PHENOMENALITY: *uncanny*
MYTHICITY: *poor*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *adventure*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *sociological*
While I don't know if the first film starring the character Ursus made decent money, the fact that the producers rushed out a new entry in the series within a year suggests that this was the case. Sadly, though I praised the original film for some clever plays on the formula, VENGEANCE is routine all the way.
Naturally, none of the storyline from the first film is reproduced, though Ursus still lives in a rural hovel, occupied with herding sheep, and for a bonus he now lives with a little brother. He's drawn into affairs of state, though, when the evil King Zagro plots to make a political marriage with the princess-daughter of another local kingdom. When Princess Sira (Wandisa Guida) learns that Zagro plans to kill her father and take over her country, she flees, and ends up being succored by Ursus. Lots of fighting ensues, and in an ending contrasting that of the first film, Ursus gets elevated to the nobility through marriage to the grateful princess.
Only two aspects of this predictable flick stand out. One is that it was the screen debut for lead Samson Burke, who didn't precisely set the world on fire with his acting, and who is now best remembered for THE THREE STOOGES MEET HERCULES. The other is a series of strength-tests that Ursus must undergo, including a tug-of-war designed to haul his body onto spikes (possibly one of the earliest versions of this idea in peplum-films) and a second tug-of-war with an elephant. Since Ursus wins both, there can be no doubt that he remains in the uncanny phenomenality.
Oh, and Wandisa Guida is sexy, but she's the only concession to the hetero-male's pleasure of looking here.
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