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Adventure Cult Classic

A lone strongman dons a lion mask to avenge his village against barbarian invaders.

GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS

10,000 Sights... 10,000 Thrills... The Fabulous Giant of Giants!

1959 · 1h 40m · NR · Adventure · IMDB TMDB

When barbarians invade his village and kill his father, an Italian strong man repels a Germanic king's invaders and wages a one-man war against them.

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Quick Answer

What is Goliath and the Barbarians about?

Goliath and the Barbarians is a 1959 Italian adventure film directed by Carlo Campogalliani about Emiliano, the son of a village leader, who vows revenge and wages a one-man war against barbarian invaders after his village is attacked.

Programmer's Pick

Steve Reeves brings the brawn and the bare chest, while the lion head mask gives the revenge plot a touch of psychotronic flair. If you like your peplum with a side of homoerotic bondage and camp, this Italian adventure doesn't disappoint.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Set in the turmoil of the 6th century, Goliath and the Barbarians launches as a barbarian horde descends upon an Italian village, leaving devastation in their wake. Emiliano, son of the slain village leader, escapes the initial attack and transforms his grief into a relentless pursuit of vengeance. With the help of surviving villagers and his sister Lynda, Emiliano crafts a campaign of resistance, famously adopting a lion head mask to strike terror into the hearts of his enemies. This is a tale of sword-swinging heroics, muscular trials of strength, and campy spectacle—all set against a backdrop of historical invasion and personal vendetta.

Details & Specs

Director
Carlo Campogalliani
Writers
Gino Mangini, Carlo Campogalliani, Emimmo Salvi, Giuseppe Taffarel, Nino Stresa
Release
1959
Runtime
1h 40m
Language
Italian
Genres
Adventure
Also Known As
Goliath and the Barbarians, Il terrore dei barbari (original title)

Why This Matters

This 1959 Italian peplum exemplifies the genre's trend of adapting historical events, in this case the Lombard invasion, and highlights the common practice of renaming characters for English-language releases to appeal to international audiences.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Carlo Campogalliani Writers: Gino Mangini +4 more
Steve Reeves Steve Reeves Emiliano Chelo Alonso Chelo Alonso Landa Bruce Cabot Bruce Cabot Alboino Giulia Rubini Giulia Rubini Lidia Arturo Dominici Arturo Dominici Svevo Livio Lorenzon Livio Lorenzon Igor Andrea Checchi Andrea Checchi Delfo Luciano Marin Luciano Marin Marco Furio Meniconi Furio Meniconi Hulderich Carla Calò Carla Calò madre di Bruno Fabrizio Capucci Fabrizio Capucci Bruno GS Gino Scotti Amedeo Trilli Amedeo Trilli Ugo Sasso Ugo Sasso Renato Terra Renato Terra Carla Foscari Carla Foscari

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Why Cult

Lion Head Mask

Emiliano's use of a lion head mask to intimidate the barbarians adds a memorable visual twist to his quest for vengeance.

Bare-Chested Heroics

Steve Reeves flexes serious muscle as Emiliano, delivering classic peplum-era feats of superhuman strength and daring.

Camp and Cheesecake

Expect a gleeful mix of campy spectacle, homoerotic undertones, and the kind of cheesecake visuals that define Italian sword-and-sandal cinema.

Psychotronic Peplum

The film gleefully embraces psychotronic elements—think orgies, torture devices, and outlandish trials of strength—making it a cult favorite.

Scene Gallery

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Goliath and the Barbarians? +

Goliath and the Barbarians was directed by Carlo Campogalliani.

How long is Goliath and the Barbarians? +

Goliath and the Barbarians has a runtime of 100 minutes.

What genre is Goliath and the Barbarians? +

Goliath and the Barbarians is an adventure film.

Where can I watch Goliath and the Barbarians? +

You can watch Goliath and the Barbarians on SassyFlix.

Why does Emiliano wear a lion head mask? +

Emiliano dons a lion head mask to instill fear into the hearts of the marauding barbarians as he seeks revenge.

Trailers & Clips

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