UCM.ONE is releasing the Italian film ‘The Destruction of Herculaneum’ (Original Italian title: ‘Anno 79: La distruzione di Ercolano’, German title: ‘Die letzten Stunden von Pompeji‘) by Gianfranco Parolini for the first time in the uncut Italian cinema version, which is over 18 minutes longer than the well-known German video version, on the M-Square Classics label as a mediabook strictly limited to 500 units as well as on Blu-ray and DVD.
‘The Destruction of Herculaneum’ is a ‘sandal film classic’ that skilfully combines historical drama and disaster film, supported by original footage of a volcanic eruption, without dispensing with fights in the style of the Hercules films.
Summary:
79 AD: Marcus Tiberius (Brad Harris), victorious general and nephew of the Roman emperor Titus Flavius (Philippe Hersent), wants to warn his uncle of a planned coup by his advisor Tercius. But the emperor does not trust him. Instead, he sends him to Pompeii to destroy the ‘true enemies’ of the Roman Empire – the Christians. But Marcus Tiberius refuses. He sides with the gladiators to fight with them against Tercius and his henchmen. But in the meantime, Pompeii threatens to suffocate under the red-hot, all-consuming lava of Mount Vesuvius…
The visually stunning costume film is now being released for the first time in the completely rescanned and uncut original film version and also in the elaborately reconstructed German cinema version. The German cinema release: was on 6 September 1963, distributed by Constantin-Film.
Leading actor Bradford Harris (1933-2017) is known from a number of sandal films, westerns and action films from the 60s and 70s, such as ‘The Odyssey of Hercules’, ‘Samson – Liberator of the Enslaved’ and ‘Django – He Sowed Death’. His best-known role is that of Captain Rowland in the ‘Kommissar X’ film series.
Features & technical data
Mediabook (Blu-ray & DVD) | Blu-ray picture format: WS 2.35:1 / 1080p 24; DVD picture format: WS 2.35:1 (anamorphic) | Blu-ray running time: 111 min; DVD running time: 108 min | Blu-ray sound formats: German DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0; DVD sound formats: German DD 2.0, Italian DD 2.0 | Subtitles: German (German subtitles to match the Italian OV) | Bonus material: reconstructed German cinema version, trailer, booklet | with removable FSK sticker | FSK 12
Blu-ray | Picture format: WS 2.35:1 / 1080p 24 | Running time: 111 min | Sound formats: German DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 | Subtitles: German (German subtitles to match the Italian OV) | Bonus material: Reconstructed German cinema version, trailer | Reversible cover without FSK sticker | FSK 12
DVD | Picture format: WS 2.35:1 (anamorphic) | Running time: 108 min: German DD 2.0, Italian DD 2.0 | Subtitles: German (German subtitles to match the Italian OV) | Bonus material: Trailer | with removable FSK sticker | FSK 12
Press reviews
‘Spectacle cinema that is not very faithful to history, in which a conspiracy against Emperor Titus in 79, which is blamed on the Christians, is violently linked to the fall of Pompeii.’ (filmdienst.de)
“The few objective quality flaws even work in the film’s favour. Since you can’t take the film seriously anyway, it also lowers your expectations. And between all the fights and other silliness, there is no overly dripping pathos. This is a really good film to watch!” (Hannes Filmarchiv)
‘Quo Vadis’ in narrow-gauge format.” (cinema.de)
‘Passable pseudo-historical cinema top comic, lively and animated by the versatile Gianfranco Parolini, who has the originality to combine the costume of ancient Rome and the catastrophe strand in cinema.’ (cinematografo.it)
More information about the film label: M-Square Classics
