France
LanguageItalian
Box office$1,450,000 (US/ Canada)[3]

Duel of the Titans (Italian: Romolo e Remo, lit. 'Romulus and Remus') is a 1961 Italian / French film directed by Sergio Corbucci and starring Steve Reeves, Gordon Scott, and Virna Lisi. The film is about twin brothers revolt against tyranny in pre-Roman Italy and then come to a parting of the ways as they lead their people toward the founding of a new city, known as Rome. This is based on the legend of Romulus and Remus.

Plot

Born of a God and a mortal, two babies are abandoned to a river. Nurtured by a wolf, they are later recovered by a shepherd. Romulus (Reeves) and Remus (Scott) grow up to lead a band of thieves in an effort to eliminate two cruel Kings—Amulias and Nemulias, the King of the Sabines. After 20 years, the two twins are briefly reunited with their mother. Before she dies, she tells her sons that they are destined to be the founders of a great city.

Later after having fallen in love with the daughter of Nemulias, Romulus is unaware of his brother's ambitions as Remus steadily succumbs to the temptations of power and greed. King Tasius pursues the brothers and their followers both to retrieve his daughter as well as avenge the destruction of his city of Alba Longa. Soon, a rift develops between the two siblings leading to a death duel between both sons of the Gods to determine the true founder of Rome.

Cast

Virna Lisi and Steve Reeves in Duel of the Titans

Release

Romolo e Remo was released in Italy on 6 December 1961 with a 108-minute running time.[2] It was released in the United States in an 89-minute running time in June 1963.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Kinnard & Crnkovich 2017, p. 50.
  2. ^ a b c Kinnard & Crnkovich 2017, p. 51.
  3. ^ "Top Rental Features of 1963", Variety, 8 January 1964 p 71. Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.

Bibliography

  • Hughes, Howard (2011). Cinema Italiano – The Complete Guide From Classics To Cult. London - New York: I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84885-608-0.
  • Kinnard, Roy; Crnkovich, Tony (2017). Italian Sword and Sandal Films, 1908-1990. McFarland. ISBN 978-1476662916.
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