The Sons of Hercules
The Sons of Hercules is a syndicated Embassy Pictures television show that aired in the United States in the 1960s. The series repackaged 13 Italian sword-and-sandal films by giving them a standardized theme song for the opening and closing titles, as well as a standard introductory narration attempting to relate the lead character in each film to the Greek demigod Hercules. These films however were not all originally made as "Hercules" films in Italy. Although two of them did originally feature Hercules, four of the films were originally Maciste movies in Italy, and the others were just isolated gladiator or mythological hero movies not released theatrically in the US.
The films were also offered in a package of 26 one-hour episodes, breaking each film into two parts, which allowed them to be shown in a weekly one-hour time slot.
Films in the series
There were thirteen films in the Sons of Hercules syndication package.The first title listed for each film is its American television title, followed by the translated original Italian title in parentheses.Mole Men vs the Son of Hercules 1961, starring Mark ForestTriumph of the Son of Hercules 1961, starring Kirk MorrisFire Monsters Against the Son of Hercules 1962, starring Reg LewisVenus Against the Son of Hercules 1962, starring Roger BrowneUlysses Against the Son of Hercules 1962, starring Mike LaneMedusa Against the Son of Hercules 1962, starring Richard HarrisonSon of Hercules in the Land of Fire 1963, starring Ed FuryTyrant of Lydia Against the Son of Hercules 1963, starring Gordon ScottMessalina Against the Son of Hercules 1963, starring Richard HarrisonThe Beast of Babylon Against the Son of Hercules 1963, a.k.a. Goliath, King of the Slaves, starring Gordon ScottTerror of Rome Against the Son of Hercules 1964, starring Mark ForestSon of Hercules in the Land of Darkness 1964, starring Dan VadisDevil of the Desert Against the Son of Hercules 1964, starring Kirk Morris, directed by Antonio Margheriti