Oro para el césar

Maximus, the Roman provincial governor of Hispania takes especial heed of a prophecy foretelling a new emperor. The ailing Domitian is on his deathbed and Maximus (the governor, well played by Massimo Girotti) is one of the two major contenders for the imperial purple, the other being Trajan. He will stop at nothing to attain his ends. Desperately in need of finance, he seals a pact with the Spanish Celts in order to plunder their mountains of the gold found there. This gold will help him to compete in buying votes in Rome. This is bad news for his slave architect Lacer (Jeffrey Hunter) who after just completing a four year bridge-building project is saddled with the onerous task of launching the mine project. His freedom is the price for success, death is the price of failure.

An interesting glimpse of Roman construction projects, the film is well-mounted, with good photography, acting, and enough action to hold viewer interest. To this day, there is still a Roman bridge across the Tagus river and a functioning Roman aqueduct in the town of Segovia both in excellent condition. (Not to mention the race track and vestiges of the Roman forum in Merida, the "Italica" of Roman empire days.

An unusual and above-average epic quite unworthy of Leonard Maltin's dismissive *1/2 assessment: the traditional Western theme of gold-digging is here given a Roman-era setting (also seen at the beginning of SPARTACUS {1960}) which, at the finale, has the rich vein just discovered – and that would have secured a tyrant's chances in gaining the throne – being swept away by the waters unleashed from a dam purposefully burst so as to repel an invading army. For the record, co-directors De Toth (curiously omitted on the IMDb credits for this film!) and Freda (his name, then, is not listed on English-language prints) had previously collaborated on another – but superior – Italian epic, namely THE MONGOLS (1961). Incidentally, thanks to the undeserving backlash which met his blue-eyed Jesus in Nicholas Ray's KING OF KINGS (1961), the star of this one – Jeffrey Hunter – was forced to gravitate towards low-brow European productions for employment (of which this was the first) for virtually the rest of his tragically curtailed life!

The remaining principal actors (all of whom, by the way, are present and accounted for in the very first sequence depicting the erection of a new bridge!) are: Mylene Demongeot – turning men's heads with her classical beauty and natural charm – had worked with another significant "Euro-Cult" figure i.e. Mario Bava on THE BATTLE OF MARATHON (1959; which was similarly overseen by a Hollywood veteran, Jacques Tourneur); Massimo Girotti, too, had earlier appeared in one of Italy's most renowned fantasy adventures – Alessandro Blasetti's THE IRON CROWN (1941) – and one of its earliest peplums – Freda's own SINS OF ROME (1953), in which he had actually played Spartacus(!) and whose viewing will follow shortly – whereas, in this, he is Demongeot's master/lover who becomes insanely jealous of her attentions for handsome architect/slave Hunter; Ron Randell, the star's fictional advocate in the afore-mentioned Hollywood Spectacular on the life of Christ, is wasted here in a one-dimensional role as Girotti's whip-wielding lieutenant. Also on hand is Ettore Manni, basically a genre fixture, and whose role is likewise indifferent – in ludicrous barbarian costume, no less – as the hot-headed son of the leader of the hordes opposing the Romans.

In a small Roman colony in Northern Spain the slave-architect Lacer is promised his freedom if he will help Pro-Consul Maximus to mine the gold resources which will make him even more powerful. There is also a massacre involving Spanish Celts and also a truce for a gold-searching expedition.

Hunter plays a well treated slave due to his knowledge of architecture and the Romans have put him to use in their desire to conquer and pillage Spain. He looks the part, but unfortunately he isn't a very likeable character, he comes across narcissistic; matter of fact many of the characters are of the shady kind. Mylene Demongeot as the slave girl of Maximus is easy on the eyes. Of course, predictably, she and Hunter fall in love (not a very convincing romance), which means conflict between him and the Maximus, who isn't too happy that his slave has fallen for the architect. But Maximus needs Hunter so ridding him right there and then isn't a good idea.

It gets interesting during the bridge construction scenes and the trekking to the mine and the action finale at the end, however bits in between is too talky and lifeless. It's an unusual peplum, little different from the norm, but I found it quite boring. Nice photography, location and costumes, though.

Gold For the Caesars was made at the height of the sword and sandal craze and is a slightly above average representative of the genre. The script manages to paint a few shades of grey and the acting is decent, especially by star Jeffrey Hunter and the recently deceased Massimo Girotti (The Iron Crown, Senso, and dozens of other Italian films) as the maniacal Maximus. There's some decent location work, some rather poor set design, and some unfortunate pan and scanning (why doesn't TCM have a widescreen print available?). Overall, nothing particularly special, but fans of the genre will definitely enjoy it.

It's Spain 96 A.D. A bridge is being completed to expand the Roman empire under the command of Pro-Consul Cornelius Caius Maximus, Governor of Spain. Lacer (Jeffrey Hunter) is the slave architect. They are under constant attack by the Celts. The Governor is desperate for more gold to buy the empire and orders Lacer to seize a valley of gold from the Celts.

For a sword and sandals film, one expects more fighting and grand battles. This one is more interested in civil engineering. It opens with a compelling bridge building. The big story development is a gold mine. There are some action but they are not exciting or the best shot. The acting is rather stiff. Overall, this spaghetti sandals film has limited thrills.