What immediately catches the eye about THE GIANT OF MARATHON is the fact that it stars the one and only Steve Reeves, and is co-directed by none other than Jacques Tourneur and Mario Bava! Bava would go on to direct HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD, arguably, the best of the many Hercules movies.
Reeves is larger than life as Phillipides, who, after watching two oily wrestlers batter each other, must take one of them on. He makes quick work of the bloated behemoth. Lusted after by the beautiful Karis (Daniela Rocco), Phil is actually drawn to the lovely Andromeda (Mylene Demongeot), who is sworn to marry the treacherous Teocrito (Sergio Fantoni).
Meanwhile, Phil's Greeks are at war with Persia, putting a crimp in his love life. Can he get the Spartans to join forces with Athens to defeat the Persians? And, what about Phil and Andromeda? Will these two kids ever get together?
One of the more sophisticated films of its type, it contains far less cheeeze than most such productions. It also puts more energy toward the historically-based plot, characters, sets, etc., instead of focusing on one sweaty fight after another. The battles are actually huge in scope, unlike the constrained, horseback slugfests in other, lesser movies.
Don't worry, Phillipides does get a chance to start an avalanche, complete with tumbling, sofa-sized boulders! He also helps his comrades set an ingenious trap for the Persian fleet! The ensuing battle at sea is quite impressive.
Highly recommended for lovers of the genre...
