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Demetrius Gladiators Victor Mature

For pure unadulterated Rome meets Hollywood hogwash you can't go wrong with "Demetrius And The Gladiators". I don't mean that in a bad way at all. Pure kitsch, and Hollywood high camp this sequel to 20th Century Fox's lavish and over the top "The Robe" is much more fun than the film that spawned it. The film is so much fun to watch because it is so serious and yet so loose with facts that would have made it much more fun if only the code would have allowed it.

Victor Mature here is well, Victor Mature as he is in all his epics from "Sampson and Delilah" to "The Egyptian". He is what passes for hunky beefcake in the 1950's. The Sylvester Stallone of his day. He gives his best and even if he is a bit soft physically he is certainly likeable and entertaining. The real hunk of man meat in the film comes in the form of Richard Egan in a small and deliciously malicious role as a rival gladiator to Demetrius. Now he would have been much more convincing as as the lead in a purely physical sense.

Another staple of the 50's less is less acting style is the lovely Deborah Paget who probably hit her high mark in "The Ten Commandments". Here as the true love of Demetrius she is perfect early Christian window dressing.

Now the real star and reason to see this film comes in the form of the lush, seethingly sensuous performance of Susan Hayward as the evil empress Messalina. When she is on screen she commands your eye and when she is gone she is missed. Susan Hayward brings her brand of bold brash bravado to the role and in essence blows everyone else and most of the magnificent sets away. She is a joy to watch as she seduces and then falls to Demetrius cause in a rather silly ending. She is a joy to watch and shows us just what a real Movie Star and one hell of an actress can do in a role that is less than her talents. And of course the real Messalina never repented and ended up in a rather bad way.

Hayward only faces one challenge in the acting department and that come from the little guy with the high shrill voice, Jay Robinson. He certainly gives Hayward a run for her money in a kind of who is the better scene chomper. Mr. Robinson who reprises his role as Caligula in what must be the most over the top, flamboyant portrait of Caligula as the "Queen" of Rome. He is squirmingly good and a delight to watch as he out chews the entire cast and a few lions to boot (Little boots!) in devouring the massive scenery.

Over all this is a Cinemascope Epic fun romp that is short on historical fact but long on high camp merry making that is endlessly entertaining.

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