Taur the Mighty - Part 1 (highlights) - Joe Robinson ◊ Harry Baird ◊ Bella Cortez

Part 1 of 2

Watch even more amazing highlights in part 2 with this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhiaZ7dANOY


Taur the Mighty (1964) starring Joe Robinson, Harry Baird and Bella Cortez. Directed by Antonio Leonviola.

The ultimate Peplum orgy?

"Taur the Mighty" has everything and then some. Gaudy costumes, bizarre contraptions, a volcano, Amazons, slaves, men boiled in big pots, etc. Not since "The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak" have I seen such a deliriously wacky Peplum. IMO, it's not a good film which is the reason why I'm just showing highlights. There are too many unnecessary boring subplots to be fully satisfying but it is certainly on top of the list of "over-the-top" Sword & Sandal flicksl. It's directed by Antonio Leonviola who also made the equally OTT "Mole Men against the Son of Hercules" and also the little more subdued "Thor & the Amazons."

"Taur the Mighty" is basically a combination of those two films and the whole thing is jaw droppingly wacky. Those two other films also had a team of white and black heroes fighting an Evil Queen. The director had an obvious penchant for that kind of beefy multi-racial tag team. Today, the subtext seems pretty obvious. Joe Robinson and Harry Baird play Taur and Ubaratutu again as in "Thor & the Amazons" even if the spelling of Taur/Thor is different, I suspect this film is probably the first of the two. Robinson and Baird make a fun team and they seemed to have gotten along pretty well, even if Baird's role is a tad embarrassing.

As you can see the beefcake level is off the scale with our heroes walking around in skimpy outfits. Robinson is in better shape here than he was in "Thor & the Amazons." The handsome man cuts an impressive figure. Heck, we even get to see a full body "elevator" shot of Robinson at 7:00 as Bella ogles him. Baird is basically the same. Though not a bodybuilder, physically speaking Baird is impressive enough.

As for cheesecake, it's provided mainly by a bewildered looking Bella Cortez, who appears to be in disbelief over what's going on around her. The beautiful Bella is simply too sweet to play an evil Queen.

The bizarre contraption/conveyor belt seen in Part 2 is even more weird than the one in Mole Men against the Son of Hercules. The scene with a helpless Taur on the conveyor belt is one of the greatest/oddest scene in Peplum history. Seriously, who thought up these brilliantly crazy moments? The scenes with Robinson and Baird fighting (7:15) and then the subsequent pile up (9:57) is also memorable. In Part 2, there's a "hero being pulled by horses" bit. And the last shot of the two walking away together. So many highlights.

There's a subplot about an Amazon warrior, almost identical to the one in "Thor & the Amazons" but unlike the latter who's female star (Susy Andersen was actually beautiful and could act), the Amazon in this film is a terrible actress and is not very convincing in fight scenes. I didn't include any of her scenes in these highlights. I might upload then at my SapphoPEPLUM channel though.

Anyway, if this zany film happens to be on TV make sure to watch it. It's worth it just to see the Robinson and Baird team.

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[htrrz]

I once read this and another Taur film were shot as Tarzan films, but as they wrongly used a copywritten character Tarzan the name was changed, I have always wanted to see this thanks for posting.

[kudu550]

I actually love this movie. I thought Joe Robinson was really HOT!