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Reg Park as Hercules

Posted on Wednesday, December 5th, 2018 by John Wood

Reg Park achieved a great deal of stardom by playing the role of Hercules (or a similar heroic character) in a series of Italian movies. Quite frankly, I couldn’t think of anyone better suited for the part (except maybe Steve Reeves.) Anyhow, here is a look at Reg’s movies:

* Hercules and the Captive Women (1961)
* Hercules in the Center of the Earth (1961)
* Maciste in King Solomon’s Mines (1964)
* Hercules, Prisoner of Evil (1964)
* Hercules the Avenger (1965)

Not cinematic masterpieces by any means, but fun none-the-less … and Reg certainly looked the part!

Felice Napoli

Posted on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018 by John Wood

One of the earliest of the Oldtime Strongmen, Felice Napoli of Italy was performing incredible feats of strength in Wallshlager’s Circus in the 1850’s. Napoli dressed as the mythical Hercules as he performed and certainly lived up to it: Napoli’s act consisted of his having a cannon shot off while held on his shoulders, bending iron bars, lifting heavy weights while hanging upside down from a trapeze, The Tomb of Hercules, and performing feats while hanging on a vertically suspended rope, a type of feat known as “The Spanish Web’. Plus, he had an excellent goatee.

The Brothers McCann

Posted on Thursday, November 2nd, 2017 by John Wood

The Brothers McCann, Henry (left) and Louis (right), of Birmingham, England, were known as Hercules and Samson when they became professional strongmen in the late 1800’s. In December of 1890, at The Royal Music Hall, they challenged Eugen Sandow to a match — and Won! …although they were defeated by Louis Cyr in a similar contest a few years later.

Hercules Curls

Posted on Wednesday, June 7th, 2017 by John Wood

Steve Reeves getting in a little arm work during the filming of one of his Hercules movies. Italian beauty, Sylva Koscina, looks on in amusement. She was Reeeves’ co-star in both Hercules (1958) and Hercules Unchained (1960).

Steve Reeves: On Top Of The World

Posted on Friday, April 17th, 2015 by John Wood

Steve Reeves is known as THE classic physique of all time. His Herculean good looks led to a number of movie roles and dozens of magazine covers. Steve Reeves won the following bodybuilding titles over his career:

1946 – Mr. Pacific Coast
1947 – Mr. Western America
1947 – Mr. America
1948 – Mr. World
1950 – Mr. Universe

After his competitive bodybuilding career came to an end, Reeves went to Hollywood to find fame and fortune in the movie business. Here’s his filmography:

Athena (1954)
Jail Bait (1954)
Hercules (1957)
Hercules Unchained (1959)
The Giant of Marathon (1959)
The Last Days of Pompeii
The White Warrior (1959)
Morgan, the Pirate (1960)
The Thief of Baghdad (1960)
The Trojan Horse (1961)
Duel of the Titans (1961)
The Avenger (1962)
Sandokan the Great (1963)
Pirates of Malaysia (1963)
A Long Ride from Hell (1967)

Reg Park: Standing Dumbbell Press

Posted on Wednesday, July 10th, 2013 by John Wood

It’s a pretty awesome feat to be able to press bodyweight with a barbell but doing so with dumbbells is a whole different level of strength. Here’s Reg Park locking out a standing press with a pair of dumbbells, 235-pounds total, in outstanding form. I certainly can’t think of anyone more fitting to play “Hercules” in the movies…