La Battaglia Di Marathon (aka The Giant Of Marathon) (1959)

In 490 BC, Persia has plans to attack Athens which is ill prepared to defend itself. The city lays its hope on an Olympic champion (Steve Reeves) who attempts to get Athens' nemesis Sparta to join them in defeating the Persians. But treachery may defeat him before he gets the chance. This is a superior piece of peplum, quite possibly Reeves' best sword and sandal effort. This may well be due to Jacques Tourneur (CAT PEOPLE) at the helm. It looks good (Mario Bava did the lensing) and the action sequences, especially the underwater attack, are very well done. The leading ladies, Mylene Demongeot (BONJOUR TRISTESSE) and Daniela Rocca (DIVORCE ITALIAN STYLE) are fetching and can act. Ironically, the weak leak is Reeves himself. The part isn't complex but there's a little more depth to the character than the usual Hercules roles and Reeves isn't a good enough actor to give any shading to his character. It doesn't help that the usual post sync sound never lets you forget you're watching a peplum. With Sergio Fantoni and Albert Lupo.