Of Muscles and Men : Essays on the Sword and Sandal Film

Few movie genres have highlighted the male body more effectively than the "sword-and-sandal" film, where the rippling torso and the bulging muscle are displayed for all to appreciate. Carrying his phallic sword and dressed in traditional garb calculated to bring attention to his magnificent physique, the sword-and-sandal hero is capable of toppling great nations, rescuing heroines, defeating monsters, and generally saving the day. Each of these essays examines the issues of masculinity and utility addressed in the sword-and-sandal genre. The contributors offer insights on a film form which showcases its male protagonists as heroic, violent, fleshy, and, in the end, extremely useful. Few Movie Genres Have Highlighted The Male Body More Effectively Than The Sword-and-sandal Film, Where The Rippling Torso And The Bulging Muscle Are Displayed For All To Appreciate. Carrying His Ubiquitously Phallic Sword And Dressed In Traditional Garb Calculated To Highlight His Magnificent Physique--provided By Publisher. Introduction: The Functions And Forms Of The Sword And Sandal Film / Michael G. Cornelius -- Hercules, Politics, And Movies / Maria Elena D Amelio -- Hero Trouble: Blood, Politics, And Kinship In Pasolini's Medea / Kristi M. Wilson -- To Do Or Die Manfully : Performing Heteronormativity In Recent Epic Films / Jerry B. Pierce -- From Maciste To Maximus And Company: The Fragmented Hero In The New Epic / Andrew B. R. Elliott -- Reverent And Irreverent Violence: In Defense Of Spartacus, Conan, And Leonidas / John Elia -- Civilization- Ancient And Wicked : Historicizing The Ideological Field Of 1980s Sword And Sandal Films / Kevin M. Flanagan -- Homer's Lies, Brad Pitt's Thighs: Revisiting The Pre-oedipal Mother And The German Wartime Father In Wolfgang Petersen's Troy / Robert C. Pirro -- An Enduring Logic: Homer, Helen Of Troy, And Narrative Mobility / Larry T. Shillock -- By Jupiter's Cock! Spartacus: Blood And Sand, Video Games, And Camp Excess / David Simmons -- Beefy Guys And Brawny Dolls: He-man, The Masters Of The Universe, And Gay Clone Culture / Michael G. Cornelius -- Developments In Peplum Filmmaking: Disney's Hercules / Chris Pallant -- Hercules Diminished? Parody, Differentiation, And Emulation In The Three Stooges Meet Hercules / Daniel O'brien. Edited By Michael G. Cornelius. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover......Page 1 Table of Contents......Page 6 Introduction......Page 8 Hercules, Politics, and Movies......Page 22 Hero Trouble......Page 35 “To do or die manfully”......Page 47 From Maciste to Maximus and Company......Page 65 Reverent and Irreverent Violence......Page 82 “Civilization ... ancient and wicked”......Page 94 Homer’s Lies, Brad Pitt’s Thighs......Page 111 An Enduring Logic......Page 131 “By Jupiter’s Cock!”......Page 151 Beefy Guys and Brawny Dolls......Page 161 Developments in Peplum Filmmaking......Page 182 Hercules Diminished?......Page 194 About the Contributors......Page 210 Index......Page 214