Samson (1961 Italian film)

Samson (Sansone) is a 1961 Italian and French international co-production peplum film shot in Yugoslavia. It was written and directed by Gianfranco Parolini in his first film with Brad Harris who plays the title role.

It is the film which introduced the character of Samson, cleared of his Biblical traits, into the sword-and-sandal cinema. Following the success of Samson, the character was later featured in a series of four films released between 1963 and 1965.

Plot
The treacherous court counselor Warkalla takes possession of the throne of Sulan and of the goods of Queen Mila, replacing her with the beautiful but insignificant Romilda. Samson joins Mila and the rebels to regain the kingdom of Sulan and to hunt Romilda and Warkalla.

Cast

 * Brad Harris: Samson
 * Alan Steel: Macigno aka Hercules
 * Serge Gainsbourg: Warkalla
 * Mara Berni: Romilda
 * Luisella Boni: Janine (credited as Brigitte Corey)
 * Carlo Tamberlani: Botan
 * Irena Prosen: Mila
 * Franco Gasparri: Mila's son
 * Vladimir Leib as Terrabentus

Reception
Serge Gainsbourg's performance as the creepy villain Warkalla has been highlighted as the film's strongpoint.