Samson and the Mighty Challenge (1964) User Reviews (5)

Comedy action and mindless destruction

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 7 December 2016]

Not content with featuring just one mythological muscleman, SAMSON AND THE MIGHTY CHALLENGE is a peplum film which fills the screen with an astonishing four muscular heroes, making for a film packed with biceps, brawn, and bravery. It's also officially the peplum film with the most musclemen, as far as I'm aware, featuring Italian legends Hercules, Samson, Maciste, and of course Ursus. Made at the tail-end of the genre, when fantasy and comedy filled the sword-and-sandal yarns after the more predictable historical story lines had been used up and over-exposed, this film was further spoofed by being re-dubbed by Australians and released as HERCULES RETURNS in the early '90s.

The original itself has plenty of comedy, involving slapstick, amusing music, and a comic relief dwarf as per the norm for the genre. The plot seems fairly predictable to start off with, but once the four genre titans are paid up the fun really begins and there are lots of fisticuffs to be enjoyed, including a scene in which a tavern is literally demolished into rubble! Alan Steel is Hercules, the genuine and first hero in the film who talks to his father Zeus in the clouds and does heroic deeds like saving bathing beauties from being caught in nets and the like. Later, Maciste and Ursus turn up and are little more than good-natured body-builders who become a little thuggish when they have too much to drink. The most interesting character is Samson; this time he's the genuine article, the long-haired Biblical character, but unfortunately he gets a haircut early on in the proceedings and is left somewhat limited in strength for the rest of the film.

As well as all these muscular men parading their wares around, regular genre actresses Helene Chanel and Moira Orfei turn up to add plenty of glamour to their female characters. The production values are solid and the action, when it comes, is pretty entertaining, especially the free-for-all fight which concludes the film in an upbeat, comic fashion. A pleasing amount of buildings and pillars are mindlessly demolished during the film's course. This is no classic, but is sure to appeal to fans of the peplum genre as easy minded fun.

Where's the MST3K crew?

[ericstevenson · 4/10 · 18 August 2018]

This movie was listed as a crossover film. It features several figures whom I'm not at all familiar with. At least I could recognize Samson and Hercules. I think this movie mostly suffered because it was just trying to be too many things at once. I believe it wasn't until 1970 that color films were the norm. This movie just looked disgustingly bright.

I could barely even see what was going on. Maybe it was just the version I saw, but I recall seeing such great quality from early color films like "Distant Drums". The main fight between Samson and Hercules is never even really resolved. The main story is just too jumbled and it gets out of hand when they try to save this village too. I guess the acting isn't that bad. It's still not worth it for me. *1/2

My favorite Sword and Sandal flick

[YannisRoumboulias · 10/10 · 11 August 2006]

As a lover of Ancient Greek mythology, I should have been offended and disappointed by this... "multicultural" flick that mixes up Greek Roman and Israeli mythology.

The truth is, that I've seen this movie a hell of a lot of times and every time I see it again, I get to like it more! First of all, because it was made like a parody of its own genre, than a serious flick with just the good ( muscled ) guy that massacres a universe of evil hordes, in order to get his beloved woman back, or save his friends.

"Samson and his Mighty Challenge" for me, resembles the innocence, purity of heart and boldness, the people of the 60's saw heroism! The heroes were pure and honorable. Even in one of the last scenes where the four heroes battle against each other AND Nemea's armies, this innocence, along side with a humorous sensation can easily be seen.

Hercules and Maciste fight themselves, when two soldiers interrupt them! They instantly forget their quarrel, beat up the soldiers, smile to each other...and they begin beating one another, again! In my opinion one of the finest Sword and Sorcery extravaganzas ever made! An excellent parody, of its time!

10/10 for me!

Battle royal!

[destracricetale · 9/10 · 2 November 2013]

This is a post-script to the sword and sandal era with the characters ( the strong hero, the evil but beautiful queen, the gods) rendered in a brilliant farcical way. a brief summary: all the supermen collide, fight each others for futile reason and become friends ..then fight each other again because punching each other is fun. In order of appearance : Hercules: the cocky and might son of Zeus who is lusted by the queen ( but he want to married the daughter.) and challenged Samson for proving he is the strongest ever. Samson, the favorite of Jehwa and the strongest man in the world ( being Hercules not a man but a demigod)..his wife cuts of his hair so the poor Samson lost his powers and go bullied by both Hercules and.. Ursus the gladiator: a giant of man, a violent bully with an enormous strength, upon him slight prevails Maciste: the second strongest man in the world..an hero that lives only for defends the people from the force of evil. The movie is a comedy and a well done one. The acting is good ( the supermen characters are bit silly, all of them and the actors portrait they macho attitude very well)the direction and the script works. I wonder why the hell it gets a so low review.

FOUR ANCIENT HEROES BATTLE IT OUT IN ANCIENT TIMES

[larryanderson · 9/10 · 24 June 2020]

This movie was originally scheduled to be directed by Pietro Francisci, the director of Hercules, Hercules Unchained and Hercules Samson & Ulysses but the deal fell through. Instead of another blockbuster, this movie showed up on late night TV. Hercules, Samson, Ursus and Maciste battle it out for control of the title..."The strongest man in the world". The ancient world around the city of Lydia that is. This was probably the last Sword & Sandal movie made after the run of this type of movie ended. It went straight to TV in Canada and made a lot of money. The bright cheery setting with all the strong men fighting made for a "feel-good" fun movie. Find a good copy, watch it and see what I mean.