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Adventure Cult Classic

Lou Ferrigno leads a ragtag band against a supernatural tyrant in this sword-and-sorcery spin on a samurai classic.

THE SEVEN MAGNIFICENT GLADIATORS

1983 · 1h 40m · PG · Adventure / Drama / Fantasy · IMDB TMDB

A bandit leader endowed with supernatural powers by his sorceress mother makes yearly raids on a peasant village. However, the women of the village come into possession of a magic sword, and go in search of a hero who is able to wield it and save their village from the evil bandit.

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Vault Note

When the village women hand you a magic sword, you know things are about to escalate.

Programmer's Pick

Where else can you see Lou Ferrigno, fresh off his Hulk days, wielding a magic sword for a village of desperate women? Throw in Sybil Danning as a fierce gladiatrix and Dan Vadis as a half-god villain, and you’ve got a campy reworking of samurai legend, Italian-style.

— SassyFlix Programmer
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Quick Answer
What is The Seven Magnificent Gladiators about?

The Seven Magnificent Gladiators is a 1983 adventure, drama, and fantasy film directed by Claudio Fragasso and Bruno Mattei about a powerful hero recruited by desperate villagers to defend them from a half-god bandit leader and his deadly raids.

Details & Specs
Directors
Claudio Fragasso, Bruno Mattei
Writer
Claudio Fragasso
Release
1983
Runtime
1h 40m
Country
Italy
Language
English, Italian
Genres
Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Also Known As
The Seven Magnificent Gladiators

Synopsis

This sword-and-sorcery fantasy is about Han (Lou Ferrigno), a "hulk" of a man who is chosen by a village of desperate women to defend them against the half-god Nicerote (Dan Vadis). Nicerote comes into the village on a yearly basis to slaughter any boys who may have reached adult status, and he demands an onerous tribute. Han agrees to the women's request then searches out the gladiator Scipio (Brad Harris) and the female warrior Julia (Sybil Danning to add to his lean-and-mean team. Meanwhile, he gears up for a showdown with Nicerote. The plot lines here follow the basic story of the Seven Samurai by Akira Kurosawa and The Magnificent Seven which successfully copied Kurosawa's tale.

Why Cult

Hulk Goes Gladiator

Lou Ferrigno trades green skin for swords and sandals as Han, the musclebound hero chosen to save an entire village.

Sybil Danning Warrior

Sybil Danning brings her signature tough glamour to the role of Julia, joining the gladiator squad for some sword-swinging action.

Sword-and-Sorcery Samurai

It’s Seven Samurai by way of brawny Italian fantasy, complete with sorcery, magic swords, and a half-god foe.

Supernatural Bandit Villain

Dan Vadis’s Nicerote isn’t your standard bandit—he’s a half-god with annual murderous raids and a sorceress mother.

Cast & Crew

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Directors: Claudio Fragasso +1 more Writer: Claudio Fragasso
Lou Ferrigno Lou Ferrigno Han Sybil Danning Sybil Danning Julia Brad Harris Brad Harris Scipio DV Dan Vadis Nicerote Carla Ferrigno Carla Ferrigno Pandora BP Barbara Pesante Anakora Yehuda Efroni Yehuda Efroni Emperor Mandy Rice-Davies Mandy Rice-Davies Lucilla Robert Mura Robert Mura Vendrix Emilio Messina Emilio Messina Goliath (as Ivan Beshears) Sal Borgese Sal Borgese Glafiro (as Michael Franz) Françoise Perrot Françoise Perrot Cornelia (as Kristin Kline) Antonella Giacomini Antonella Giacomini Diana (as Claudia Bridges) Giovanni Cianfriglia Giovanni Cianfriglia Festo (as Jody Wanger) MR Molly Rader Lydia Giuseppe Mattei Giuseppe Mattei Dex (as Philip Bard) GL Gregg Logan Dario PR Peter Rugge Meorio Raul Cabrera Raul Cabrera Army Captain (as Gary Levine) JG John Growne II Judas LP Laddy Price Leper 1 GW George Wender Boy 1 HT Henry Tyre Boy 2 EL Eve London Girl 1 Omero Capanna Omero Capanna Fighter (uncredited) Domenico Cianfriglia Domenico Cianfriglia Roman Soldier (uncredited) Nicola Di Gioia Nicola Di Gioia Gladiator (uncredited) Gennarino Pappagalli Gennarino Pappagalli Man at Drinking Competition (uncredited) MU Mark Urban Chief Courtier (uncredited) Carlos Alberto Valles Carlos Alberto Valles Man in Tavern (uncredited)

Scene Gallery

Trailers & Clips

Questions from the Vault

What is The Seven Magnificent Gladiators about? +

The Seven Magnificent Gladiators is about Han, a musclebound hero, who is recruited by villagers to defend them from the half-god Nicerote and his supernatural raids, assembling a team of gladiators in a story echoing Seven Samurai.

When was The Seven Magnificent Gladiators released? +

The Seven Magnificent Gladiators was released in 1983.

Who directed The Seven Magnificent Gladiators? +

Claudio Fragasso and Bruno Mattei directed The Seven Magnificent Gladiators.

How long is The Seven Magnificent Gladiators? +

The Seven Magnificent Gladiators has a runtime of 100 minutes.

What genre is The Seven Magnificent Gladiators? +

The Seven Magnificent Gladiators is an adventure, drama, and fantasy film.

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