The Seven Magnificent Gladiators

The Seven Magnificent Gladiators (1983)

I sette magnifici gladiatori

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.

Date of release
1983-07-31
TMDB
3.2 / 10 (23)
Runtime
1h 40m
Genres
Adventure, Action, Fantasy
Director
Claudio Fragasso, Bruno Mattei

Casting

Interesting facts

The Seven Magnificent Gladiators is an Italian–American sword-and-sandal film directed by Bruno Mattei, and starring Lou Ferrigno, Brad Harris, Sybil Danning and Dan Vadis. In a story inspired by the classic Seven Samurai, Ferrigno plays a slave destined to overthrow a cruel king with the help of a motley crew of rogue fighters.

Production

Lou Ferrigno was originally announced by Cannon as the star of a single Hercules film, to be directed by Bruno Mattei and produced by his regular associate Alexander Hacohen. However, the project was later split into two parts, both to be directed by Mattei, one of which would be called Hercules and the Seven Magnificent Gladiators.

Principal photography lasted six weeks in late spring and early summer of 1982, shortly before Hercules. Mattei told the press that the film's cost were projected at ITL3 billion, or circa US$2.2 million at the time. However, Hacohen quoted a figure of ITL2 billion, or less than $1.5 million.

According to Ferrigno, the relationship between the principal actors was competitive, as both Harris and Danning trained with him and aspired to emulate his commitment. Danning also learned swordfighting for this film. However, the actress accused Ferrigno of being insecure about sharing the spotlight with her, hogging the screen and even requiring one of her showcase scenes—a drinking contest with a tavern's male patrons—to be shot in his absenc…

The material delivered by Bruno Mattei was deemed unsatisfactory during dailies review, and the film's release was delayed. Before The Seven Magnificent Gladiators had even wrapped up, Cannon reached out to Luigi Cozzi to take over Hercules from Mattei, and to direct two weeks of reshoots to improve Gladiators. Eventually, Golan changed his mind.

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