Goliath and the Dragon (DVD)

A monstrous prehistoric beast lurks deep within a cave. It's one of many fearsome creatures, including flying bat-men and a fire-breathing three-headed monster, that dwell in a hellish underground labyrinth. The evil tyrant King Eurystheus plans on using this demon-spawn to destroy Goliath, the immortal warrior. The King has stolen a precious gem and hidden it in the cave, hoping to lure Goliath to his doom. When Goliath escapes unharmed, Eurystheus abducts the beautiful princess and chains her up in the dragon's lair. Goliath now must confront the gigantic beast in order to save the woman he loves.

The success of Hercules (1957), with Steve Reeves, paved the way for a long succession of sword and sandal epics depicting the adventures of legendary heroes. Most, like Goliath And The Dragon (advertised as "The mightiest adventure of them all!"), were Italian imports, dubbed and re-titled for the U.S. market. American stars (such as Broderick Crawford) were often brought in to increase the box-office appeal. Stop-motion animator Jim Danforth (When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth) filmed the special effects scenes of the dragon.

• action
• adventure